| is a subfield within the information technology industry that leverages patient records and related data to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. And while patient records have always played a crucial role in healthcare, the widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) has necessitated a new role: the health informatics specialist. Show
Keep reading to learn more about what a health informatics specialist does, the skills employers are looking for, and how you can break into the field. Advance Your Career in an Emerging FieldLearn how health informatics graduates use information technology to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. EXPLORE THE PROGRAM What is a health informatics specialist?A health informatics specialist is a professional who works with various forms of data in a healthcare setting. This data can include patient records as well as other types of health information. Health informatics specialists often (though not always) possess a background in the healthcare industry, such as a nurse, before pivoting into informatics. How much does a health informatics specialist make?According to PayScale.com, the median annual salary for a health informatics specialist is $67,534 per year or roughly $23.98 per hour. This salary can reach a high of $118,000, depending on the individual’s education level and experience. Profit-sharing and annual bonuses are also common benefits for these professionals, although the exact amounts vary significantly depending on the organization. Where do health informatics specialists work?A health informatics specialist can work for a wide variety of different types of employers within the healthcare industry. Some of the most common types of employers include:
In short, a health informatics specialist can be employed by any organization that regularly receives, handles, or relies upon patient data or other health information. What do health informatics specialists do?Precisely what a health informatics specialist does as a part of their daily role can vary significantly depending on several factors. Smaller organizations, for example, may have a smaller informatics team where fewer individuals are responsible for a variety of tasks in a more generalized role. In larger organizations with more resources dedicated to the informatics department, health informatics specialists will often play more specialized functions. According to Jay Spitulnik, associate teaching professor and director of Northeastern’s MS in Health Informatics, health informatics specialists deal broadly with the collection, storage, management, analysis, and reporting of health data. He notes that the four most common roles for health informatics specialists are as analysts, project managers, consultants, and implementation support.
Health Informatics SkillsWorking as a health informatics specialist requires versatility that enables you to comfortably step into various roles, depending on your employer’s needs, Spitulnik says. In addition to versatility, he recommends aspiring health informatics specialists develop their regulatory understanding, communication skills, and complex technical skills. Regulatory UnderstandingHealth informatics specialists spend their days interacting with (or designing and maintaining systems that interact with) vast amounts of consumer health records. Therefore, it is essential that health informatics specialists understand the laws and regulations that apply to such data, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. After all, it is only by understanding these regulations that a professional can be confident that their systems comply. Communication SkillsSpitulnik says communication skills are essential for success as a health informatics specialist. “[HI specialists] need to be good listeners because they need to understand the needs of the end-users of the health information technology,” Spitulnik says. “They need to be able to listen well enough to ask the right questions, and then be able to communicate their findings.” Thus, health informatics specialists should not only be skilled at communicating with other IT professionals but also with management, administration, and even care providers. “Health informatics specialists very much play the role of interpreter,” Spitulnik says. “They are responsible for facilitating communications amongst all the various groups using the informatics function.” Technical SkillsFinally, Spitulnik notes that health informatics specialists will ultimately rely on many of the same so-called “hard” or technical skills that others in the field of information technology also rely on. These competencies include various analytics tools, technologies, and frameworks along with programming skills such as R, Python, and SQL. Taking the time to learn how to perform data visualization can also be an asset, Spitulnik says, as it helps specialists communicate more effectively with different stakeholders. Becoming a Health Informatics SpecialistIf you are interested in becoming a health informatics specialist, there are several paths you might take. Some professionals choose to earn an undergraduate degree in information technology before pursuing a master’s degree in health informatics. Others spend years working in a healthcare capacity as a nurse or other role before deciding that they want to make a change—at which point they pursue a graduate education that empowers them to reach that goal. In either case, a master’s degree in information technology or health informatics will typically be required. In choosing a program to enroll in, Spitulnik recommends that students carefully consider the program’s placement rates, as well as the general educational philosophy that guides it. “At Northeastern, close to 100 percent of our graduates are placed after graduation,” he says. “Our program is truly interdisciplinary, taking into account health science, information science, and management science to arm students with the skills and expertise they’ll need for success in their careers.” To learn more about the program, explore our program page or get in touch with an enrollment coach to get your questions answered. About Tim StobierskiTim Stobierski is a marketing specialist and contributing writer for Northeastern University. Related Articles What Can You Do with a Master of Science in Security and Resilience Studies?Is School Psychology a Good Career Path?5 Major Healthcare Challenges Being Solved by Digital Health TechnologyAdvance the Field of Health InformaticsNortheastern's Health Informatics program has nearly a 100% job placement rate within six months of graduation. Master of Science in Health InformaticsThe Master of Science in Health Informatics prepares students to successfully address the combined clinical, technical, and business needs of health-related professions. What kind and what type of skills are needed in nursing informatics?CRITICAL THINKING, ANALYSIS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
The unique value that a clinician brings to any Nursing Informatics role is his or her experience in patient care. Because of that, a clinician is expected to be able to think through problems or issues and analyze them based on this wealth of knowledge and experience.
Why are you interested in the field of health informatics?Organizations are in desperate need of qualified professionals to help categorize, analyze and make sense of health care data, and it's likely the health care industry will hire an army of qualified health informaticists over the coming decade to turn all that data into insights that improve patient care.
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