Pitt’s Health Informatics program in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is a perfect intersection of medicine, technology and business. The undergraduate program offers students a comprehensive education focused on health care data science. One of the biggest misconceptions about the field of health informatics is that it’s only for students who excel at computer programming and technology, but this is far from the truth! Students from every academic background and all interests are encouraged to apply. So you might be wondering what health informatics (HI) entails; I’m here to explain.
HI professionals create and support the delivery of patient care and keep vital patient information secure. Large data systems within EPIC, Cerner and other electronic health record systems are created, maintained and advanced by health informatics specialists. There are also ample careers in clinical research, as well as the business side of health technology. One of the best parts about this profession is the flexibility and opportunity to align your career path with any combination of business, technology and medicine. Straddling the line at the intersection is possible, but there are also opportunities to sway more towards only one or two of the three aspects of health informatics.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Pitt’s Department of Health Information Management is the opportunity students have to do an internship in the program, giving you real-world experience! Examples of internship environments include health care organizations, health IT vendors, patient registries, community health centers and research services. Another important focus of the Pitt HI curricula is cybersecurity, which is vital when dealing with patient experiences and information. Pitt’s HI program also boasts the highest data acumen score among all University programs!
Entering the world of health information technology will put you at the center of health care systems. Data integration is vital to the continuity and quality of care. This field is growing fast and will offer you countless opportunities to find your niche.
Now that you have learned a bit about Pitt’s Health Informatics program, let’s discuss some of the careers available to health informatics graduates. Common career paths include: quality analysts, data analysts, health IT consultants, clinical informaticists and EHR implementation specialists. Research specialists see a lot more of the clinical side of things, while IT systems analysts have a larger focus on technological advancements. There are jobs at major health care networks, data information companies and technological centers. Pitt’s Health Informatics program offers you expansive insight into all options giving you the best opportunity to create your dream career path.
If you’re ready to get started on your Health Informatics journey, click here.
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Written by: Mara Hartoyo, Pre-medical student
Current SHRS student, Class of 2023, Rehabilitation Sciences