If you have an ongoing interest in healthcare and technology, you can combine both of your interests and pursue a career in health informatics. The term “health informatics” may be unfamiliar to many people, but it affects the lives of almost everyone, especially since the field of medicine is becoming increasingly data-driven and new regulations call for electronic versions of medical records. Within the general field of health informatics, there are opportunities in nursing, public health and in clinical settings.
The History of Health Informatics
The field of health informatics got its start when Dr. Gustav Wagner established the German Society for Medical Documentation in 1949, and soon other countries adopted similar standards for organizing medical data. In the 1950s, Dr. Arthur E Rappoport came up with the idea of using punch cards for computers used in clinical settings and Ledley and Lusted published a well-received paper that discussed ways in which computers could be used in the field of medicine. In the 1960s, Utah’s Latter Day Saints Hospital was the first to have records registered electronically. President Barack Obama called for a national electronic health record system in 2009 following a plan proposed by President George W. Bush.
What Health Informatics Professionals Do
Those who specialize in health informatics work in the healthcare industry but do not provide patient care. They are most often connected with administrative and management teams to discuss procedures. These professionals provide data and IT knowledge to aid in the decision-making process. These professionals work in a variety of settings from hospitals to government health organizations and in research facilities. They may work directly with doctors and nurses or discuss management strategies with hospital administrators.
Types of Degrees
Not everyone who works in health informatics is a licensed physician or nurse. If you already have a bachelors degree, you can earn a Masters of Science in healthcare informatics or an MSHI degree. Adelphi has a mshi degree that is 100% online. In addition to the degree offered by Adelphi, there are other online and off-line opportunities to earn this degree. To pursue a program, you do not need prior experience in healthcare and can be currently working in another field. In fact, online learning options allow you to continue working while pursuing your degree. Some programs include an interdisciplinary approach including concepts of business, information systems, and data security analysis.
Combining Healthcare and Technology
Healthcare and technology are topics that affect the lives of almost everyone. If you want a profession that deals with data management and focusing on the lives of individuals, health informatics is a good choice. A multidisciplinary online degree can be earned while you are pursuing another field, and the degree can provide you with flexibility in your vocational choices. Those with a degree in health informatics are attractive candidates across a number of fields because of the expertise one gains in information technology, healthcare, and management. Those who earn this degree may have a career in hospital administration, consulting or researching data for government agencies. Incorporate your technical knowledge and interest in healthcare with a career in health informatics.