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Health Informatics Specialist

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AVG. SALARY

$89,800

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EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Information Technology cluster Programming and Software Development pathway.

Beyond High School

Here's a list of programs that you should consider if you're interested in this career:

Education Level

Education training and experience are required at different levels for success in different occupations.

Bachelor's degree

Health informatics specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in computer and information technology or a related field. Because these analysts are involved in the business side of an organization, taking business courses or majoring in management information systems may be helpful. An analyst working in a hospital may need a thorough understanding of healthcare plans and programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Insider Info

Additional Information

Medical informaticians entering the field usually have a master's degree in medical informatics. Competition for jobs is increasingly high and an undergrad or associate's degree simply isn't enough to compete.

Coursework will include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health information, coding and abstraction of data, statistics, database management, quality assurance methods and especially computer training.

Applicants can improve their chances of admission into a program by taking biology, chemistry, health and computer courses in high school.

Many people who train in medical informatics already have a professional degree in a health-related subject. They may also have specialized training in business, computer science or statistics.

Some medical doctors are combining their MD with a master's degree in medical informatics in order to step into this hot new field.

"People who, say, have an MBA and a master's in medical informatics or an MD and a master's in medical informatics are finding them very solid combinations for a lot of jobs, especially in industry," says Ted Shortliffe. He is a professor and chair of the department of medical informatics at Columbia University.

Students may also choose to study at home through the American Health Information Management Association's independent study program.

Many schools also offer an internship program which will provide students with on-the-job training.

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.