In order to become a health system analyst, it’s important to know what the role of a health system analyst is in a health care system. Health system analysts are professionals who help build and maintain a structured information system that houses medical records, patient data, operation processes and procedures, databases, and a variety of other programming, software, and application design to use in the healthcare environment. Some of the job duties of a systems analyst may also coincide with a health information technician, and some positions may simply be known as computer or information technology (IT) system analyst. The requirements and training programs for health systems analysts may vary in different regions of the country, but the general recommendations for becoming one are usually the same.
Educational Requirements For Health Systems Analysts
Different job postings may have different education requirements, but according to the US Department of Labor, most health systems analysts, health care technicians, or computer system analysts will earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in their field of study. Some may only need an associate’s degree, but the job opportunities are usually greater for those with at least a bachelor’s degree. Many universities offer bachelor’s degrees in health IT that will meet the requirements necessary to become a health system analyst, and some community colleges even offer associate’s degrees in the field. If the university you plan to attend doesn’t offer that degree, you can enroll in a computer science, database or IT administration, software engineering, or a programming-related curriculum and take some courses or minor in a healthcare-related program so you’re familiar with the terminology.
For more information, please see: Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science.
Certifications For Health System Analysts
In addition to obtaining a degree in a health IT field, you may need to become a certified analyst. This requires passing a certification exam. One such exam is a Registered Health Information Technician exam (RHIT) which can be taken by those who have completed an associate’s degree or higher in a health IT field. You can also take the exam if you’re going to be graduating at the end of your current term of your degree, but you must submit verification of the completion of your education as well as your transcripts. There are study guide resources available to help all applicants prepare for the exam. Other exams include the The CompTIA Healthcare IT Technician certification, and you may even choose to become a Certified Cancer Registrar by taking an exam in that field.
Salaries For Health Systems Analysts
The salary for health systems analysts may depend on your qualifications and experience. For basic health information technicians with associate’s degrees, they usually earn anywhere from $30-40,000 a year, and those who decide to become health information managers or have a full-fledged computer systems analyst position may earn as much as $80,000 a year. Most health IT specialists will work a standard 40-hour week shift, but shifts also include evenings and weekends.
The health system analyst career while being very demanding, is also very rewarding for individuals who find employment in the field. The demand for system analysts is expected to increase over the coming years as health information systems continue to grow and develop new computing and cloud technologies that require more workers. So if you like developing and working with computers and have an interest in health care, you may want to become a health system analyst.