The healthcare industry continues to grow. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that there will be 1.8 million healthcare occupation job openings each year from 2022 to 2032, representing much faster employment growth than the average for all occupations. One way of taking advantage of that growth is to obtain a Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Informatics. This sector of the healthcare field plays a critical role in bridging the gap between information technology and clinical work, helping to improve patient care in the process.
As healthcare is increasingly tech-driven, healthcare technologies and the field of health informatics will be central to development, change and job growth in the industry. Here are just a few career options for those who earn an advanced degree in health informatics.
Chief Medical Information Officer
This C-suite-level position may be filled by physicians who spend part of their time designing information technology systems and the other part seeing patients. Professionals in this role not only train physicians on informatics systems, but they often design those systems as well.
Required qualifications may include an advanced degree in medicine coupled with a degree in informatics. A chief medical information officer will need to have worked in informatics at a healthcare facility and must also have leadership skills including conflict resolution and negotiation.
ZipRecruiter reports that the annual salary range for a chief medical information officer is $92,000 to $399,000, as of January 2024.
Health Informatics Director
A health informatics director — or director of informatics — is responsible for a healthcare facility’s health informatics systems and employees. They may bridge medical and information technology departments, similar to chief medical information officers. But the health informatics director’s main priority is to improve patient care by overseeing how pertinent data is analyzed and managed. Directors also keep a close eye on technological advances to make sure their informatics systems are as efficient and up-to-date as possible. Further, health informatics directors set departmental budgets, policies and procedures.
People typically need at least five years of managerial experience to be considered for this position. According to ZipRecruiter data from January 2024, the average annual director of informatics salary is $117,282.
Data Scientist
Data scientists (in healthcare settings) analyze data from many different sources in order to help improve care. These sources include electronic health records, clinical trials, current medical research and many others. Professionals in this field supply the data doctors use to determine which treatment methods are the most effective, and to find new uses for medications currently on the market. Data scientists must have substantial knowledge in many areas, such as predictive analysis, disease modeling, interoperability of different electronic health records systems and more.
According to BLS, the median 2022 wage for data scientists was $103,500 per year.
Clinical Informatics Manager
As the name of the position implies, a clinical informatics manager supervises the implementation of a healthcare facility’s informatics systems. This role involves training staff members on how to use the systems, while making sure the systems comply with state and federal regulations as well as industry standards.
The annual salary range for clinical informatics managers is $52,500 to $149,500, according to January 2024 data from ZipRecruiter
Health Informatics Consultant
This position is in high demand due to the need for healthcare organizations to comply with federal regulations while keeping overhead as low as possible. Many organizations are hesitant to hire employees for this position full time because they cannot predict their future informatics needs.
Health informatics consultants typically help develop and maintain a facility’s medical records systems. Consultants provide data to administrators and analyze that data to help administrators make policy decisions. In addition, they develop computer records in conjunction with the organization’s information technology staff. In many instances, they interact with patients to determine how successfully a facility’s informatics systems are being utilized.
According to ZipRecruiter data from January 2024, health informatics consultants make an average annual salary of $127,950.
Informatics Nurse
Informatics nurses train staff members on how to use systems and make sure all staff members are kept updated on the newest technology. They also help to communicate any changes or updates to staff members.
ZipRecruiter reports that informatics nurses make an average salary of $98,409, as of January 2024.
Clinical Informatics Specialist
This position entails creating or improving processes used to convert medical records into digital form. The U.S. government incentivizes healthcare providers to use electronic records systems by penalizing those that don’t. As a result, clinical informatics specialists are in high demand.
Clinical informatics specialists make an average annual salary of $103,597, according to January 2024 data from ZipRecruiter.
Clinical Informatics Analyst
A clinical informatics analyst is responsible for looking at data in order to improve the effectiveness of an organization’s clinical informatics systems. Analysts will typically design database systems and make sure they meet federal standards.
ZipRecruiter reports that clinical informatics analysts make an average annual salary of $85,609, as of January 2024.
How a Master of Science in Health Informatics Can Help
If you are looking to move into a leadership role in a healthcare facility or simply to expand your career options, healthcare informatics could provide a perfect opportunity. Obtaining a graduate degree in this field can expand your knowledge of healthcare and help you drive the future of the industry. More importantly, you can play a part in improving patient care.
Learn more about Northern Kentucky University’s online M.S. in Health Informatics program.
