By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    Cognitive Psychology and Risk-taking in Extreme Sports
    Theodore Rex Walrond Highlights the Connection between Cognitive Psychology and Healthcare
    April 1, 2025
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Image
    Person-Centered HealthCare: The FDA Gets Patient-Centric
    May 31, 2013
    Does the Supreme Court Understand Health Reform?
    April 12, 2012
    Racial Health Disparities Among People with Chronic Conditions in the US: Facts and Statistics
    July 25, 2013
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Looming Crisis in Healthcare IT
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > The Looming Crisis in Healthcare IT
Technology

The Looming Crisis in Healthcare IT

drkevin1951
Last updated: September 4, 2013 8:11 am
drkevin1951
Share
6 Min Read
healthcare IT shortage
SHARE

Are there enough informaticians to meet the need?

Are there enough informaticians to meet the need?

healthcare IT shortageI was struck by a recent report in CBS MoneyWatch on the very clear boom in job opportunities in the information technology field as the same time there appears to be a decline in student interest in tech.  Over the period of 2003 to 2012, the number of computer and IT jobs grew 13 percent.  However, over the same time period the number of people with degrees in these fields decreased by 11 percent over the same time period. Why is that occurring in an era where the use of IT is growing dramatically?  It appears that the slowdown in seeking IT careers relates in part to the bursting of the dot-com bubble and a trend – which we are experiencing in healthcare – of training existing professionals through programs outside the traditional academic setting.  What was particularly interesting for me is that the report related to information technology, in general, but clearly reflects the experience we are facing in healthcare.

Back in 2010, there was an article in Modern Healthcare that projected the need for at least an additional 50,000 Healthcare IT workers because of the demand that was being created to obtain Meaningful Use compliance.  That’s a lot of health IT workers!!  More recently, in an article published by FierceHealthIT, a poll of healthcare executives revealed that more than 85 percent were hiring at least one IT employee in 2012 and, none reported layoffs.  In fact, 31 percent of the respondents had put IT projects on hold because of staff shortages.  The results of this poll portend a looming crisis in the shortage of health information technology experts – not simply deployment personnel – but also the “users” of the data – health informaticians!

More Read

Health Care Online Marketing, Social Media and HIPAA: Google Hangout on Air
Provider Case Studies on Incorporating Patient Generated Health Data
Leveraging Health IT to Strengthen Patient Engagement
Does Acupuncture work?
What Has the Medical Industry Learned from COVID-19?

I am increasingly concerned about the number of informatics-prepared professionals in healthcare.  While the rate of IT adoption is truly impressive in the healthcare field, we are not keeping up in training professionals who can actually take the data and information by turning it into knowledge.  If we are simply creating repositories of data, we will not solve the healthcare problems.  It is only by creating knowledge from the new treasure trove of data resources evolving as a result of the push towards making healthcare electronic that we will make healthcare better!!  The concern that I have is that the federal government is driven by data – and, quite frankly, we do not have good workforce data related to informatics capabilities in healthcare.  I’m not talking about skills related to HIT deployment or implementation – although there is a shortage there as well – instead, I’m talking about the use of the information.

Informatics is in a unique position to profoundly affect the direction of healthcare.  However, without adequate human resources, we will be hampered in that effort.  While tech skills, in general, are important – it is crucial that we redouble our efforts to train healthcare professionals and clinicians in informatics.  I believe we need accurate workforce data. And, without the data, it will not be possible to drive the decision-making process of government to increase support for informatics training.

One other final, parallel point!  Beyond training more informaticians, we also need to train the users of informatics in informatics.  The average nurse, pharmacist, doctor or other clinical type needs to have a basic understanding of healthcare informatics.  Yet, very few health sciences education programs include informatics as part of the core curriculum.  I liken this situation to my experience in medical school – now 40 years ago – when we had a two day course in genomics.  Two days!!!  You can’t survive in today’s world of healthcare on two days of training in genomics.  We are at the same point in informatics.  There is a need for defining the core curriculum in informatics that should be provided to all health sciences students, undergraduate and graduate level.

I was very pleased recently when I met with representatives of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) on the issue.  There is clearly a recognition that something needs to be done.  The problem is that the curriculum is full.  So the question becomes not how do we shoe horn in a bit of information on informatics, but how do we integrate informatics into the core curriculum for medical, nursing, pharmacy and other health sciences students?

I know I’m biased and over the top of the use of information technologies for solving problems in healthcare, but teaching future clinicians how to use these tools is essential if we are going to be ultimately successful in increasing quality, reducing costs and enhancing service.  And, at the end of the day, health must accomplish those three objectives.  Healthcare informatics is central to solving the problem.  If you have ideas, let me know …

(image via shutterstock)

TAGGED:big dataHealth ITinformaticianinformatics
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

Technology

How Webinars and Online Courses Are Helping to Make Healthcare Greener

April 11, 2018

Time to Reevaluate – When to Use a New Technology vs. When to Die with Dignity

November 23, 2011
Medical RecordsNewsSocial MediaTechnology

Dealing With A Health Crisis? Avoid Medical Identity Theft With These Tips

July 25, 2019
Dental healthMedical InnovationsSpecialtiesTechnology

Innovations in the Dental Implant Industry

April 10, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?