As the expansion of the health care industry continues, jobs available in health informatics have also become more popular as health career options. Health informatics deals with the development and management of information technology systems that ethically and accurately record patient data, according to the National Institute of Health. Employees in health informatics positions must be competent with: coding medical diagnoses and treatments; completing billing transactions; handling patient information confidentially; and following compliance standards according to government regulations. Successful healthcare informatics specialists enjoy working with people, communicate well, have aptitudes in science, math and technology, and are adaptable to a fast-paced working environment.
Educational and Certification Requirements for Health Informatics Professionals
Candidates for health informatics jobs must hold degrees from accredited educational programs. Vocational schools and community colleges offer certificate or associate’s degree programs. Graduates from these schools will find employment at entry-level positions within the field. Advancement into mid-level supervisory or higher-level executive positions often requires a bachelor’s, master’s or professional degree.
In addition, The American Health Information Management Association oversees certification opportunities for careers in health information. Certification can be specialized for particular jobs within the field and establishes an employee’s professional competency to implement and enforce healthcare standards in the workplace. Motivated employees who obtain relevant certifications increase their eligibility to move into mid- and upper-level management positions.
Job Settings for Health Informatics Careers
Health informatics specialists and managers can pursue a number of different career tracks in private and public sectors. Settings for health informatics jobs within the private sector include working for non-government funded:
- Hospitals and community clinics
- Residential nursing homes or assisted living places
- Rehabilitation or therapeutic facilities
- Doctor’s or dentists’ offices
- Related health practices, such as occupational, physical or speech therapy groups
- Insurance companies
- Educational institutions
- Not-for-profit health groups
Examples of government agencies that employ health informatics professionals include:
- Active duty military hospitals and veteran’s organizations
- Public health departments and clinics
- Disaster preparedness and emergency relief programs
- State or federal health organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health
- Medicaid and Medicare providers
Health Informatics Job Trends
Jobs available in health informatics are on the rise according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For entry-level positions working as medical records personnel or health information technicians, jobs are expected to increase by 22% through 2022 with median pay of approximately $34,160 per year. Mid-to-upper level positions, such as medical and health service managers, are expected to increase by 23% through the same time frame and offer median pay of $88,580 annually.
Related Resource: Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare informatics is a developing field that offers a wide variety of career opportunities for those who display: effective, interpersonal communication skills; a strong work ethic; and aptitudes in science, math and technology. Additionally, health informatics employees who earn higher degrees or obtain appropriate certifications expand their eligibility to move into higher paying positions with more responsibility. Based on the increasing demand for jobs available in health informatics across private and public sectors, this healthcare specialization provides a sustainable, rewarding career path for qualified candidates.
