BS in Health Studies – Health Informatics

Graduates with a bachelor of science (BS) degree in health studies and health informatics learn how the health industry operates while also learning how to store and analyze information for healthcare facilities. The double background acquired with a BS in health studies and health informatics prepares students for a career in healthcare administration as a medical health services manager, healthcare information manager or healthcare administrator. Students will study data analysis, patient record storage, ethics and law, business administration, medical coding and more.

Requirements for Earning a BS in Health Studies/Health Informatics

Requirements to become a medical healthcare services manager can vary by state. Successful students generally complete the following steps:

Earn proper bachelor’s degree (requirements vary by state). Students with a bachelor’s degree in health studies/health informatics can pursue an administrative health informatics career.
Earn proper master’s degree (requirements vary by state). Students can move to the managerial or executive officer level with a master’s degree in health information management or health services administration.
Continuing education/skills. Fast-changing technology requires health informatics professionals to pursue continuous education in order to remain competitive. Employers, hardware and software vendors, colleges and universities as well as private training institutions offer continuing education courses to help workers learn the latest technology skills.
Acquire certification. Health studies/health informatics degree holders can pass an exam to earn certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator from the American Health Information Management Association.

Average Salary and Career Data

The expected salary, career growth, and work environment for a health studies/health informatics degree holder working as a medical healthcare services administrator is as follows:

Health Studies Informaticist – Median expected salary: $80,240, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Job Prospects – Employment is expected to grow faster than average because of the continued computerization of patient records as well as the increased need for efficiency and cost control due to insurance companies and Medicare’s demand for high levels of accountability, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Job Setting – Medical healthcare services managers can pursue their careers in hospitals, private practices, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services and outpatient care.

Job Duties and Responsibilities for a Health Studies Informaticist

A health studies informaticist is typically responsible for the following job responsibilities:

Maintenance and security of all electronic patient records.
Staying well-informed on the most current computer and software technology.
Ensuring databases and computer systems are complete, accurate and available only to authorized personnel.
Create information policies and procedures that help keep health care facilities running efficiently and cost effectively.
Utilizing information technology to support healthcare decision-making.