Careers in Healthcare Informatics
Health care informatics uses information technology, computer systems and software to acquire, manage and analyze medical information. The medical information is stored for easy retrieval and analysis by those who are authorized to access this information. Medical professionals such as doctors, nurses, biostatisticians, administrators and technicians use informatics systems to organize clinical data and patient medical records and to diagnose patients' illnesses.
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Biostatistician
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Biostatisticians use computers, databases and statistical software to analyze data gathered from clinical trials of drugs and medical devices. The biostatistician develops the clinical trial protocol--the rules of how the clinical trial is conducted--and tracks the data through all phases of the clinical trial. Data models are created based on the efficacy of a drug or medical device, and a cost-benefit analysis is performed.
Biostatisticians usually have a master's degree in mathematics or statistics. As of 2010, biostatisticians in clinical research can expect to make an average annual salary of between $66,644 and $91,678.
Medical Records Administrator
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The information in patient medical records is used to diagnose and treat patients, for insurance reimbursement, research and quality assurance of care. Medical offices keep patients' records in a centralized database, and the medical records administrator decides on the type of informatics system needed, who will have access and how often the system is to be updated and backed up. He supervises other staff, including medical records coders, and reports to the head doctor or another administrator. A medical records administrator is required to have a bachelor's degree in medical record administration. As of 2010, the average annual salary for a medical records administrator in a medical office is between $54,262 and $77,688.
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Informatics Nurse
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Nurses use informatics to provide the best patient care possible in a timely manner. Documentation of patients' symptoms and progress is a large part of nursing care, and informatics systems provide easy access to that documentation. An informatics nurse may work in a hospital or acute care hospital, a clinic, health insurance company or in health care technology for a corporation. The informatics nurse is responsible for gathering patient information at admission, updating the patient's documentation and collaborating with other health professionals to provide medical care. An informatics nurse may be a registered nurse with an advanced degree in nursing or medical informatics. As of 2010, an informatics nurse working in a hospital environment may expect an average annual salary between $57,063 and $78,569.
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