What is Health Informatics?

Health Informatics is concerned with the development, dissemination and use of information and communication technologies in health care. Exciting career opportunities are emerging for health professionals with knowledge and skills in information and computer science, management, health care systems, and research methods.

The role of the Health Informatics professional is dynamic and involves close liaison with medical, nursing and administrative staff, other health professionals, IT staff and the public. Health Informatics professionals are involved in the innovation and development of information systems that support patient care, health planning, health care evaluation, financial management and medical research.

The field of Health Informatics is one of the fastest growing areas within the health sector. The Master of Health Informatics course was designed to respond to the changing needs of health professionals and health organisations in our increasingly electronic environment. Advances in IT (e.g. Smart Cards, Voice Recognition Technology, Electronic Health Records, Decision Support Systems) are creating very exciting opportunities for Health Informatics professionals in a range of organisations including IT firms, hospitals, government departments and health funds.

Reflecting the broad nature of Health Informatics, the professional bodies associated with the profession include:

• The Australian College of Health Informaticians (ACHI)
  www.achi.org.au
• The Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA)
  www.hisa.org.au
• The Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA)
  www.himaa.org.au

The two key bodies internationally are:

• The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA)
  www.imia.org
• The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
  [[www.amia.org||www.amia.org

Health Informatics professionals are highly sought after. Their specialist skills and expertise make them indispensable to the health care system and demand for qualified Health Informatics specialists is extremely high.

Information Systems Manager in a public, private or specialist hospital

Health Information Manager in a public, private or specialist hospital

Quality Improvement Coordinator in a hospital

Systems Analyst, Project Manager or Sales Executive in an IT company
Systems Administrator in a hospital or area health service

Clinical Manager in a hospital or area health service

Data Manager in a clinical trials centre or research unit

Clinical Information Analyst in a pharmaceutical company

Clinical Researcher in a clinical research unit or clinical trials centre

Health Consultant in a State or Federal health department

Casemix Coordinator in a hospital, health dept or health insurance company

Salaries depend on the job responsibilities and location of the job.

• Award rates for Health Information Managers (as at 1st July 2007)
• Health Professional and Medical Salaries (NSW) Award
• Grade 1: $58,000 - $63,000
  Grade 2: $60,000 - $65,000
  Grade 3: $63,000 - $68,000
  Grade 4: $68,000 - $73,000
  Grade 5: $70,000 - $76,000
  Grade 6: $73,000 - $79,000
  Grade 7: $75,000 - $82,000
  Grade 8: $81,000 - $88,000
• Experienced Health Informatics professionals negotiate salaries above the award with their employers.