Career Definition of Clinical Informaticist
Clinical informaticists specialize in creating, testing, implementing, and maintaining applications for clinical areas. They may work for a variety of organizations, including healthcare agencies or consulting services firms. Clinical informaticists usually work full time in an office environment but may travel as needed for projects. The specific duties for a clinical informaticist can vary depending on the type of organization.
General job responsibilities may include acting as a liaison among departments and locations that share application resources, interfacing with vendors or customers for software issues, and creating a streamlined workflow for end users. Clinical informaticists may determine training needs for end users and assist with the development of educational resources. They may also ensure that system applications are aligned with an organization's overall business goals. Clinical informaticists can provide guidance to management on how implementing new technology may affect an organization's current workflow. They also ensure maximum effectiveness of systems by comprehending their functionality and other options for software in development.
| Educational Requirements | Bachelor's degree |
| Job Skills | Excellent technical abilities, strong communication skills, strong project management abilities, and excellent analytical skills |
| Median Salary (2022)* | $78,494 (Clinical Informatics Specialist) |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030)** | 22% (Software Developers, Applications) |
Sources:*PayScale.com, **U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
Individuals need a bachelor's degree in a clinical field, such as health information management or health informatics, to work as a clinical informaticist. Interested individuals can choose to join a professional organization like the American Medical Informatics Association. The organization seeks to improve healthcare through education, science, and utilizing informatics.
Required Skills
Excellent technical abilities are one of the most essential assets for a clinical informaticist, since they are responsible for the creation and integration of software applications. Relevant technical skills and knowledge may include data mining and statistics, SAS, SQL, and clinical information systems. Clinical informaticists should have strong communication skills in order to collaborate with personnel and interface with end users. They should also have strong project management abilities to effectively oversee projects and direct junior personnel. Clinical informaticists also need strong analytical skills to evaluate internal data and determine trends that will enhance and streamline business performance.
Career Outlook and Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collect information on clinical informaticists specifically; however, they reported a 22% job growth for application software developers during 2020-2030, which is much faster than average for all occupations. Those with knowledge of current programming tools, as well as experience with multiple programming languages, should have the best job prospects. In January 2022, PayScale.com reported an annual median salary of $78,494 for clinical informatics specialists.
Related Careers
Individuals considering a career as a clinical informaticist might also be interested in one of the related careers profiled below. They offer candidates the opportunity to utilize their skills in other technical or healthcare positions.
