Oregon Institute

of Technology

Health Informatics: Health Informatics: An Emerging An Emerging Health Care Health Care OccupationOccupation

Dr. Michael KirshnerProgram Director Health Informatics

OIT

Oregon Healthcare Workforce Institute – Healthcare Careers Pathways Summit April 9-10, 2008

Oregon Institute

of Technology

What is Health Informatics

Health informatics is the application of clinical, information management, information

technology and management practices to achieve better health.

Applied Information Technology

in Health Care

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Our Challenge

“The challenge is to find well-rounded IT professionals who have an understanding of healthcare informatics, health insurance industry and relationship management skills.”

Kumar Chatani, Kaiser Permanente – Regional CIO

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Why Is HI Needed?• Transformation

– New information technologies are driving HC transformation

• High demand– HC employers need more qualified employees

– >200 potential openings /year in Oregon

• Low supply– Role of Higher Education

– in Oregon <50 HI grads/year

• Core Competencies– Prepare the future workforce

– Support CC and OUS plan for Health Care Workforce

• Challenges & Solutions

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Transform Health Care

• Improve efficiencies• Lower cost • Improve quality• Reduce errors• Increase safety• Engage patients

Institute of Medicine2001

Health care is in crisis - Health Informatics can…

1999

20062003

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Demand

• What is the demand? • How is it determined, measured and

verified?• Where should we be looking for

solutions?

Oregon Institute

of Technology

OED/BLS

• By 2016 > 200 HIT job openings / year in Oregon

• 9+ SOC categories

• 30% increase in demand by 2016

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Supply

• How is supply defined?• Who develops the supply? • Who are the stakeholders?• What are the challenges facing HIT

supply?• Where should we be looking for

solutions?

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Education

• AA/AAS/AGS/Certificate– HIM/HIT, CIS, HI

• BS/Undergrad Certificate – Health Informatics

• MS/PhD/Graduate Certificate – Medical Informatics

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Training to Core Competencies

• Are there a set of core competencies for HIT?

• What are they? • How will they change over time?• How do competencies affect demand and

supply?• What are the challenges facing HIT

competencies?• Where should we be looking for solutions?

Oregon Institute

of Technology

HI Competencies

• Understand clinical systems & structured data

• Knowledge management

• Software development

• Critically & effectively process information

• Understand impact of technology in Health

Staggers, Gassert & Skiba, Health Professionals’ Views of Informatics Education: Findings from the AMIA 1999 Spring Conference, JAMIA, 2000

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Challenges & Solutions

• Make meeting health care workforce needs a top priority

• Ensure that validated core competencies guide supply side

• Plan for new models of health care IT training

• Create career pathway with integrated curricula

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Career Pathways: HI

High School Assoc Degree Bachelor Degree MS/PhD

Work Level 1 Work Level 2 Work Level 3

2+ yrs 4+ yrs 2 – 4+ yrsCollege prep

Help DeskEnd User SupportDatabase developer AssistantAssistant Technical WriterAssistant Software TesterBusiness Analyst AssistantUser Training Assistant

Application DeveloperDatabase Developer/AdminSystems Implementation Spec.Research AssistantTechnical Writer/SupportJunior Business/System AnalystJunior IT consultant

CMIO, CNIOCIOCTOSenior ResearcherSenior AnalystSystems DeveloperMI Manager

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Curriculum Design Process

• Identify industry/employer requirements

• Based on validated models and theory

• Leverage other Health Informatics programs

• Fit with school’s existing courses / programs

• Locate qualified faculty

• Leverage delivery models

• Incorporate industry experience (co-op)

Oregon Institute

of Technology

BS Program Models• BS degree

– 4+0, 2+2 degree completion, 1+3, 3+2 (BS+MS)

• Certificate – Working professional - non degree– Core set of courses

• Intro/survey courses – Allied Health students

• Short courses, Continuing Ed, Distance Ed– Incumbent workers– Seminars/Workshops

Oregon Institute

of Technology

2+2: CC + OIT

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Degree Curriculum

17%

22%

25%

16%

13%

7%Health Informatics

Mgt/Business

Computer Systems

Math/Science

Humanities

Programming

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Courses

• Computer Networks

• Decision Support Systems

• Finite Math and Calculus

• Health Care Technology

• Health Informatics

• Leadership

• Legal Issues

• Research Methods

• Oracle DB Programming

• Organizational Change & Development

• Process Improvement

• Relational Databases

• Systems Analysis

• Technical Report Writing

• Total Quality in Health Care

• Health Care Financing

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Senior Project - Industry Partners

Hospitals

Labs Medical Clinics Payers & Vendors

Health Care Devices

Oregon Institute

of Technology

HI Graduate Jobs

• Positions– Consultant– Systems Designer– Database Administrator– Interface Analyst

• Work industries– Hospitals – Health Insurers– IT industry, Vendors– Labs, Clinics– Research, Consultants– Government

• Potential pay range– $40k - $50k starting, up to $75k

• Projected job growth - >25%

Oregon Institute

of Technology

HI Computer Simulation Lab

• Business/Management Systems• Electronic Medical Record• Clinical Information Systems• PACS, Labs, Medications• Communication systems • Infrastructure/Network

SIM

LA

B

ALLIED HEALTH

IT/HI

CCWD Grant Funding – OIT matching grantPilot Project

Oregon Institute

of Technology

SIM Lab

Oregon Institute

of Technology

Contact Information

•www.oit.edu/portland•Health Informatics Program•E-mail: michael.kirshner@oit.edu•Phone: 503.725.3066