Today, medical records and informatics are playing a critical role in the streamlining of patient care information across the healthcare informatics discipline. At the center of these advancements is the interdisciplinary field of healthcare informatics – a rapidly growing field that focuses on improving patient and healthcare outcomes through health records. Continue reading to explore what healthcare informatics is and what a career in informatics can look like.
Defining Healthcare Informatics
Healthcare informatics applies various components of information technology to better organize and analyze health records. Through the continued application and development of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), the need for informaticists to manage and analyze data has increased significantly– with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a total of 416,200 jobs in 2020, and a job growth rate of 9% over the next 10 years. Depending on the specific position, healthcare informaticists, and specialists can perform various tasks, including:
- Improving patient/consumer use of existing and emerging technologies
- Accelerate the adoption of health information, communication tools, and technologies
- Be an organizational resource for applying informatics concepts
- Advocate for health information systems that reflect consumers’ needs, values, and preferences
- Translating and updating health information through EMR systems
Beneficiaries of Healthcare Informatics
Healthcare informaticists don’t just organize and analyze data, they also assist in providing electronic access to patient EMRs and health data across various entities within the healthcare industry. Countless healthcare professionals benefit from the work Health informaticists do.
- Registered Nurses will access patients’ medical records or procedure charts to understand past care better and make informed decisions about future care during their visit.
- Healthcare Administrators use data collected from patients to make informed improvements to a hospital system and structure, along with helping to improve individual patient care.
- Clinical Mental Health Councilors use health records to understand medical and medication histories – using them to better target their clinical approach.
- Even Pharmacy Technicians use health data when interacting with patients by seeing past prescriptions and ensuring the correct dosage is administered.
Becoming A Healthcare Informaticist
Not only can a career in healthcare informatics lead toward rewarding opportunities in healthcare, but healthcare informaticists play a critical role in all levels of healthcare, with jobs in the field ranging from entry-level specialist to Chief of Medical Information.
While there are many two- and four-year degree programs available, getting to start in healthcare informatics can be done a lot sooner with a certificate in health informatics from the University of Providence. Our 100% online certificate program provides a strong framework for preparing students to serve in the healthcare informatics field.
