Health Information Mgt or informatics

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Sep 21, 2009

Okay Jranjcamp,

I think we are spliting hairs here..........and very fine hairs at that!

IMHO, I'd say there isn't a difference and that the terms can be and are used interchangeably.

"Genetics" is a discipline of "biology". Genetics is the science of heredity and variation in living organisms.

Bioinformatics is using computers in biological research to analyze or predict the composition of molecules (nucleic acids, proteins, etc.) and model biologic systems. One good example being bioinformatics (or genetic informatics) in the use of the the Human Genome Project.

Bioinformatics - can be defined as the field of science concerning the application of computer science and information technology to biology; using computers to handle biological information, including computational molecular biology and genetics.

Here is a good example related to experience. The job posting below is from a major University in the Midwest for an Associate Professor in their Center for Biomedical Informatics, Genetic Medicine section. See below.

Research Associate (Assistant professor), Phenomics

The Center for Biomedical Informatics, Section of Genetic Medicine within the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, is seeking a full time Research Associate (Assistant Professor) to participate in the text mining of the biomedical narratives in the emerging field of phenomics. The primary activity of a Research Associate (Assistant Professor) is academic research in association with Dr. Yves A. Lussier. Qualified applicants are required to possess a doctorate degree in bioinformatics, computational biology or biomedical informatics OR have an MD or a PhD in biological sciences or computer science with 3-5 years of experience in bioinformatics, computational biology or biomedical informatics research. Applicants are invited to apply online at the University of Chicago academic career opportunities site academiccareers.uchicago.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=50631 by uploading a cover letter, curriculum vitae with a list of publications, and a succinct outline of research plans.

I am currently in a BSN program in which I am required to explain the difference between genetic informatics and bioinformatics. I can find scads of information regarding bioinformatics and the requirements need to practice in genetics, but very little on genetic infomatics itself such as if you are required to have previous training in infomatics to work in the genetic field. Can someone help me with this question?

Franjcamp · Sep 21, 2009

Thank you for your input. I was getting the same impression from other job postings I was coming across.

JanetC RN · Apr 12, 2010

Thank you to "rninformatics" for your detailed answers to others' questions. I am looking for a solid master's program in Informatics. I am an RN, and I'd probably be interested in a job whose responsibilities are focused on helping to start/improve a hospital-based EHR to suit the needs of clinical users (I don't have informatics experience). I noticed one program in particular has an accreditation from CAHIIM and nurse faculty on staff, but admission to their program doesn't require a BSN in particular (also admits MDs, pharmacists, and other clinicians). Should I focus my efforts more on schools that are geared towards nursing?

Thanks for your advice!

Mission · Apr 14, 2010

Vanderbilt and U. Maryland both have excellent Master's Informatics programs. Columbia has a Master's in Biomedical Informatics with a clinical informatics track which would also be good for your goals.

Mijourney · Apr 14, 2010

There seem to be many budding and blossomed informatics programs. I don't think one can go wrong choosing among them. It depends on what your focus will be. For instance, even though I have an undergraduate degree in nursing, I am making a decision to pursue a masters in health information management and informatics through the University of TN Health Science Center. Their program is all online. If I do decide nursing will be the focus, I will look into Vanderbilt and University of Maryland. It's hard because I have an interest in both information management and clinical.

Question, can one be a CIO with either a nursing informatics or health information and informatics degree?

WIN007 · Apr 22, 2011

Thank you for that very detailed and informative answer about the differences btw. HIT/HIM and informatics. I am not coming with any clinical experience but a lot of business and computer experience. I have applied to one medical informatics program but haven't heard from they yet. My question is how I get into this field without clinical experience since it seems one should have it. I definately do not want to go the HIM route.

the HiTech act of 2009 dedicated money for workforce training inthe form of certificate programs in HIT domains , some of which are geared for IT workers without clinical backgrounds. Most states offer them now or are at least starting them up - try searching in your state (keywords HiTech workforce training program) or contacting the Office of National Council through the CMS website.

WIN007 · Apr 22, 2011

Thank you to "rninformatics" for your detailed answers to others' questions. I am looking for a solid master's program in Informatics. I am an RN, and I'd probably be interested in a job whose responsibilities are focused on helping to start/improve a hospital-based EHR to suit the needs of clinical users (I don't have informatics experience). I noticed one program in particular has an accreditation from CAHIIM and nurse faculty on staff, but admission to their program doesn't require a BSN in particular (also admits MDs, pharmacists, and other clinicians). Should I focus my efforts more on schools that are geared towards nursing?
Thanks for your advice!

Not to dissuade you at all; I think it's great you get a masters, BUT most of the organizations hiring for EMR now - and there are many as the new Meaningful Use mandate to use an EMR as Stage 1 of the Hitech act - they're hiring people with experience in a particular EMR, and if you don't know someone or aren't already on the informatics team, people even with certificates and MS are finding it very difficult to get hired.

I'd be thinking ahead to what Stage 2 will require. There's a lot more to health informatics than just EMR's.

My .02 and perhaps what it's worth.

WIN007 · Apr 22, 2011

Okay Jranjcamp,
I think we are spliting hairs here..........and very fine hairs at that!
IMHO, I'd say there isn't a difference and that the terms can be and are used interchangeably.
"Genetics" is a discipline of "biology". Genetics is the science of heredity and variation in living organisms.
Bioinformatics is using computers in biological research to analyze or predict the composition of molecules (nucleic acids, proteins, etc.) and model biologic systems. One good example being bioinformatics (or genetic informatics) in the use of the the Human Genome Project.
Bioinformatics - can be defined as the field of science concerning the application of computer science and information technology to biology; using computers to handle biological information, including computational molecular biology and genetics.
Here is a good example related to experience. The job posting below is from a major University in the Midwest for an Associate Professor in their Center for Biomedical Informatics, Genetic Medicine section. See below.
Research Associate (Assistant professor), Phenomics
The Center for Biomedical Informatics, Section of Genetic Medicine within the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, is seeking a full time Research Associate (Assistant Professor) to participate in the text mining of the biomedical narratives in the emerging field of phenomics. The primary activity of a Research Associate (Assistant Professor) is academic research in association with Dr. Yves A. Lussier. Qualified applicants are required to possess a doctorate degree in bioinformatics, computational biology or biomedical informatics OR have an MD or a PhD in biological sciences or computer science with 3-5 years of experience in bioinformatics, computational biology or biomedical informatics research. Applicants are invited to apply online at the University of Chicago academic career opportunities site academiccareers.uchicago.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=50631 by uploading a cover letter, curriculum vitae with a list of publications, and a succinct outline of research plans.

Heck, I'd be hardpressed to answer that as I see genetic informatics as being a subset of bioinformatics...very closely intertwined. I'd sure have to do some research to answer!

WIN007 · Apr 22, 2011

There seem to be many budding and blossomed informatics programs. I don't think one can go wrong choosing among them. It depends on what your focus will be. For instance, even though I have an undergraduate degree in nursing, I am making a decision to pursue a masters in health information management and informatics through the University of TN Health Science Center. Their program is all online. If I do decide nursing will be the focus, I will look into Vanderbilt and University of Maryland. It's hard because I have an interest in both information management and clinical.
Question, can one be a CIO with either a nursing informatics or health information and informatics degree?

Very unlikely. As CIO you'd be responsible for the technical infrastructure and security as well as clinical software. Most clinicians that get into Informatics do not have that experience.

halcion · Jun 4, 2011

Hi guys, looking for some of your expert advice!

Previously I worked as a Systems Support Analyst for a large home health organisation. Basically this involved Level 2 support and low level analysis for mobile and telehealth apps and also the database which the entire organisation used (not just clinical but also HR, Finance, etc).

I fell into this role due to being an "expert user" of the system in an admin role, and had no IT qualifications. During this time I completed my BN and had intentions of going on to do a Masters in HIM.

So now I am an RN with 2 years experience across wards, PACU and OT. This has been fairly disruptive for my clinical skills, but it has meant that I've been able to see a good range of the potential for application of technology in healthcare.

Now I am looking to marry the two worlds, and realise that the records management side of HIM is not what I am looking for. I'd prefer a role that more closely reflected my old position ie more systems support and analysis, but at the same time I'd like a more clinical focus than I had before.

Basically I have no idea where this leaves me.. :uhoh3: I'm considering a Grad Cert in IT, but worry this would just confuse potential employers whereas the word "health" in a HIM qualification would spell it out for them. I'm in Australia where it's all so new that I want to make it as easy as possible to get employed.. Any ideas?

Mijourney · Jun 4, 2011

Actually Halcion, there are HIM professionals that manage more than records. I am aware of HIM professionals working with software applications thereby working closely with IT. The role of many HIM professionals has expanded into informatics and the new HIM school curriculum reflects that. There are active and evolving graduate programs in health informatics and information management. This type of program put graduates squarely in the running for CIO of a hospital or facility.

Review http://www.ahima.org if you haven't already and see what you think. Having wrote all that, nursing informatics is an excellent choice especially as you do have clinical experience (Sorry, I'm old school and believe that there's nothing like hands on experience when somebody says they are a nurse).

rninformatics, DNP, RN · Jun 5, 2011

Halcion,

"Australia" "HIM"

I can only comment within the US Nursing, Healthcare and Medical Informatics environment.

See:

https://allnurses.com/nursing-informatics/health-information-mgt-380211.html#post3527652

"Aren't HIT and HIM the same?"

http://community.advanceweb.com/blogs/nurses_18/archive/2010/11/26/nursing-informatics-an-overview.aspx