Finding gainful employment for the job seeker has been difficult over the last several years.  A change in government leadership has not helped, and there is a perpetual cloud of uncertainty as job seekers fall out of the search for jobs, and those who do find jobs often taking extreme pay cuts in order to provide for their families.  It is shocking then, that a Deloitte study finds that HR leaders are having trouble finding and attaining the top talent globally.

The Deloitte study explains, “In an era of limited economic growth compressing job opportunities, it would seem that there should be enough talent go to around,” yet employers are competing with a skills gap paradox and employee consumerism.  This is leaving companies with lesser skilled employees unable to fill the holes left by those retiring.  Solving this problem is made more complex by the demands of perspective employees wanting a world class Total Rewards program.

Addressing the IT skill gap

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Supporting the problems highlighted by Deloitte, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Health Research Institute (HRI) finds a shortage of health IT workers which could slow industry progress, “nearly 80 percent of organizations expect to increase HIT Investments in 2013, yet more than half surveyed express concern about ability to keep pace with technological change.”

The healthcare industry and those who work in healthcare IT departments are facing a unique challenge where technical skills need to be paired with business strategy savvy to understand the challenges and uniqueness of the healthcare feild as it becomes digitalized and more advanced.  Daniel Garrett, principal and PwC’s Health Information Technology practice leader explains, “Despite billions of dollars spent investing in HIT, the lack of qualified professionals could slow progress toward quality and efficiency.  The benefits of HIT will not be realized until organizations can ensure information is unlocked and integrated in a way to best inform critical business and clinical decision-making.”

The healthcare industry has a gun to its head right now.  They’re under extreme pressure to meet new requirements for digital health records, streamlining the process to address the needs of providers, insurances, drug and device makers.  PwC states that 75% of hospitals and physicians groups are hiring IT employees to accommodate and lead the development and integration of the healthcare field and IT.  Making matters more complicated, HRI found that more than half of all insurers which took part in the survey have acquired another company in the last year meaning data and systems need to be integrated created a dynamic niche in healthcare IT which is part of the larger IT field.

The field of Healthcare IT has grown so rapidly and is becoming such an important part of the healthcare field many schools are now offering IT degrees focusing on the special needs of the healthcare environment.  With the push to hire new HIT workers encompassing a wide range of capabilities  here is a look at the top 5 jobs in healthcare IT.

Top IT jobs in healthcare

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Data Analytics/Data Mining Engineer

Data analysts work with the immense quality and quantity of data that is now available as computers and technology are used more in the healthcare industry and turns it into usable information.  Data analysts are responsible for using the available data and extracting it into useable information so the hospital or physicians office can create better patient outcomes, reduce costs and increase efficiency.

HIM Regulatory Product Analysts

The HIM regulatory product analyst is a perfect example of the wide range of specialized skills that a member of the HIT field needs to have in order to succeed.  The person who enters this field can expect to be involved with coding, medical billing, software, Health Information System (HIS) abstracting products as well as regulations and compliance of state and federal rules.  The RIM regulatory product analyst is also tasked with analyzing data and works to ensure that it is documented and shared with business and other various IT professionals within the organization.

IT Business/Proces Analyst

Responsible for gathering information, performing analysis, managing the design, configuration, development and testing processes and system changes, and understanding the applications, data, and associated technologies.  The IT Business/Process Analyst is responsible for making sense of data for studies of management and operational procedures to determine cost efficiency, corrective action and compliance with goals and objectives.

The IT Business/Process Analyst acts like a liaison between the business, health plans, operational areas and the IT department as well as the staff in order to ensure that the needs of the hospital are incorporated into the design and testing of the system.

IT Tech Support/Help Desk

The help desk is a fixture in any IT department, and these employees play a vital role in the healthcare setting–particularly in hospitals that are integrating more and more advanced technology into the everyday process of treating patients and doing business.  IT tech support and the help desk are on the front lines, helping doctors, nurses and other vital staff members fix technology issues, educate and train employees on the tech, and are responsible for ensuring that all hardware and software is working in the manner they are meant to.

Healthcare Information Technology Manager

The HIT Manager is responsible for taking care of all the records, billing and data collection as well as interpreting data, running the IT department, and overseeing procurement and design.  The HIT Manager has a wide range of responsibilities that demands a highly skilled IT employee, with a background in computer science as well as an understanding of healthcare administration and business management.

The healthcare field is one that is going to continue to grow over the next several years as the Baby Boomers age and they require more and more advanced technology and the increase in medical care associated with growing older.  As technology becomes more advanced and integrated into the realm of healthcare; the IT field is going to have to transform itself and grow to embrace and accommodate the unique needs of the healthcare industry.