Quick Highlights:
- Health informatics uses AI to manage and analyze healthcare data effectively.
- AI applications in healthcare include predictive analytics, diagnostics, health monitoring, and image analysis.
- Education in health informatics now includes AI and data science courses to prepare students for future careers.
- Careers in health informatics are growing, offering various high-paying jobs across clinical and data management roles.
Table of contents
Health informatics is a field that focuses on using biomedical information. It may use computer structures, algorithms, and software programs to manage and analyze data. Because artificial intelligence (AI) is exceptionally good at data analysis, there are many machine learning healthcare applications.
AI in health informatics is a growing industry. If you are considering which field to study in college, you may want to learn about using AI in healthcare. From 2022 to 2032, health information technologist jobs are supposed to grow by 16% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To take part in a thriving industry, you can pursue classes on machine learning and AI.
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Core Concepts of AI and Machine Learning
It’s important to understand what AI and machine learning are. At its heart, AI is a technology that lets computers simulate human learning and abilities. AI can analyze data and make predictions to perform human tasks, like driving an autonomous car or creating an essay outline.
Meanwhile, machine learning uses structured learning to analyze information. Data goes into the algorithm, enters one or two hidden layers, and then leaves through the output layer. It is used to create algorithms and statistical models.
These technologies are different from traditional computing because their goal is to develop a human-like ability to analyze knowledge, make deductions, and learn new information. Like traditional computing, these technologies are used to aid and support human abilities.
Applications of AI and Machine Learning in Health Informatics
What are the benefits of AI in healthcare? By using AI in healthcare, people are able to achieve many different goals. There are many machine learning healthcare applications, so the following list just illustrates a few of the most popular.
- Predictive Analytics: One healthcare trend is to use AI for predictive analytics. This involves feeding AI large sets of data. Then, AI can spot potential patterns and predict if someone will get sick. It can help manage epidemics and school outbreaks.
- Diagnostics and Treatment Planning: Unlike human doctors, AI has no problem reviewing a patient’s entire medical history since they were born. Then AI can analyze the information to help doctors diagnose and treat diseases.
- Health Management and Monitoring: AI and machine learning in healthcare are also effective for monitoring an individual’s ongoing health. These techniques can be incorporated into wearable devices so that the patient’s sleep patterns, heart rate, physical activity, and other data can be tracked. By using these tools, doctors can provide patients with personalized interventions and detect problems before they spiral out of control.
- Chatbots: Chatbots and virtual assistants are useful for patient questions. They can help people immediately access their health information and get support for taking care of their health. In addition, these bots can answer questions about popular topics.
- Image Analysis: Finally, another one of the most common AI benefits is image analysis. AI can use algorithms to look at X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and other images. Then, these algorithms can help doctors detect diseases early.
Impact on Health Informatics Education
What is health informatics and how can it help you achieve your career goals? AI in health informatics has led to many changes in school curricula. From better analysis to additional data science classes, there are many ways students can start using AI in healthcare.
During your education, you will learn how to use data analytics in healthcare. Often, these degrees include an introduction to health informatics and classes on how information systems can be incorporated into healthcare. You may study ethical issues, health information terminology, or research methods.
While each program is different, health informatics programs often include the following required courses and electives.
- Introduction to Health Data Analytics
- Introduction to Health Informatics
- Information Systems in Healthcare
- Population Health Informatics
- Evidence in Health
- Health Information Terminology
- Artificial Intelligence in Health
- Consumer Health Informatics
- Health Information Standards
- Applications of Data Analytics in Healthcare
- Research Methods
- Legal Issues in Health Informatics
- Data Visualization and Communication
To take these classes and discover machine learning healthcare applications, you will often need to have a background in an area like:
- data science
- statistics
- computer programming
- computer science
Many aspects of machine learning in healthcare involve computer algorithms and statistics. These types of topics are especially important for students to understand if they want to be successful in health informatics.
Future Career Opportunities
What is health informatics useful for? If you are working on taking the next step in your career, there are many ways you can start using AI in healthcare. This field is expected to grow by 16% by 2032, so there are many roles you can get hired in. The following list includes the top AI in health informatics jobs available today.
Clinical Informatics Specialist
A clinical informatics specialist works with data in a clinical setting. They often have experience with data collection, building data systems, and working in healthcare. In the United States, this job pays an average salary of $103,597 per year according to data from ZipRecruiter.
Health Informatics Consultant
A typical health informatics consultant earns an average salary of $91,526 per year according to Glassdoor. Because of recent AI healthcare trends, this is an incredibly popular field for students to go into. As a health informatics consultant, you will work to help organizations improve their data collection, management, and analysis.
Informatics Nurse
An informatics nurse typically has a background in nursing before they learn about using AI in healthcare. In this role, you may monitor systems and patient care initiatives. Then, you’ll use data to help patients, organizations, and medical providers figure out what is working and what isn’t. As an informatics nurse, you can expect to earn an average salary of $134,219 per year according to Indeed.
Health Informatics Specialist
A health informatics specialist is responsible for the quality, integrity, and security of a patient’s data. Because of this, they are in charge of testing, maintaining, and optimizing health data systems. They typically earn between $65,000 and $126,000 annually according to Zippia.
Chief Medical Information Officer
The chief medical information officer is responsible for how health data systems are designed, implemented, and used. Typically, you can expect to earn $274,592 per year if you’re hired to work in this field according to Zip Recruiter.
Informatics Pharmacist
A typical informatics pharmacist makes $118,593 each year according to Zip Recruiter. To work in this field, you must be licensed as a pharmacist. Then, you must get a degree in health informatics as well.
Health Information Systems Manager
Another one of the best machine learning healthcare applications is in systems management. As a health information systems manager, you must review patient documents to make sure they are accurate. Then, you can update data or query medical providers for new information. Once you are hired as a health information systems manager, you can expect to earn $90,718 per year according to Glassdoor.
Find Out More About AI in Health Informatics
With machine learning healthcare applications, you can start using AI in healthcare and pursue a career in the industry. AI in health is a growing field, and students can expect to earn an excellent salary.