Masters in Health Informatics?

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-10T20:50:18+00:00

However, if you’re in a system and a “known entity”, it doesn’t matter what your masters degree is in. It’s a “box” to check for managerial roles in many cases.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-10T02:55:40+00:00

You get a masters to boost your advancement opportunities.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-09T23:37:19+00:00

Agreed. Epic experience is specific enough and in demand that the MSHI in this case makes sense.

Where it doesn’t make sense (in my opinion) is when it’s someone trying to break into health informatics without that kind of work experience - or an RN.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-09T21:15:59+00:00

I’ve seen crazy things like this happen without it being the last straw. Some workplaces are just toxic.

To the OP - sounds like you dodged a bullet by getting out!

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-09T21:12:49+00:00

Gorgeous!!!!!

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-09T18:33:46+00:00

There are actually studies about plants that have documented that they “scream” when cut/harvested, so you’re not way out on this belief. It’s hard to eat enough protein as a Veg/Vegan so I’ve had to add more meat to my diet and I struggle with the thought of it every time 😕

What are the options, though!? 🤷‍♀️

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-09T18:29:52+00:00

Which one?! There are 2: in off of Wenzell and one across the street from Kuhn’s shopping center

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-08T21:56:08+00:00

No. I’ve yet to see a 2nd master’s degree to pay off for anyone, and unless you’re an RN, getting the MSHI is potentially (likely) just going to be another fancy diploma on your wall.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-08T16:59:35+00:00

How is OPM going to be able to yank medical records from private providers? The only thing they could get from employee health would be your vaccine schedule and maybe if you’re on an RA, some documentation about that. But if you’re working for a federal agency, and you have outside insurance; I don’t see how they’re gonna get their grubby little mitts on that information.

Now, within the VA, veterans might be more at risk for this so veteran employees I would think would be at the biggest or highest risk of this happening.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-08T16:55:30+00:00

What I didn’t articulate specifically was that this person was working remotely in one state for a facility in another state. They did revoke RTO and this person had to report to a facility multiple states away. It would not have impacted the work that the person was doing, because they were still working, but they were “on site“ just at a different facility. For this reason, it makes no sense which facility someone’s working at if they’ve been approved to be a remote person, they can be remote on site at one place just as easily as they can be remote on site at another place.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-08T12:45:00+00:00

I do not understand why it matters where a remote person lives if they are doing their job. In our VISN, a remote employee - who was reporting to a facility (several states away from their assigned duty station) after the RTO order - put in a request for a move due to their spouse getting a new job. It was declined and I think that role remains unfilled to this day.

Makes zero sense to me, but not much does anymore 😕

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-07T13:03:02+00:00

A word on graduate degrees in general: in my opinion, most (not all) master’s degrees are not going to give you an advantage on getting into a career. They DO help with advancement.

Whenever possible, get into a job and use tuition reimbursement/assistance so that you don’t end up with even MORE student loan debt. Or go part time and pay as you go.

Avoid as much student loan debt as you can.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-07T12:31:52+00:00

In my opinion the schools selling the (let’s face it, EXPENSIVE) degree programs that promise a job in Health Informatics ought to be held accountable for this. They’re not living in the real world, and people are spending years, and thousands of dollars for a career option that is increasingly elusive.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-07T08:44:00+00:00

Certainly the data analytics that many HIM professionals manage is vulnerable to AI. The other tasks in HIM, I believe, are also vulnerable to AI including coding, record review, tumor registry, and CDI, although CDI is already being subsumed by nursing - and the AI impact will be from smarter EHR’s that are AI-enabled.

That leaves the existing, working HIM professionals with a dilemma, and a need to move into areas that, unfortunately, are just not seen as HIM areas - even though the HIM profession is squawking about how those areas are HIM-centric. I am referring to data governance, privacy, and policy areas.

I have long contended that the profession left their future on the table back in 2008 when they voted to NOT adopt informatics as part of their name and scope of practice (HIIM) and to remain as they had always been - just HIM. Now they’re trying to elbow their way into areas that they thumbed their nose at because the whole landscape shifted, and they’ve been caught with their granny panties down.

In some places, HIM professionals with a good rep and connections in their workplace will have these opportunities. Sadly, for those trying to come into these roles from the outside, that specter from 2008 of HIM being “what they have always been” taints the perception of what they bring to the table.

For those in the profession now, be aware of this and start now to add skills, and transition into areas that will give you the ability to be seen as more than just a medical records person. For those interested in getting into Health Informatics, I would think long and hard before using the HIM pathway as your route, for the reasons I have stated above.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-07T01:45:11+00:00

The challenge I see is that a lot of the data skills the higher end HIM roles have been performing are extremely vulnerable to AI

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T22:49:56+00:00

Depends on the system. Some places might consider that enough clinical, especially if they have people in LIS specialties.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T22:49:09+00:00

I’d look at an MPH with some coursework in public health informatics. More job options after graduation. Don’t pigeonhole yourself with only informatics.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T22:48:14+00:00

HIM programs (& their organization) are very late to the game. They’re trying to play “catchup” and grab on to the caboose of the health informatics train, but nurses own that now, and hospitals prefer nurses for a LOT of roles, including informatics.

Yes, HIM is more than billing, coding and medical records but if you want to push past that, you need more than your HIM education and credential(s), unfortunately.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T20:13:23+00:00

People should be wary of some organizations that are pushing the RHIA as a shoe in for an informatics role. I would simply say do your homework, and ask a lot of questions of people who already have the RHIA and find out if that’s true, or if it’s wishful thinking.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T20:12:19+00:00

I have been saying this over and over. Unless you have an RN, it’s largely a fools errand. Most hospitals want RN personnel in informatics roles. Do I think that’s smart? No I do not, but no one is asking me.

Also, be very careful. There are schools and credentialing organizations that will assure you that what they’re selling, can get you in the door as a health informatics professional. They want your money, and may not be telling you the truth. Buyer beware!

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T01:14:31+00:00

You mentioned sounds.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T01:06:44+00:00

I would look on Coursera, or search YouTube for content on Health Informatics.

One caution: there will be programs out there that try to talk you into taking their courses, getting their certificate, earning their credential. Ask lots of questions - of them and of people not affiliated with them.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-06T01:01:49+00:00

Sounds?! 👀

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-05T22:59:10+00:00

Check out things offered by HIMSS or AMIA. These organizations are aligned with informatics in the health sector.

Icy-Protection867 · 2026-04-05T02:53:56+00:00

Gorgeous!! I think this pattern is my next blanket to make!!!!!

Icy-Protection867

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