What is a Career in Health Informatics?
The field of health informatics focuses on the organization of data, information, and knowledge to inform the development of health information technology (HIT), which includes electronic health records (EHR), telehealth, and digital health applications.
In a health informatics career, you will use informatics methods such as requirements elicitation, modeling, and standardization to guide the development of HIT applications and support the needs of users.
The online Master of Science in Health Informatics & Analytics from Tufts School of Medicine prepares you to navigate, design, manage, and analyze data at every phase of the data life cycle in healthcare, public health, and research settings.
Prepare for a Career in Health Informatics
Learn more about how Tufts’ online MS in Health Informatics & Analytics program
can prepare you for a rewarding career in health informatics.
Health Informatics Jobs
A career in health informatics may involve developing and implementing HIT solutions, training healthcare providers and staff on protocols, or liaising among departments to achieve better outcomes for patients and organizations.
Tufts’ online master’s program offers a health informatics specialization that can prepare you for health informatics jobs at various health organizations, including medical practices, public health agencies, and clinical research organizations.
(Additional experience and education may be required to obtain some of these jobs.)
Health Informatician
Health informaticians maintain records, collect and analyze data, and develop data-driven solutions to improve efficiency and quality of care. They are responsible for integrating, securing, and ensuring the accuracy of patient health information.
Health Informatics Consultant
Health informatics consultants oversee the clinical application systems and databases that healthcare facilities use to track patient records. This health informatics job can include tasks that range from implementation and modification, to staff training, to solving software problems or workflow challenges.
Health Services Manager
Health services managers plan, direct, and improve medical and health services, which often includes managing the use of health information technology (HIT). They might oversee an organization, a specific department, or a group medical practice.
Health Informatics Director
A health informatics director is an executive-level leadership role that combines technical knowledge with the management skills to integrate data flow across divisions. Health informatics directors may train teams on new technology, coordinate with stakeholders to introduce HIT protocol changes, and analyze and mitigate technology challenges.
Clinical Informatics Specialist
A clinical informatics specialist serves as a liaison between clinicians and the IT department to create system solutions that can be maintained and scaled. A professional in this health informatics career may lead multidisciplinary teams, evaluate the current state of HIT systems, and make design changes to achieve clinical and organizational objectives.
Nurse Informatics Specialist
Nurse informatics specialists facilitate the integration and use of data to drive greater efficiencies and outcomes for patients, nurses, and other health care providers. They may manage record-keeping protocols and implement systems to improve the accuracy of patient care plans. Many nurse informatics specialists have a nursing background.
Pharmacy Informatics Specialist
Pharmacy informatics specialists may develop, implement, and apply data and automation in medication use. They help develop best practices to streamline patient care, improve patient outcomes, and enhance efficiency and accuracy when administering medications. Many professionals in this health informatics career have a pharmaceutical background.
Health Informatics Job Outlook and Salary
The demand and salary for health informatics jobs vary widely based on a number of factors, including location, position level, and sector. Because health informatics is a fairly new field, salary and outlook data are still emerging.
Medical and Health Services Manager
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) will create a demand for health services managers with HIT expertise who can organize and integrate EHRs across the healthcare industry. 1
$99,730
Median annual wage in
May 2018
+18%
Projected job growth from 2018–2028
Computer and Information Research Scientist
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information research scientists are needed to design and innovate on approaches to technology in computing for medicine and other fields. 2
$118,370
Median annual wage in
May 2018
+16%
Projected job growth from 2018–2028
Take the Next Step Toward a Health Informatics Career
With Tufts’ online MS in Health Informatics & Analytics, you can specialize by pursing a health informatics track and
taking courses in informatics for clinicians, researchers, and public health professionals.
Learn more about how this program positions you to improve health outcomes by mastering the data life cycle.
