Certificate in Health Informatics

Health informatics professionals review patient records, organize and maintain data for clinical databases and registries and track patient outcomes for quality assessment. These medical experts electronically record data for collection, analysis and reporting, and protect patients' health information for confidentiality. Health informatics workers are in high demand. Online job postings for this profession far outpace those of other health-related jobs. The employment of health informatics technicians is expected to increase by 21% during the next decade, making it one of the top jobs in the nation.

The health informatics sector needs more skilled professionals with greater clinical knowledge, as low-skilled positions are shrinking and employers are looking for highly proficient people in the field. If you have strong analytical skills and you do not mind working for long hours in front of the computer, health informatics is the line of work for you. This profession is rewarding and also offers big growth opportunities. The increasing population and the advancements in technology require more health informatics experts to manage electronic data and use it for various projects.

Certificate in Health Informatics
Health informatics technicians need a postsecondary certificate to enter the field. But they can also kick start a career with an associate's degree. Professional certification is also available in this field.

Some of the courses students can pursue in the postsecondary certificate and the associate's degrees are health data requirements and standards, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and healthcare reimbursement methods. Students may also cover topics such as computer systems and healthcare statistics.

Students can increase their job prospects by obtaining professional certificate in this field. They can obtain certification of a registered health information technician among others.

Online Programs
Aspiring health informatics professionals can also pursue training programs online. The distance learning courses are useful for the ones who want to get into this field but cannot attend regular classes due to a busy work schedule. Such programs can also be an excellent learning option for those who reside in remote areas and away from traditional schools. Classes in online programs are conducted over the internet. Students can study by using various technologies and complete a program at their own pace.

Important Qualities
Health informatics professionals require strong analytical skills. They should also be detail-oriented as well as be possessing interpersonal and technical skills are also among the skill-set required by these professionals.

Career Outlook
The demand for health services is growing as the population ages and will require more medical tests and treatments. This in turn calls for more claims for reimbursement from insurance. A growing use of health records will lead to an increased need for health informatics professionals.

Health informatics professionals can make between $21,000 and $53,000 a year. According to the BLS, job prospects will be the best for the ones with a certification in health information.

Health informatics technicians can work in hospitals or physicians' offices. Some of these experts may also work at clinics or nursing homes. Employment opportunities are also available with the government. These professionals need to spend lot of time in front of computers. Most of them work full-time and some work evenings or weekends as well.