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June 28, 2024
6 min read
At the intersection of healthcare and information technology is health information management. This important subfield of the IT industry centers around the gathering and management of patient records and sensitive data in a variety of healthcare settings.
The health informatics specialist is an essential part of this complex ecosystem. In this article, we’ll define the role and detail its day-to-day responsibilities, discuss the educational requirements for the job and go over the skills you’ll need to acquire and sharpen as you prepare to pursue this career.
Utilizing algorithms to identify conditions within various types of claims.
Managing drug formularies, which are lists of generic and brand-name prescription medications covered by health insurance plans.
Developing training programs and materials and providing help desk information for clinicians.
Working with managed care facilities to address billing inquiries and resolve problems.
Ensuring compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines.
Supporting physicians and staff in computerized physician order entry (CPOE), a process where medical professionals enter instructions, medication and lab orders into an electronic system, rather than using paper charts.
Designing, building and maintaining new systems or databases.
2 Minimum schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period. Normal schedule assumes 2 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period.
Improving patient care: Even though the health informatics specialist doesn’t have a hands-on patient care role, they can still make an impact on the quality or effectiveness of the care patients receive. For example, they may facilitate the use of applications that allow mobile access to electronic medical records (EMRs), the digital versions of patient charts.
Using EMRs: Health informatics specialists should be well versed in the use of EMRs for extraction and analysis of clinical data and in staff training, where the technology is used in various ways to track training requirements and completions.
Data analysis: Data management, acquisition and documentation skills are used to respond to requests for database profile information, investigate claims for waiver programs or provide solutions to issues in compliance, integration and billing.
Using EHR systems: EHR systems like EPIC and analytic systems like Tableau, SAS and IBM Watson Healthcare are used by health informatics specialists in several ways, such as assisting with manual chart audits and helping integrate EHRs for physician documentation and procedural orders, processing patient data, creating reports and analyzing trends.
Clinical data: Health information professionals use clinical data, which is information such as diagnostic test results, medication and medical history, to perform analyses in several crucial areas. These include utilization, cost containment, quality improvement and developing the clinical databases that make sure data is shared accurately shared across platforms and systems.
Providing technical support: Health information professionals may be called upon to provide technical support, answer customer inquiries or troubleshoot problems.
Workplace skills allow health information technology professionals to communicate effectively with healthcare providers and health administrators, while maintaining the accuracy and ethical standards that are essential to their work.
Some of the workplace skills they need include:
Attention to detail: Health information professionals need to maintain precision and accuracy as they process clinical data and use their interpretations to suggest improvements.
Integrity: As the confidentiality of patient information is protected by law, health information professionals must always exercise discretion and maintain high ethical standards.
Problem-solving: The ability to identify and address problems in health data is a useful skill for professionals in this field.
Oral and written communication: These professionals must know how communicate complex information clearly, in both written reports and while collaborating with colleagues.
1Growth projected on a national level. Local growth will vary by location. BLS projections are not specific to DeVry University students or graduates, and may include earners at all stages of their careers, not just entry level. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm
2Minimum schedule does not include breaks and assumes 3 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period. Normal schedule assumes 2 semesters of year-round, full-time enrollment in 12-19 credit hours a semester per 12 month period.
3Eligible students receive a complimentary voucher for one exam attempt to support them in the attainment of this credential. To complete their program, students in the Health Information Management technical specialty must meet requirements outlined in the Healthcare Practicum and Clinical Coursework Requirements section and in the Healthcare Site Requirements and General Information section.
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In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org. The University’s Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Arlington Campus: 1400 Crystal Dr., Ste. 120, Arlington, VA 22202. DeVry University is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, www.tn.gov/thec. Lisle Campus: 4225 Naperville Rd, Suite 400, Lisle, IL 60532. Unresolved complaints may be reported to the Illinois Board of Higher Education through the online complaint system https://complaints.ibhe.org/. View DeVry University’s complaint process https://www.devry.edu/compliance/student-complaint-procedure.html Program availability varies by location. In site-based programs, students will be required to take a substantial amount of coursework online to complete their program.
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