How to Make Money in Healthcare Informatics

Health care informatics is the meeting point between information technology and health care delivery. Health care information systems comprise much of the health care informatics field and perform critical functions such as electronic patient records to databases that help manage the workflow and finances in pharmacies. Federal government support to bring turn the American health care record system fully electronic has brought the field into increased public view. Through both jobs and entrepreneurship, many Americans have become part of this growing field.

Instructions

• 1

  Graduate with a degree in computer sciences or a related field that will prepare you for work in electronics. Some programs such as University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee offer graduate degrees with a health care informatics specialization.

• 2

  Work for the information technology department of a hospital or health care company. In order to take on larger, entrepreneurial tasks, it helps to understand the needs of health care organizations, how they function and the workings of their budgets.

• 3

  Identify systemic problems, gaps and areas of medical IT that could use improvement. In order to make real money, you'll need an idea that is unique and that either creates a new efficiency or allows for new achievements. Take advantage of your access to health care professionals and administrators to learn about what they do and where they run into difficulties that technology might help.

• 4

  Invent new software or hardware that can address the issues and problems you have identified. You may want to collaborate with other IT professionals such as computer programmers or hardware specialists to combine skills. Work out written arrangements as to who is entitled to what percentage of profit from the venture in advance of releasing a product.

• 5

  Position yourself as a consultant and open your own firm if you would rather sell your expertise rather than a specific invention or innovation. Health care IT professionals who have good reputations or significant professional achievements can make significant money as "outside experts" in the field.

• 6

  Market your invention, innovation or services to key players in the health care industry. You might start with health care organizations you have worked for in the past or perhaps connections you've made over time can help get you into new organizations.

• 7

  Hire a marketing firm or sell your product to a larger IT company in order to get the expertise to take your invention or concept further. Just because someone is innovative with technology, doesn't mean she is the best entrepreneur. Luckily, there are resources and investors who can handle the business elements if that's not your forte.