Bernie Monegain, Editor
Bernie Monegain is the Editor of Healthcare IT News. Bernie covers hospitals and IDNs, industry trends and is responsible for overall coverage decisions.
Demand exceeds supply for some health IT jobs
WASHINGTON | February 9, 2012
A recent brief from eHealth Initiative asserts more health IT job opportunities are available than qualified people to fill them, especially on the health data exchange front.
[See also: Health IT leads in jobs recovery]
The report comes on the heels of a Feb. 1 update from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that reveals jobs in the healthcare sector will outpace growth in other sectors through 2020.
“Given the prevailing air of economic uncertainty in America and the unprecedented level of support for health information technology from the federal government, growth in health information systems may represent an untapped market for both job creation and market savings,” the brief states.
One way to address the shortage of workers with skills needed by health information exchanges (HIEs), the eHealth Initiative recommends that ONC work more closely with the industry to assess the exact IT skills that are sought by HIEs in order to strengthen the ONC’s workforce program.
[See also: Employer demand spurs new health IT program ]
“That information should serve as a basis to adjust the workforce program, so that graduates have the appropriate skills that are most in demand and can increase their value in the job market.
The issue brief highlights four key findings.
Sarah Linz say: I oversee the ONC Workforce
I oversee the ONC Workforce HIT program at Lansing Community College in Michigan. We are fortunate enough to have a positive relationship with our local HIE. Not only did they put 2 of their own employees through our HIT Training program (1 of whom now assists in the instruction of our training program), but they also hired 2 of our HIT students upon graduation.
Our average HIT student has a Bachelor's degree and 10+ years experience in Healthcare and/or IT. This HIT Training program builds upon their previous levels of education and experience and is meant to guide them into some of these emerging positions. I hope more HIEs and other Health IT employers look to hire ONC HIT graduates.