By: The Capella University Editorial Team
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The growing use of electronic health records (EHRs) and other healthcare technologies has expanded the role of healthcare IT professionals in managing the data and systems that support care delivery.
Trends in healthcare IT
Here are four trends driving the growth of healthcare technology:
- Interoperability. Interoperability is the ability of EHR and other healthcare IT systems to exchange and use patient information. It matters when patients receive care at several facilities or when hospital systems merge because clinicians need access to the same information. Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities continue to work on improving this data exchange.
- Transparency of information. Transparency of information gives patients access to healthcare cost and quality data so they can make informed choices. For example, information about the expected cost and likely results of a procedure can support decisions about care options.
- Patient engagement. Patients increasingly expect to manage their care digitally – scheduling appointments, messaging providers through a secure portal, joining telehealth visits and syncing fitness trackers with their health records. Technology like this gives patients more direct visibility into, and control over, their own care.
- Leadership. Healthcare IT leaders guide the selection, implementation and adoption of technology systems. They help organizations use technology to connect with patients and support staff as new systems are introduced.
Job titles to explore in healthcare IT
There’s a variety of job titles at the intersection of healthcare and information technology.
- Health information managers oversee health records and the systems used to store, protect and retrieve them. They help maintain accurate, secure, accessible information for patients and care teams, and may analyze records to support reporting and data governance.
- Data architects design the models, standards and storage structures that organize healthcare data. Their work helps systems exchange consistent information across departments and facilities, which can support care coordination and reporting.
- Systems architects design the technical infrastructure that connects healthcare applications, networks and devices. They assess how clinical and administrative systems work together and address connectivity, reliability and integration needs.
- Clinical informatics specialists work with clinicians to design, test and improve clinical information systems, such as tools used to document and review patient care. They identify workflow needs and help make those systems useful in clinical settings.
Educational programs and outcomes
These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.
