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Thinking about going back to school for health informatics - but live in the boonies

Posted: Aug 19, 2011

None of the colleges in an hour's radius of me offer this program. Can this be done online and if so, has anybody done it?

You would be CRAZY not to go to school for this. - You can do this on line.

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My community college offers it. I sat in and listened to their training. First of all, you would be one of the first individuals learning this new career and you would be hired instantly. In fact, you can select which job you want and your pay which by the way is outstanding. You can go into all sorts of different avenues with health informatics. You can teach doctors and staff how to use the equipment. You can check to make sure the equipment is running correctly. You can decide what the clinic/hospital needs for their EMR/EHR. You can maintain the equipment and so much more.

I've seen certificates and BAs for this - where do I start

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I'm not sure what I need. If I get just a certificate, will I get anywhere with it or is a waste of money when I should be getting the BA?

Maybe not crazy - just my opinion

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" You can teach doctors and staff how to use the equipment. You can check to make sure the equipment is running correctly. You can decide what the clinic/hospital needs for their EMR/EHR. You can maintain the equipment and so much more."

1. Teach the docs and staff----The software company trains for their own software as part of the entire package cost.

2. Maintain the equipment...IT dept. does that. These are systems that interface with the entire hospital mainframe and you need a degree in computer science.

3. Check to see if the equipment is running correctly. It is just like any other software program...if it isn't functioning properly you know it. Beyond check a specific computer for problems specific to that machine, it is going to take IT to trouble shoot it. Often times IT has an IT person at the software company that they work with.

4. You can decide what system the hospital or clinic needs. That is done on a management level and always involves the director of the Health Information Management department, as well as the big hospital administrators. These systems are EXPENSIVE and they go through a committee to be approved.

5. Be very wary of anyone who tells you you can train for something and go and name your salary when you get out of school.

My statements are based on working with/at hospitals that have gone through this process.

I am not saying that HIM is not a good field to go into but if you are going to do it you need to get a BS in that field.

I think what the school has told you is embellishing on the jobs that are going to be available to you when you finish this course.

Thanks for the heads-up. Doesn't sound like - a 20-week computer course.... nm

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XX

EHR Specialists Hot new career field - Sue

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I completely agree with this post. I have been accepted into a 6 month Electronic Health Records program at Camden County College in NJ and they are offering free tuition paid scholarships due to the legislation by the Obama administration on the mandatory EHR. The career tracks are for Implementation Specialist/IT related and sets up the EHR system, Workflow Design Specialist (determines systems needs based on the operations in the facility) and Trainer, who works with the physicians and health care staff on learning the system. Camden County College has people from out of state applying as it is an online program, you just show up for the info session prior to enrolling. I want to take these classes and also their LPN program. I still want to do MT, but only on the side. I am also a Registered Health Information Technician, which is also another hot field. There are many opportunities out there for us and with the low pay some of us make in MTing, we should be able to get scholarships. Good Luck:)

I wrote the post above. My college too - was under the Obama administration

[ In Reply To ..]
for free tuition and paid scholarships. I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOUR EVERYTHING YOU WROTE IN YOUR POST. With all your experience, you are going to do great out there.

EHR Specialists Hot new career field - Isis

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Hi, I noticed you said you were accepted into a program at Camden County College. I recently applied and I'm waiting to hear if I was accepted or not. Do you think I have a good chance of getting in even though I do not have a background in this field,actually my background is not even close to this field. Thanks

I think everyone is going to school for this, so doubt there will be - much demand unfortunately.

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x

Gee, so negative. There is a HUGE DEMAND - for this. HUGE!!!

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EVERY hospital, EVERY clinic have to be EHR/EMR compliant. THAT IS HUGE!!!

Every Hospital, Every Clinic-sm - not all that huge

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Yes, it might be huge for the initial instillation, but once the decision is made (under the auspice of the Medical Records Director and administrators above her)and the system is in place then where is the demand? One poster said it was a 20 week course...sorry a 20 week course will not train anyone to run an entire hospital's electronic medical records. You have to remember there are many layers to this undertaking and it all has to coordinate and function as a system not by piece meal. That is way more knowledge than a 20 week course that is promising you you can go to work anywhere upon completion and have a huge salary too. It takes alot of EXPERIENCE to command a huge salary and 20 weeks isn't going to do it. A medical director has to have a BS degree; that is 4 years, quite a bit longer than 20 weeks.

Just saying it takes more than people are being told. Remember schools get funding for the number of students enrolled so they have an incentive to "sell" a class. Not trying to be a buzz killer, I am just saying do some research before you jump in and spend the time and money and then find out you don't have the training you need to get the job.

It's no different than the MT schools that tell students they can make $45,000 plus per year and we know how likely that is for someone with no experience, just out of school.

Infomatics - Anonymous

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I agree, this takes more than a 20-week course. Our Health Infomatics Officer is an MD who now manages the systen full-time and we are not a huge facility. The IT staff have all had advanced training, a 4-year degree is required to work there, and all the job ads I have seen require a 4-year degree. If you want to do this, I recommend an accredited University and a degree.

How many hospitals in your town? 1 or 2? They each hire 1. - Woo hoo......

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x

What is Health Informatics? - Meerkat

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.

Just Google it. - Huge demand, especially soon.

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http://www.pcc.edu/programs/computer-info/health-informatics.html

Just Google it. - then go to.......sm

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This link will come up on Google. This is a huge site that has jobs for most medical fields. They have a huge amount of jobs for Health Informatics. Read the requirements. Many require a "Masters Degree" and many want you to be an RN too. What has been posted is not being "negative", it is reality. Great field to get into but not if you are told the jobs are there after a short course. You are looking at years of college to get these positions.

I had a nurse/friend certify online, but - L&L

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they simply hired another nurse to train and then teach everybody else. Believe me, in today's world, there is on silver bullet.

PS, this is a huge metropolitan area with many - L&L

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hospitals, and she's still trying to get a job in infomatics to get out of patient treatment (burned out in NICU).

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