When choosing that “right” career path for you there is so much to consider. Obviously, it’s important to think about the market trends, what industries and careers are on the rise, and of course where your own interests and passions lie.
If the emerging field of health informatics is one that appeals to you and you’ve been considering enrolling in an online health informatics degree program, you may want to take a moment and read this helpful career guide. Here we’ll take a look at what health informatics entails, the state of the industry right now, and where it is heading in the future.
What is a Masters in Health Informatics?
The masters in health informatics program is one that is really starting to pick up steam and become much more popular as of late. What is making this field so appealing to such a large body of students is the fact that it blends together a love and passion of the healthcare industry along with a thirst to work in the IT business. Information technology and the healthcare field have now joined forces in order to service patients and healthcare professionals more effectively.
As far as what kind of job you can expect to get once you earn your degree, some of the more popular options include a health informatics manager, a clinical informatics data analyst, a healthcare IT project manager, a medical coding specialist, or a nurse informatics specialist.
When it comes to salary, statistics show that the average salary in the health informatics field is $60,692 as of 2016. Of course, some jobs will pay more than this depending on where you work and what your responsibilities are.
What About the Degree?
As for the online MSHI program, many are surprised to learn that you can complete it in as little as two years. Schools such as the University of Cincinnati offer six start dates each year, which gives students even more flexibility, enabling them to get started on forming their future career at a time that suits them.
Don’t forget that by earning your degree you will be open more career opportunities since you will have the training and skills necessary.
Showcasing Strong Future Growth
Obviously, you want to pick a field that is enjoying a period of growth, and that has staying power. The good news is that health informatics checks off all boxes in this area. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Department (BLS), the job outlook is very positive. Between the years 2016-2026 the amount of jobs is expected to grow by 13%, which is faster than the average overall job growth rate in the country.
Much of this growth can be attributed to the aging population. As the country’s population continues to age, more medical attention will be required. This means the healthcare industry as a whole is seeing strong growth trends. Keeping patient records and documents organized and accessible across the board will become extremely important.
So, if you’ve been wondering if this field is right for you and whether or not it shows promise, considering how fast healthcare informatics is growing seems well worth looking into.
