What Does a Health Informatics Analyst Do?

Health informatics analysts are tasked with analyzing health data and information. They work with a variety of different types of data, including medical records, clinical trial results, pharmaceutical research, etc. Their job is to take this information and use it to develop new ways to improve healthcare delivery or treatment outcomes.

Health Informatics Analyst Job Duties

Health informatics analysts have a wide range of responsibilities, which can include:

• Collecting data from patients’ medical records to identify trends or problems in treatment plans or outcomes
• Recommending computer hardware and software solutions to meet operational needs
• Developing strategies to ensure that data is secure and accessible only to authorized individuals
• Designing databases and other technology solutions to improve efficiency in healthcare facilities
• Developing procedures for handling requests for information from patients or other staff members
• Creating reports to summarize data, identify trends, and highlight areas of concern
• Analyzing computer systems to identify opportunities for improvement or upgrading
• Examining existing software programs to ensure they are compatible with new systems being implemented
• Conducting research to identify new technology trends that may impact the industry

Health Informatics Analyst Salary & Outlook

Health informatics analysts’ salaries vary depending on their level of education, years of experience, and the type of organization they work for.

• Median Annual Salary: $85,000 ($40.87/hour)
• Top 10% Annual Salary: $163,000 ($78.37/hour)

The employment of health informatics analysts is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade.

As healthcare organizations implement electronic medical records (EMR) and other information technology (IT) systems, demand for health informatics analysts will increase. Health informatics analysts will be needed to ensure that these new systems function properly and to evaluate their effectiveness.

Health Informatics Analyst Job Requirements

A health informatics analyst typically needs to have the following qualifications:

Education: Employers typically require health informatics analysts to have a bachelor’s degree in health information management, health information technology, health information science or a related field. Some employers prefer candidates to have a master’s degree in health information management or health information technology.

Training & Experience: Health informatics analysts typically receive on-the-job training after they are hired. Training may include learning the specific software and computer systems the company uses. Training may also include instruction on how to perform tasks and interact with patients and other professionals.

Certifications & Licenses: While certifications are not required for a health informatics analyst role, they can be valuable in finding work and competing for higher-paying positions.

Health Informatics Analyst Skills

Health informatics analysts need the following skills in order to be successful:

Medical coding: Medical coding is the process of converting patient information into a format that can be stored in a database. Health informatics analysts may be responsible for creating coding standards for an organization.

Coding standards: Health informatics analysts use coding standards to ensure the quality of the software they develop. They understand the standards and can apply them to ensure the software they develop is safe and effective.

Health care laws and regulations: Health informatics analysts work with health care organizations and companies to ensure they comply with health care laws and regulations. This requires knowledge of the laws and regulations and how they affect the organization. Health informatics analysts also need to know how to interpret the laws and regulations and how they affect the organization’s data.

Data analysis: Data analysis is the ability to interpret large amounts of data and find patterns or trends. Health informatics analysts use data analysis to identify areas of improvement for health care processes and procedures.

Communication: Health informatics analysts communicate with a variety of people, including patients, medical professionals, other health informatics analysts and other staff members. They use a variety of communication methods, including in-person, phone, email and video conferencing. They also use communication to explain technical information to non-technical audiences.

Health Informatics Analyst Work Environment

Health informatics analysts typically work in office settings, although they may travel to meet with clients or attend conferences. They usually work full time and may work overtime to meet deadlines. Health informatics analysts typically work with a team of other analysts, programmers, and support staff. They may also work with medical personnel, such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to ensure that the information systems they develop meet the needs of the medical staff and patients.

Health Informatics Analyst Trends

Here are three trends influencing how health informatics analysts work. Health informatics analysts will need to stay up-to-date on these developments to keep their skills relevant and maintain a competitive advantage in the workplace.

The Need for Better Data Management

Health informatics analysts are in high demand as hospitals and other healthcare organizations look to improve their data management systems.

This trend is driven by the need for better data management, which can help hospitals make more informed decisions about patient care. Health informatics analysts are well-positioned to take advantage of this trend by developing skills in data management and analytics.

The Emergence of Healthcare Blockchain

Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential solution to many of the problems facing the healthcare industry, such as data security and interoperability. As blockchain becomes more popular, health informatics analysts will need to learn how to use it in order to stay competitive.

By understanding how blockchain works, health informatics analysts can help to create solutions that utilize its unique features. This could include creating blockchain-based medical records or using blockchain to connect different healthcare systems.

More Focus on Patient Engagement

As patients become more engaged in their own healthcare, they are looking for professionals who can help them navigate the complex world of medicine.

Health informatics analysts are in a unique position to meet this need, as they have both the technical expertise to understand the latest medical technologies and the communication skills to communicate with patients. By becoming experts in patient engagement, health informatics analysts can help hospitals and clinics to provide better care to their patients.

How to Become a Health Informatics Analyst

A career in health informatics is a great way to use your skills in technology and healthcare to make a positive impact on people’s lives. As an analyst, you’ll work with doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to find ways to improve the delivery of care. This could include developing new technologies, designing systems for sharing information, or creating training programs.

To become an analyst, you’ll need a strong background in both healthcare and technology. You should have experience working in a clinical setting and be familiar with medical terminology and procedures. You should also have strong technical skills, including knowledge of programming languages, databases, and networking.

Advancement Prospects

Health informatics analysts typically advance in their careers by taking on more responsibility and/or moving into management positions. As they gain experience and knowledge, analysts may be promoted to senior positions or may become managers of informatics teams. In some cases, analysts may also choose to start their own consulting businesses.

Health Informatics Analyst Job Description Example

The healthcare industry is in a state of flux, and [CompanyX] is leading the charge in terms of innovation. We’re looking for a health informatics analyst to join our team and help us create solutions that will shape the future of healthcare. The ideal candidate will have experience working with electronic health records (EHRs), as well as a strong understanding of healthcare data. They will be responsible for analyzing data to identify trends and patterns, as well as developing reports to help inform decision-making. The goal is to use data to improve patient care and outcomes, as well as the efficiency of our healthcare delivery system.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as a liaison between the clinical and informatics teams, providing training and support to end users on EHR applications
• Gather requirements from clinicians and other stakeholders, and work with the development team to create system specifications for new features and functionality
• Test new software releases and updates prior to production deployment, ensuring that all changes meet user expectations and needs
• Monitor system performance and usage metrics, troubleshooting issues and recommending process improvements to optimize workflow
• Generate reports from data stored in the EHR system, using SQL queries or other reporting tools, and present findings to key stakeholders
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and accreditation standards, such as HIPAA and Meaningful Use
• Develop and implement policies and procedures related to health informatics and data management
• Manage projects related to system upgrades, integrations, and implementations
• Serve as a subject matter expert on EHR applications and other health information technology
• Train new staff members on the use of EHR applications and other health IT systems
• Supervise the work of junior analysts and other support staff
• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in health informatics, computer science, or related field
• 3-5 years professional experience in a healthcare setting
• Strong understanding of medical terminology and clinical workflows
• Experience with data analysis and reporting tools, such as SQL, Tableau, and Excel
• Familiarity with electronic medical records (EMR) systems
• Exceptional problem solving and critical thinking skills

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Master’s degree in health informatics, computer science, or related field
• Experience with project management
• Certification in health informatics or related field
• Knowledge of programming languages, such as Java, Python, and C++