With the Affordable Care Act’s federal mandate for implementing electronic medical records looming, many healthcare organizations are scrambling to update their IT infrastructure. As a result, entrepreneurs are looking ahead at the next evolution of the IT frenzy in healthcare. Among the areas creating the most buzz are technology convergence, risk management technology and analytics. IT students interested in developing skills related to one of these growing areas, should consider the following.
Technology Convergence
Work is still needed to create a comprehensive IT infrastructure that supports the clinical work that healthcare practitioners perform every day. New software and hardware products are needed to bring about a smarter and more responsive IT package that fits the needs of a diverse set of stakeholders. For instance, systems that combine analytics software with better natural language usage (to integrate clinical notes with diagnostics) could create stronger patient outcomes. In addition, more user-friendly software for inventory and maintenance issues could reduce waste and increase organizational efficiency. Students interested in IT technology convergence could apply their skills to meet a variety of real-world challenges immediately upon graduation.
As the mandated reporting legislation begins to unfold there will be competition for software that integrates a variety of data across previous divisions to support better patient outcomes. For creative programmers, this means additional opportunity. Diminishing redundancy and waste is a major focus of healthcare facilities of all sizes. From being hired full-time to working as a consultant, healthcare organizations need highly skilled IT professionals to help them meet aggressive profitability and performance goals.
Risk Management
With the shift from physician-centered healthcare to a healthcare system involving more patient responsibility, software systems are needed that are flexible, responsive and attuned to helping organizations manage risk. With increased accountability comes a keener focus on the performance of facilities like long-term care and residential treatment centers. These organizations will need intelligent software that tracks and manages patient outcomes in a way that presents user-friendly options to access data and use it to create reports, supporting documents and training materials.
Current healthcare workers with an insider’s view of the healthcare industry are a great asset to an organization when they transition into a related IT field. By remaining active in a related professional organization and networking, professionals transitioning from a healthcare area into IT can build important contacts and pursue additional career opportunities. In addition to networking, many career changers look to the flexibility of online learning to help cross the bridge from one career to the next. For professionals with strong problem-solving skills and an interest in statistics, pursuing the area of risk management may be a great fit.
Analytics
While many software products help healthcare organizations crunch numbers and produce effective reports, there is a need for more holistic software that is flexible with regard to accessing and utilizing big data. Today’s software packages must have the ability to progress with technology and the evolving healthcare system. As personalized medicine and genetic profiles become integrated with traditional medicine and alternative therapies, new software is needed. Large organization need responsive analytics that can help keep track of all patient data and multi-leveled layers of wellness in order to better understand a comprehensive view of clinical outcomes.
Large companies like IBM, Cisco and Oracle, among others, are looking into the future of healthcare and working diligently to create IT solutions that will stay relevant and competitive in today’s changing healthcare market. Today’s young professionals and career changers who wish to excel in the area of healthcare IT have many options to pursue and a wide range of reputable online courses from which to start building a more rewarding future in one of the fastest growing areas in healthcare today.
