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Appl Clin Inform 2021; 12(02): 285-292
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726423
Research Article

What Industry Wants: An Empirical Analysis of Health Informatics Job Postings

Tara M. McLane 
1   Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
,
Robert Hoyt
2   Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States
,
Chad Hodge
3   Department of Health Sciences and Administration, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida, United States
,
Elizabeth Weinfurter
4   Health Sciences Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
,
Erin E. Reardon
4   Health Sciences Library, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
,
Karen A. Monsen
1   Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
5   School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objectives To describe the education, experience, skills, and knowledge required for health informatics jobs in the United States.

Methods Health informatics job postings (n = 206) from Indeed.com on April 14, 2020 were analyzed in an empirical analysis, with the abstraction of attributes relating to requirements for average years and types of experience, minimum and desired education, licensure, certification, and informatics skills.

Results A large percentage (76.2%) of posts were for clinical informaticians, with 62.1% of posts requiring a minimum of a bachelor's education. Registered nurse (RN) licensure was required for 40.8% of posts, and only 7.3% required formal education in health informatics. The average experience overall was 1.6 years (standard deviation = 2.2), with bachelor's and master's education levels increasing mean experience to 3.5 and 5.8 years, respectively. Electronic health record support, training, and other clinical systems were the most sought-after skills.

Conclusion This cross-sectional study revealed the importance of a clinical background as an entree into health informatics positions, with RN licensure and clinical experience as common requirements. The finding that informatics-specific graduate education was rarely required may indicate that there is a lack of alignment between academia and industry, with practical experience preferred over specific curricular components. Clarity and shared understanding of terms across academia and industry are needed for defining and advancing the preparation for and practice of health informatics.

Keywords

informatics - medical informatics - job description - employment - health workforce - workforce - training and education requirements - clinical informatics - nurse - informatics specialists

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

None.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 29 October 2020

Accepted: 16 February 2021

Article published online:
31 March 2021

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