Health Informatics Specialists
Health informatics specialists apply knowledge of nursing and informatics to assist in the design, development, and ongoing modification of computerized health care systems. They educate staff and assist in problem-solving to promote the implementation of the health care system.
Health informatics specialists specialize in data within clinics. They often have backgrounds in both public health and clinical informatics. They work meticulously with data entries and visual image storage systems to collect information on existing practices. They also prepare staff on how to use, build interfaces, data systems and troubleshoot software.
Health informatics specialists' jobs include managing information as it pertains to health and health care. Although they have many roles, they concentrate on improving patient care, enhancing health outcomes, and bracing the doctor-patient bond.
To be considered for a position within a healthcare facility, clinical informatics specialists should have a background in healthcare or IT. Many jobs only require a bachelor’s degree in health information management. Health informatics specialists' salaries range from five-six figures depending on the experience one holds. They typically work at physicians’ offices, public health agencies, home care agencies, and professional and technical service settings.
There are a few pertinent skills desired from a clinical information specialist. They are marketable health informatics skills, advanced health care information management, health care leadership, strategic planning and management of health systems and clinical analytics decision support.
To succeed and advance in this career, one needs interpersonal ability, the ability to solve problems, programming knowledge, communication and the capacity to work with data systems.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- M.Sc. Health Informatics
- B.Tech Computer Science
- B.Sc. Nursing
Tasks
- Design, develop, select, test, implement, and evaluate new or modified informatics solutions, data structures, and decision-support mechanisms to support patients, health care professionals, and their information management and human-computer and human-technology interactions within health care contexts.
- Disseminate information about nursing informatics science and practice to the profession, other health care professions, nursing students, and the public.
- Translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers using object-oriented models or other techniques.
- Plan, install, repair, or troubleshoot telehealth technology applications or systems in homes.
- Use informatics science to design or implement health information technology applications to resolve clinical or health care administrative problems.
- Develop, implement, or evaluate health information technology applications, tools, processes, or structures to assist nurses with data management.
- Analyze and interpret patient, nursing, or information systems data to improve nursing services.
- Analyze computer and information technologies to determine applicability to nursing practice, education, administration, and research.
- Apply knowledge of computer science, information science, nursing, and informatics theory to nursing practice, education, administration, or research, in collaboration with other health informatics specialists.
- Develop or implement policies or practices to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, or security of patient information.
Progression Routes
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