A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Clinical data analyst -- advice needed? - sm

Posted: Feb 27, 2015

I have been checking out job openings at my local hospitals for the past few weeks. This morning, an opening for a Clinical Data Analyst came up. The requirements for the position are high school diploma or equivalent and Medical Record Terminology or similar experience, etc.

It does not list a salary range, but from what I know CDAs are paid very well. I was always under the impression that they required a degree (which I do not posess), but that does not seem to be the case here.

Anyway, my question is: Do you think this would be a good position for me to transition to? (I've been an MT for 8+ years, but I have to get out of this profession.) I have been thinking about going back to school for coding, but I wonder if this opportunity would be a good option for me right now.

analyst - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I can't say whether the position will be right for you, but if you're interested in it, it wouldn't hurt to apply. If they contact you for an interview, then you can find out more about the position, etc.

Clinical data - Dotts

[ In Reply To ..]
Go for it. Anything would be better even in the short term than being an MT these days. What I would advise to those wanting to go into another healthcare related clerical job, look it over to be sure it isn't a job that can be done away with in the next ten years by technology so you don't waste your time and energy. Otherwise, I am telling young people I know to go into nursing as that is one job technology cannot do away with (unless they design a "robot nurse") and with all us aging baby boomers, nurses will be needed.

Data analysis is NOT " clerical work"! - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
Nm

Go to Indeed and read the job descriptions, sounds complicated. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Here is an example - Not just med terms ...

[ In Reply To ..]
What did it say the duties were? I think you need to find out. How can you apply if you have no idea what the job does? How would you even be able to prepare an appropriate resume???

It is possible this is just a person in HIM who collects things like productivity and simple disease numbers. Admissions, discharges, etc.

It is also possible this is an actual data analyst position. A degree might not have been mentioned because HR made a mistake or because there are some people who can do this but do not have a degree yet. This is such a new field that a lot of people in it are still self-trained.

I linked a job ad below. It is very typical.

You would need to use Access, SQL Server, Oracle, or other databases. You might need to set them up. You would need to retrieve data from EHR, coding, financial, or other sources. You would need to analyze it using mathematical and statistical methods, write reports, prepare the data for presentation.

Are you really good with Excel ... calculations, charts, graphs and all? And good with the rest of Microsoft Office. PowerPoint? Access?

This is a good career field, but it is absolutely not clerical work.

I know it's not clerical work - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I am aware it's not clerical work, and never in my original post did I say that it was.

I was only wondering if others had any insight as to would it be a good transition from MT.

Yes, I am good with Excel and all Office applications. I am proficient at math, figuring statistics, etc. I am relatively young (30s), quick on my feet and am a fast learner on the job. I am sure this job would be something I could do.

The job description itself makes it sound like I would be more of an "apprentice," so to speak, for an analyst. I don't want to put specifics up here, but I did do some research.

Nonetheless, I did apply. I do not expect much from it, but we'll see. I have a list of questions to ask HR if I am contacted for an interview.

At this point, I will do anything to get out of transcription! Thanks to all who replied.

Still sounds like clerical work unless you are a "manager" - clerical

[ In Reply To ..]
Job description says you need at least a Bachelor's Degree or even a Master's. If you are NOT a manager, still sounds like clerical work to me.
"... Clinical data analysts often work in comfortable office environments but have to spend a great deal of time sitting in front of a computer screen."

Look up the definition of clerical work - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Agree, you need to look up the definition of - clerical work.

[ In Reply To ..]
Clerical work means general office support work, like typing, filing, answering phones, data entry, etc. It does NOT mean "anything using a computer."

You wouldn't think computer programming was clerical work, so why would you think data analytics is?

I don't think you believe this is clerical work. I think you just lashed out in irritation because it is something you cannot qualify for.

Clinical Data - Data1

[ In Reply To ..]
Good luck but are you looking for a job as a "support" person in this field? Minimum requirements for this kind of work are:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTs:
- BachelorÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½s degree in Engineering, Statistic, Mathematics or related field
- At least 2 years of Clinical Data Management experience (data management, clinical and/or research experience with solid understanding of clinical trials methodology and terminology)

Thanks, but... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Again, I am going by what the job description on the hospital's website states. Requirements are high school diploma or equivalent and medical records terminology knowledge. That's all it says. I suppose having experience in the field would be helpful, but regardless, I put in my resume. Perhaps they forgot to list a degree as a requirement, or maybe they mislabeled the job position. I don't know. If they call, they call. If not, at least I tried.

Hopeful - Dotts

[ In Reply To ..]
Clinical data it appears is quite a field to get into and apparently one has to be very smart and well-educated, so if anything, I am thinking what this is, is a support position to someone higher up obviously, maybe in that department. Just remember that if it is meant to be for you, it will be; if not, something else is awaiting you.

Understood, but we could have helped - Data2

[ In Reply To ..]
OK, but if you had been more open about what you found, instead of just saying that no degree was required, one of us could have helped you to maximize your chances.

It seems that two data analysts saw your post. I guess you didn't think there would be any?

what are you talking about??? - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
The title of the job opening is "Clinical Data Analyst"

My point was that, based on what I had read about CDAs, it is a difficult field and requires a degree. I found it interesting that the job opening at the local hospital did NOT require a degree. Maybe they train on-site, maybe the HR person who uploaded the job mislabeled it, or perhaps they forgot to put in that it does require a degree. I DON'T KNOW, and I already stated that. All I asked was if this would be something I could transition to since I have been a transcriptionist. That's it. I'm not "hiding" anything in my posts. What on earth would be the point of that???

Since you put it that way - Data2

[ In Reply To ..]
If all you want to know if this is something you can transition to SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN an MT, the answer is NO. It is not something you can do based on MT experience and/or skills. Not even close.

It might be something you could transition to if you have some other skill set, like math above calculus, inferential statistics, computer programming, database management, an in-depth knowledge of the medical record & medical science such as would be gained from an RHIA or informatics program, a graduate degree in research or clinical medicine, or a healthcare-specialized MBA.

The mention of med terms in the ad doesn't mean that that is all that is necessary. It's there to point out that they don't want a data analyst who does not have that, i.e., is not a non-clinical data analyst.

That's my take on it going from the name of the job -- Clinical Data Analyst, which was all you provided in your first post.

However, you then came back to say you researched it and had more information about the duties that you didn't want to say, but which made it sound like an apprentice position. That changes things considerably. If you had said that to begin with, and had mentioned your math and ability to "figure statistics," maybe one of us could have helped you understand what they might be looking for and what you could do that fit what they were looking for, so you could send them an application that might make them take notice.

I didn't say you were "hiding" anything. Just that if you had told us everything to begin with, we could have helped you before you sent in the application.

When I apply for jobs, I find out as much as I can so that my application is compelling. I don't send in the same old resume and say "If they call I can ask them what it is." That's way too late. Asking what the job is when they call you is going to annoy them. You need to find out beforehand.

Umm okay - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
LOL Thanks for the input. Again, I already submitted my resume, so we'll see. Like I stated before, I'm not necessarily expecting anything from it, but I guess I won't know unless I try, right?

Agreed! - Cannot win if you do not enter - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Some companies have entry level positions where one may not necessarily need a degree, but minimum qualifications, and this particular position may be just that type of job. Here's hoping you DO get an interview and tbe job, OP! :)

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