Quick Highlights:
- Technologies like AI, blockchain, machine learning, telehealth, and big data analytics are transforming healthcare by improving patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and data security.
- Health informatics requires expertise in both healthcare and IT, demanding rigorous education and continuous learning to keep up with evolving technologies.
- Professionals face challenges such as ensuring data security against cyberattacks and convincing traditional healthcare providers of the value of informatics solutions.
Modern technology has changed every area of life. We all interact with incredible tech each day, and the story is no different in healthcare. By learning more about the emerging technology in health informatics, you might find yourself compelled to pursue an education in this exciting field.
The goal of healthcare is always to achieve the best possible patient outcomes. Using advanced technology like the latest health informatics trends makes it more likely that those outcomes will be reached time after time. Let’s look at some of the current trends below and what they might mean for providers and patients moving forward.
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A Quick Overview of Health Informatics
The field of health informatics is really the future of healthcare technology. With so many new technologies available, professionals in this field find ways to use the powerful tech to positively impact patients.
Tasks that were once time-consuming and inaccurate are now made much more efficient through informatics. Not only can informatics help patients get better results, but it can also optimize how facilities operate and how efficiently they run. Collecting data, storing that data securely, and utilizing that data to come away with useful insights all fall under the umbrella of health informatics.
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Notable Emerging Technologies in Informatics
Since this whole field is built on technology, it’s important for professionals in the industry to understand what new technologies are poised to make a big impact in the years ahead. While it’s an impossible task to perfectly predict the future, these technologies seem ready to make a lot of noise.
Artificial Intelligence
You probably knew this was where our list would start. AI is everywhere, and AI in healthcare has been making a major impact even in its early stages. The promise of AI is to deliver results that are both faster and more consistent than what humans can achieve. Even the most skilled medical professional is limited by the realities of being human. With the help of AI, that professional can utilize far more data to make accurate decisions that improve the lives of countless patients.
Blockchain
When you think about blockchain, you might first think of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. That’s just the start of what this technology can do, however. Blockchain in health informatics can be used to create a secure and reliable system for exchanging patient data. In a time that has seen ongoing problems with cybersecurity for hospitals, turning to blockchain tools for record-keeping is an attractive solution.
Machine Learning
There is a lot of crossover between machine learning in health informatics and artificial intelligence. With machine learning, the computer is able to do predictive modeling that can help to predict patient outcomes based on huge sets of data. This can help a doctor create a custom treatment plan that leans on data, or intervene earlier than would be possible otherwise to avoid a negative health outcome.
Telehealth
Beyond health data analytics, the technology used for general telehealth has been rapidly improving as these kinds of appointments become more popular. Using telehealth for certain kinds of visits with healthcare professionals cuts down on the risk of spreading disease while still delivering important care. Also, accessibility to care is improved through telehealth technologies for those who have difficulty reaching the clinic or hospital in person.
Big Data Analytics
As the name would suggest, big data analytics involves using large datasets to improve healthcare. Big data in healthcare can optimize the way resources are allocated, predict trends in health that might advance invisibly otherwise, and improve public health overall. Digital health advancements are possible in large part because of what big data analytics can do.
Preparing to Thrive in This Field
The fundamental challenge of health informatics is blending two different disciplines successfully. Professionals in this field need to be educated both in healthcare and information technology. That’s a powerful combination but one that takes plenty of hard work and study to achieve. Educational programs in health informatics are rigorous and demanding and only those who are determined and committed to the process will make it through.
Additionally, a static education that ends on graduation day isn’t going to get it done in this field. Things like smart health devices, wearable health technology, and other tools are constantly improving and adapting. That means any informatics professional will have to continually learn and grow with the field. It’s exciting to work in such a dynamic field but you can never afford to stay still for too long.
Rising to the Challenge and Finding Exciting Opportunities
As mentioned above, bringing together healthcare and IT is a big challenge. Once you have cleared the educational hurdle, there is still more work to be done. One big obstacle to building a successful career in this space is data security. Cyberattacks are sadly a common occurrence in the healthcare space. Given the sensitive nature of the data being handled, it’s critical for informatics professionals to place a major emphasis on security at all times.
Another challenge in this field is convincing other healthcare professionals of the value of what you can provide. Things like big data and machine learning aren’t always welcomed with open arms by those with more “traditional” views of medicine. Strong communication skills are a valuable tool for an informatics worker to have on hand. Knowing how to present the information in a way that conveys what you can provide and how it will improve patient outcomes can make a big difference.
Building an Exciting Career
What do you want to achieve with a health informatics degree? As this field grows in size and strength, it seems that the sky’s the limit for what is possible. Whether you know what you want to do with your education or are open to going in many different directions, it’s a great time to have this type of training.
Careers in health informatics are continuing to shift and change as the field evolves. We hope this peek into some of the current trends will only add to your excitement about the future and your role within it.