Careers in Health Care Informatics

Informatics is essentially the processing and assimilating of varied sources of information. Specializations are available in the discipline and these are usually used in conjunction with informatics as a prefix to indicate the same. Examples are nursing informatics, health care informatics, veterinary informatics, clinical informatics and public health informatics to name a few. Simply put, informatics specializations are a marriage of information systems with designated specialization.

There are several programs available in each and every specialization spanning Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Certifications and diplomas are also available. Most programs are available through campus and online modes enabling working staff to balance work and study commitments. However, practical experience is crucial in such cases. Importantly, professionals in these disciplines not only need to be acquainted with informatics but also specific disciplines that they have chosen. A case in point is nursing informatics wherein the professional needs to be aware of nursing as well as informatics. License requirements may also apply.

Career prospects are extremely bright in informatics field since there is heavy demand throughout the world. Students who specialize in informatics usually land jobs quickly after studies and also draw higher salaries. Governmental actions also increase employment prospects. For example, Obama’s recent decision to digitalize medical records has given a push in the nursing informatics field. Salary prospects are also good depending on the field. The average salary of nursing informatics specialists was $83,675 in 2007 as per Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).Factors impacting earnings typically include education, managerial responsibilities, experience, location and employer.

University of Phoenix and Lincoln Technical Institute lead the group offering flexible and quality programs. Kaplan University and Everest Institute offer real word practical skills through their programs. South University’s programs are focused on the student experience and in helping them achieve their educational goals.