How to Be Physician Informatics Specialist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Dec 13, 2021 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

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The increased use of electronic health records (EHRs) has led to a rapid rise in the demand for physician informatics specialists. These specialists are responsible for overseeing the implementation and maintenance of EHRs, helping to ensure that the data is accurate and secure. In addition, they assist physicians in understanding and efficiently using the technology, enabling them to improve patient care, reduce medical errors and improve health outcomes. As a result, physician informatics specialists play an important role in the healthcare industry, helping to drive improvements in safety, quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.

Steps How to Become

Obtain a Bachelor's Degree. To become a physician informatics specialist, you will need to obtain a four-year bachelor's degree in a healthcare-related field such as medical informatics, computer science, or healthcare administration.
Gain Work Experience. You may need to gain experience in the healthcare field prior to applying to a physician informatics specialist program. This experience can be in the form of internships, volunteer work, or working in a healthcare facility.
Obtain a Master's Degree. Most physician informatics specialists have a master's degree in healthcare informatics or related fields.
Become Certified. After obtaining a master's degree, you may consider becoming certified as a physician informatics specialist through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
Obtain Licensure. Depending on the state, you may need to obtain a license in order to practice as a physician informatics specialist.
Join Professional Organizations. Joining professional organizations such as the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) can help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the industry.

Technology is constantly evolving, and it is essential for physicians to stay up-to-date and be able to effectively use the newest medical informatics tools and practices. One way to do this is to become a Physician Informatics Specialist. A Physician Informatics Specialist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the application of information technology to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare delivery.

This person is responsible for developing and implementing systems that provide access to patient records, facilitate communication between healthcare providers, and improve the accuracy and consistency of medical care. By having this specialist on staff, physicians can ensure they are utilizing the most up-to-date medical informatics tools available, which can help reduce medical errors, improve the coordination of care, and promote patient safety. it allows physicians to save time by streamlining processes within their practice, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

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Job Description

Manage the deployment of health information systems and technologies, ensuring optimal utilization.
Analyze the needs of clinicians, administrators and other stakeholders, and develop strategies for optimizing the use of technology to meet those needs.
Collaborate with clinical and administrative staff to implement technology-based solutions to improve patient care, operational efficiency and cost savings.
Design, install, configure and maintain network systems, databases, applications and interfaces.
Monitor system performance to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
Provide educational support in the use of IT systems and applications, including training and user documentation.
Develop data models, reports and dashboards to support decision-making by clinicians and administrators.
Maintain a current knowledge of developments in healthcare informatics, including standards, regulations and best practices.
Research new technologies to determine their potential benefits for the organization.
Participate in the development of policies and procedures for the use of technology.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of healthcare delivery systems, including clinical workflow and operational processes.
Understanding of health information technology, including EHRs, CPOE, e-prescribing, and practice management systems.
Ability to analyze and interpret healthcare data to identify trends, issues, and opportunities.
Familiarity with healthcare regulations, standards, and guidelines.
Knowledge of coding and billing systems.
Experience with data mining and analytics.
Excellent problem solving and analytical skills.
Ability to develop and implement effective IT solutions for clinical and operational needs.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.

Physician informatics specialist is a highly specialized role that requires a deep understanding of both healthcare and technology. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, the need for professionals who are skilled in both healthcare and technology is growing. Successful physician informatics specialists are knowledgeable about both the medical field, along with the hardware and software used to manage healthcare data.

They must be able to analyze, design, develop and implement systems that support patient care. As such, the most important skill for a physician informatics specialist to have is the ability to bridge the gap between medical and technological knowledge. They must be able to think strategically, while also being creative in their approach to solving problems.

Having a thorough knowledge of the healthcare system, privacy and security regulations, as well as an understanding of the technical architecture of healthcare information systems is also essential. Furthermore, excellent communication skills are needed in order for the physician informatics specialist to effectively collaborate with other healthcare professionals in order to ensure that all systems are working together efficiently.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have working with electronic medical records?
How familiar are you with healthcare data standards and protocols?
Describe a challenging project you have worked on in the past related to physician informatics.
What strategies have you used to ensure the accuracy of data when working with physician informatics?
How have you used data analytics to improve the quality of care for patients?
What challenges have you faced when integrating different systems for physician informatics?
How do you stay up-to-date on the latest technology and best practices in physician informatics?
What skills do you bring to the table that make you an ideal candidate for this role?
How have you developed strong relationships with physicians and other healthcare professionals?
Describe a time when you successfully identified and resolved an issue related to physician informatics.

Common Tools in Industry

Electronic Health Records (EHRs). A digital record of patient health information which allows for improved communication between patients and providers. (eg: Epic)
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). Software that helps physicians make faster, more informed decisions by providing evidence-based recommendations and guidelines. (eg: UpToDate)
Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI). Tools that help physicians capture and document patient information more accurately. (eg: 3M 360 Encompass)
ePrescribing. Electronic systems that allow physicians to securely order medications for patients. (eg: Surescripts)
Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). Secure networks that allow providers to access and share patient health information across different organizations. (eg: CommonWell Health Alliance)
Laboratory Information Systems (LIS). Software that helps automate the reporting and management of laboratory test results. (eg: Cerner Lab Information System)
Analytics and Reporting Tools. Software that helps generate reports and visualizations from large amounts of data. (eg: IBM Watson Health Analytics)

Professional Organizations to Know

American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA)
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)
Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
American College of Physicians (ACP)
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM)
International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA)
American Nursing Informatics Association (ANIA)

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Common Important Terms

Electronic Health Record (EHR). A digital version of a patients medical history, including their medical records, prescriptions, test results, and other information.
Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS). A computer system that helps healthcare providers make decisions by providing them with evidence-based recommendations and alerts.
Health Information Exchange (HIE). A system that allows medical records and health information to be securely exchanged among healthcare providers and organizations.
Telemedicine. The practice of providing medical care remotely using telecommunications technology.
Medical Coding. The process of assigning codes to specific medical services in order to bill for them.
Clinical Terminology. A standardized language used by medical professionals to describe medical diagnoses, treatments, and procedures.
Natural Language Processing (NLP). The use of computers to understand and analyze human language in order to extract useful information.
Big Data Analytics. The use of large-scale data sets to identify patterns and trends in order to make better decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a Physician Informatics Specialist? A1: A Physician Informatics Specialist is a medical professional who specializes in the use of health information technology to improve patient care and healthcare operations. Q2: What are the duties of a Physician Informatics Specialist? A2: The duties of a Physician Informatics Specialist include designing and implementing electronic health record systems, providing technical support for system users, and developing data analytics applications for clinical decision support. Q3: What qualifications are needed to become a Physician Informatics Specialist? A3: To become a Physician Informatics Specialist, one must typically have a degree in medicine or healthcare informatics, as well as several years of experience in the field. Q4: What certifications are available for Physician Informatics Specialists? A4: The American Board of Preventive Medicine offers the Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) certification, which is designed for healthcare professionals with expertise in health information technology. Q5: How much do Physician Informatics Specialists earn? A5: According to Payscale.com, the median annual salary for Physician Informatics Specialists is $101,919.