Career Paths for Health Informaticians

Yolanda Pritchard

HIMA 5060

Spring 2013

Executive Summary

• The purpose of this presentation is to provide more exposure to the health informatics profession and the various career paths available. We will also discuss what I think to be a major issue with the profession, obtaining employment for the new graduate.

Background

• What is health informatics?– Combination of information science, computer science

and health care– 1st used in the 1950s with dental data

• What is a health information technician?– Individual who performs tasks related to the

management of health care data– Collect, organize and analyze data used in the

healthcare profession– Growing profession

Job Growth

Experience Needed

• No more medical records clerks

• More clinically related positions including:– Clinical Analyst– Clinical Documentation Specialist– Release of Information Specialist– Coding Auditor– Manager/Director of Clinical Informatics– Coding Educator– Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist– Nurse Informatics

Skills Needed

• Computer Knowledge– Networking Experience– Database Experience

• Business Knowledge– Understanding of basic business operations

• Medical Knowledge– Understanding of Clinical practice– Knowledge of medical coding system

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in medical informatics desired

• General degree in information systems with additional training in medical coding and knowledge of medical databases required

• Combination of experience with some form of advanced certification (i.e. Registered Health Information Technician certification)

Advancing Employment

Problem: Job Availability for New Grads• Individuals obtain the required education and have

the experience, but are unable to obtain positions

• Reasons:– Companies tend to hire from within – Not enough positions

• Solution:– Encourage companies to hire new prospects– Wait and hope for continued growth in the profession

Bibliography

• AHIMA. (2010). Nursing Informatics for All. Retrieved from Health Informatics Salary Ranges: http://www.nursinginformaticshq.com/health-informatics-salary-ranges/

• Burning Glass Technologies. (2012). A Growing Jobs Sector: Health Informatics. Washington, DC: Jobs For the Future.

• Health Informatics 2013 - Top Ten Reviews. (2013). Retrieved from TechMediaNetwork: http://computer-careers-review.toptenreviews.com/health-informatics-review.html

• Health Information Technician: Requirements for a Career in Health Info Technology. (2003-2013). Retrieved from Education-Portal.com: http://education-portal.com/articles/Health_Information_Technician_Requirements_for_a_Career_in_Health_Care_Info_Technology_and_Health_Info_Management.html

• Rouse, M. (2010, May). What is health informatics? Retrieved from Search Health IT: http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/definition/health-informatics

• Shortliffe, E. H. (2006). Biomedical Informatics: Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine. New York: Springer.