Health informatics, a field rooted in data-driven discovery since the 1950s, has grown into a vital component of modern healthcare. Today, it integrates digital tools and online applications to track health data, guide decision-making, and improve patient outcomes. Professionals in healthcare informatics careers play a critical role in helping healthcare organizations comply with regulations, deliver preventive care, and analyze health trends.
For those curious about this fast-growing field, healthcare informatics careers range from data analysts to clinical informatics specialists. Preparing for these roles often involves earning a master’s degree in informatics & AI and certifications that provide hands-on expertise in solving real-world healthcare challenges.
Health Informatics Career Definition
In healthcare, the term “informatics” refers to the collection, storage, and use of health data to guide patient treatment, foster collaboration among providers, enhance operational efficiencies, and improve patient outcomes. Professionals in health informatics collect, create, store, manage, review, and analyze patient records and other healthcare datasets.
Health informatics focuses on the concepts and practices that make that data more useful in providing care. Depending on their role, those in health informatics careers may be responsible for maintaining the technology that manages this data.
Health Informatics Career Options
The work of health informatics professionals helps providers ensure that they’re providing high-quality healthcare and developing effective patient treatment plans. Job titles in the field include the following:
- Health data analyst
- Health informaticist
- Health information technologist/technician
- Health informatics analyst
- Clinical informatics specialist
- Health information manager
The following are a few of the tools and processes associated with various health informatics careers:
- Electronic health records (EHRs): Digital sources of patient data, which federal law has mandated to give medical professionals real-time information about those in their care
- Data visualization: Creation of visual representations of health data, such as graphs and charts, using Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, and similar tools
- Predictive analytics: Assessments of large volumes of data to predict what treatment an individual patient will require and identify opportunities for healthcare outreach to different populations
- Epidemic tracking: Tracking of data from online sources, including social media, to anticipate health emergencies and develop strategies for addressing them
Workplaces for Health Informatics Careers
Various organizations in healthcare and related industries employ informatics professionals. The facilities and companies relying on health informatics include the following:
- Medical offices
- Hospitals
- Pharmacies
- Health insurance companies
- Healthcare information technology (health IT or HIT) organizations
- Healthcare consulting firms
Health Informatics Career Salary and Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects faster-than-average growth in the vocational fields that health informatics careers combine — healthcare, health information, and computer and IT — between 2023 and 2033. Additionally, the BLS reports a median annual salary for health informatics careers that outpaced the national average in May 2023.
The BLS projects 16% growth in jobs for health information technologists and medical registrars during the 2023-2033 period. By comparison, the bureau projects 4% growth in jobs for all occupations during the period. The increasing volume of EHRs that healthcare professionals rely on is driving the projected growth in health informatics.
The median annual salary for health information technologists and medical registrars was $62,990 in May 2023, according to the BLS. Those whose focus was managing companies and enterprises had the greatest median annual salary for this occupation, earning $77,170. The median pay for all U.S. careers, in all fields, was $48,060.
How to Get Into Health Informatics
Getting into health informatics requires education; skills development; and professional certifications, depending on the role. The following are three key steps in how to get into health informatics:
1. Pursue Higher Education
A bachelor’s degree or higher that focuses on informatics or a related IT subject is a common requirement for any informatics career. However, for informatics professionals who want to work in healthcare, informatics degrees that emphasize that industry are especially helpful.
Additionally, earning a master’s degree in healthcare informatics can be helpful for pursuing advancement in health informatics careers.
2. Build Job Skills
Education that prepares students to work in health informatics should offer a mix of courses and workplace experiences. Students should have opportunities to not only build their knowledge in healthcare and technology but also develop their skills. Health informatics requires understanding and aptitude in subjects and abilities such as:
- Technology: Using EHRs, project management processes, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital medical devices
- Healthcare: Understanding relevant laws, population health, and healthcare systems
- Analysis: Studying data to uncover healthcare trends and inform decision-making
- Data security: Protecting personal health data to keep it private
3. Seek Professional Certifications
Just as higher levels of education can be beneficial in securing health informatics positions, particularly advanced roles, professional certifications can set job seekers apart. In many cases, employers require their health informatics employees to hold these credentials. Examples of organizations that award health informatics certifications are as follows:
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
- American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)
- Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
These certifications, which typically require applicants to pay a fee and pass an exam, can indicate expertise in areas ranging from health data analysis to medication data management.
What Is the Health Informatics Career Pathway?
Entry-level health informatics careers generally require at least a bachelor’s degree. The typical health informatics career pathway takes professionals to a higher level of seniority every two years of their work in the field, according to Glassdoor. Additional education, such as a master’s degree, and certification may help those in health informatics careers advance more quickly.
Start Your Technology Career Journey in This Important Healthcare Field
A career in health informatics allows professionals to combine elements of three industries — healthcare, technology, and health information — that have strong job growth projections. If you’re ready to take the next step in your health informatics career pathway, explore the Bryant University Master of Science (MS) in Healthcare Informatics & AI degree program.
The MS in Healthcare Informatics & AI program at Bryant University prepares students to lead with confidence in the rapidly evolving field of healthcare technology. Through a combination of rigorous coursework and capstone or internship opportunities, this in-person and hybrid program provides the knowledge and real-world experience needed to excel in informatics. With its STEM designation, international students with F1 visas have practical training opportunities, and are positioned at graduation as accomplished professionals ready to define success and drive innovation in healthcare.
Discover how Bryant’s MS in Healthcare Informatics & AI can help you pursue your professional goals.