Health informatics is one of the leading areas of study for graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Pursuing a health informatics degree provides a holistic learning model that covers technical, social, ethical, theoretical and economical applications to health informatics. These programs go above and beyond the textbook by working hands-on with students. In doing so, they provide up-close observation, demonstrate applied processes and provide real-world experience to better equip them for a career after college.
The career outlook for a job in the health informatics field is one of the highest in the market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average growth for all occupations in the United States.
This large need to fill the skills gap, or the lack of employable talent to match the job demand in the field, comes with the entire transformation of a system. The transformation of health records from paper documents to a digital file has provided better security and storage for patients’ medical information. However, making the transition has become a lengthy and tedious process as many medical technicians aren’t up to date with the new software and systems. This move to digital documenting, paired with constant reform in the healthcare industry, creates a high demand for health informatics experts who understand the healthcare system, what it lacks and how to improve it.
Students who graduate from a health informatics program will continue to be in high demand from employers, and will likely fill roles such as health informatics technicians or analysts. They will be used for their advanced abilities in computer programming, data analytics, healthcare system analysis, preventing medical errors and tracking diseases. In all of these areas, and many more, students can implement what they’ve learned in the classroom to improve the health informatics sector.