Medical Informatics/ Health Informatics is an emerging field that is changing the way we store and use medical information. Ever since electronic medical records have come into vogue, there has been a growing need for new ways to store, retrieve & analyze the data in these records. This makes it an interesting answer to the bugging question of after MBBS what to do.
Medical Informatics is a science that connects information and communication technology with the healthcare industry. On the other hand, Health Informatics applies theory to real-life applications to collect, store, analyze, retrieve and present health care data in a digital form.
It involves the intelligent use of information and technology to provide better care for patients & develop newer treatment modalities. Some of the best Indian medical colleges graduates have ventured into branches of medical informatics including bioinformatics, clinical informatics, consumer health informatics, and public health informatics. These grant numerous career options to consider after MBBS what to do.
The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), while emphasizing that Medical Informatics has tremendous promise in improving the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety of health care service systems, there is a serious dearth of adequately skilled Health Informatics professionals.
What are Electronic Medical Records?
They are basically digital forms of paper records or charts available with the clinician. Electronic medical records store patient details, medical history, and ongoing treatment details. As a result, multiple physicians can keep track of the patient data over a long period of time. Therefore, minimizing the loss of information.
The growing need for Medical Informatics
“General purpose information technology solutions are usually inadequate for specialized needs of the health sector. Health Informatics deals with four major interdisciplinary components; emerging technologies, epidemiology and health management, advanced statistics, and health systems. The scope of health informatics is extremely wide as there is a spread of emerging new technologies that require to be understood, adapted, and validated to be used in health systems then managed for continuous improvement,” says PHFI.
After MBBS what to do? Maybe consider Medinformatics
Given that Medical Informatics is a growing field, job opportunities abound. It gives solutions to questions like ‘after MBBS what to do as a long term career option’. Moreover, it is an exceptionally good career choice. And lastly, it has a wide variety of job titles. Furthermore, it is available at every level of qualification. Young graduates can consider these arenas after completing MBBS or any other medical degree, from the best Indian medical colleges. Medical Informatics helps medical professionals make critical decisions in favor of patients and helps them organize data through electronic medial records. Clinical informatics staff is usually qualified health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or allied health professionals who employ information technology to find better ways of working.
According to the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics, employment of medical records and health information specialists is projected to grow at 8% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is predicted to extend alongside the number of individuals in older age groups.
Where can you work with Electronic Medical Records?
In the United Kingdom, health informatics professionals are much in demand in the National Health Service (NHS). They are hired to carry out full or part-time research. As a result, they use their understanding of clinical practices to find ways to improve their services.
In India, many large hospitals in the public and private sector, diagnostic laboratories, and research institutions employ health informatics professionals. Thus, many students go for this career option after their MBBS degree.
Career in MedInformatics
If you are thinking after MBBS what to do or are interested in electronic medical records work then we encourage you to pursue medical informatics as your specialization. Any graduate with a science background or a medical background can pursue this course. Most colleges admit students based on their scores in their bachelor’s degree while others ask for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) scores and/or conduct their entrance exam.
In India, courses in Medical Informatics are conducted by several institutes. These include the International Institute of Health Management, Indian Institute of Public Health, Osmania University, and Bioinformatics Institute of India. The Public Health Foundation of India and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research jointly conduct M.Sc. & Ph.D. (Health Informatics). They conduct courses at various levels of education. Acquiring such a qualification can not only help physicians improve the quality of patient care but also transition to a non-clinical career role. Medinformatics has great potential for innovation. Read about innovation in non-clinical careers here.
Job titles
Typical job titles for health informatics professionals include:
- Data Informatics Analys
- Medical Records Specialist
- Healthcare Informatic
- Clinical Informatics Team Lead
- Medical Informatician
- Health Information Technologist
- Medical Information Officer
Salaries
The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), while emphasizing that Medical Informatics has tremendous promise in improving the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, quality, and safety of health care service systems, there is a serious dearth of adequately skilled Health Informatics professionals.
Conclusion
Medical Informatics is a great career option in India in light of the huge demand for professionals in information processing. As a result, one can definitely explore the field, explore electronic medical records and have a clear plan on after MBBS what to do and work on. Another plus is the rapidly changing healthcare market and the government’s emphasis on the adoption of technology. India being the software technology giant in the world, a lot of opportunities also exist in IT companies serving global clients in healthcare. There is little to no doubt that Medical Informatics is poised to become an important specialization. It may be so for a wide range of individuals, including healthcare professionals, looking for a stable career in India.
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