Careers in Health Informatics
The health informatics field is an evolving, in-demand sector of the health care industry. Representing the intersections of computer science, information technology, and health care, careers in health informatics require an understanding of how health systems function, the role of information technology, and how to deliver IT-based solutions to better serve patients and the system at large.
What Do Health Informatics Professionals Do?
Generally speaking, professionals in this field use technology to collect, store, and analyze health information to improve health care delivery, administration, and research. Although specific duties and job functions may vary depending on the role, many health informatics professionals work closely with electronic health record systems (EHRs).
Individuals working in health informatics often have previous experience working in health care and an advanced degree in applied clinical informatics.
Learn about Vanderbilt’s MS in Applied Clinical Informatics.
Top Career Paths in Health Informatics
Whether you’re wanting to deepen your knowledge for your clinical practice, considering a career shift, thinking about what to do with your health informatics degree, or are planning to pursue a master’s in clinical informatics, here is some must-know information on health informatics job opportunities, salaries, and industry outlook.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and aggregators like ZipRecruiter, average salaries in health informatics roles range from $84,773 to $187,848 dependent on position, education, experience, and location.
Health Information Systems Manager
Health information systems managers work with a health care organization to manage computer-related and IT activities, including identifying necessary software and hardware, providing IT support to various departments, and planning and executing IT updates and security measures. This role requires skills in planning, organization, and strategic thinking.
Health Informatics Consultant
Serving as an expert in informatics systems and regulations, health informatics consultants work with health care organizations to ensure that the system is compliant with regulations and provide advice and guidance to help clients navigate changes. This role requires skills in leadership and the ability to explain complex processes to an audience with varying levels of knowledge in health IT.
Health Informatics Specialist
A health informatics specialist works with data like patient records to make informed decisions in addressing the challenges of the organization or creating more efficient and effective practices. Generally, job duties for a health informatics specialist include collecting, organizing, and storing data, as well as creating analyses and reports based on that information.
Informatics Nurse Specialist
Informatics nurse specialists integrate nursing and information technology in order to analyze and manage EHRs. These specialists use knowledge and experience in nursing to inform their process as they develop plans for improvement in operations and policy. Informatics nurse specialists play a crucial role in driving efficiency in workflows and the health system as a whole.
Clinical Informatics Analyst
As the title suggests, clinical informatics analysts play a key role in analyzing large amounts of patient data in order to better advise and guide an organization’s leadership toward optimal performance and better patient outcomes. Their analysis is used to drive business decisions, meaning clinical informatics analysts work closely with stakeholders to determine challenges and goals.
Health Care Project Manager
Focused on overseeing and managing health care organizations’ IT projects, health care project managers are responsible for coordinating team operations. These project managers help to ensure smooth operations and timely follow-through and completion of IT projects, all while facilitating clear communication across various departments. Skills in time management, organization, and interpersonal communication are important for this role.
Director of Informatics
A higher-level position that manages teams responsible for implementing EHRs for an organization, directors of informatics have a hand in each step of the informatics process. From helping to design processes to providing employee training to keeping a pulse on the latest technology to stay up-to-date, directors of informatics have a wide range of skills in management and interpersonal relations.
Chief Medical Information Officer
Chief medical information officers, or CMIOs, have a high-level overview of the inner workings of information technology, health care teams, executive departments, and stakeholders. CMIOs may analyze and evaluate the health IT system at their institution, take a proactive approach to ensuring data privacy and quality of care, and train other professionals to meet health care IT best practices.
Practicing Physicians and Allied Health Professionals
Physicians, clinical leaders, and allied health professionals who want to advance in their current roles or improve their workplace or organization’s health care informatics systems leverage training in this exciting field to resolve challenges and improve efficiency in patient care and health care delivery.
Industry Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), careers in computer and information systems management are projected to increase by 16% over the next decade — faster than the national average of 5%. Similarly, careers in the health care field are expected to increase by 13% between 2021 and 2031.
With health care informatics at the intersection of computer and information systems management and health care, those seeking degrees in clinical informatics open themselves to exciting new opportunities and potential for growth.
Outside of the positive trends in the industry outlook, many opportunities exist to advance your career or pivot into the clinical informatics field if you are already a physician or health care worker. With a master’s degree in health informatics, you can gain the skills needed to enter this dynamic and evolving field.
Summary
Health informatics is a dynamic and rapidly growing field that offers a wide range of career opportunities for those with an interest in health care and technology. With the increasing demand for health care professionals who can use technology to improve patient care and outcomes, a career in health informatics can be a fulfilling and rewarding choice for those with the right qualifications and experience.
While this list represents just some of the career opportunities in health informatics, there are a number of other options in the fields of education and research. These fields offer health informatics professionals the ability to drive innovation and mentor future informatics leaders through the development of new research techniques and educational programs.
The Online Master of Science in Applied Clinical Informatics at Vanderbilt
Our MS-ACI program is fully online and offers:
- The flexibility to continue working full-time as you earn your degree
- 36 credits of clinical informatics coursework in 21 months
- 240 hours of practical experience working on interdisciplinary health IT teams
- A capstone project that addresses an informatics challenge in your current workplace
- Networking opportunities with world-renowned faculty from the largest biomedical informatics department in the world
Learn More about the Online Master’s in Health Informatics
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s online clinical informatics master’s degree program can help you advance your career or pivot into an entirely new position.
In our program, you’ll learn from a distance but grow right at home as you engage with expert faculty, network with peers, and develop and implement a capstone project.