About Health Informatics & Patient Administration

If you love working with information technology, are good at analysing data or find satisfaction in keeping accurate records, there could be a job for you. 

Clinical informatics staff in the NHS capture, communicate and use data and clinical knowledge to support health professionals. They also develop and implement a range of digital tools to support this. 

Your working life in clinical informatics will involve looking at how information and data can help patients and the delivery of care. This could include:

• analysing information about falls on wards to prevent hospital patients having accidents
• helping to develop electronic patient records that link healthcare organisations, for example GPs and hospital clinics.
• running systems that store and share X-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans

Clinical informatics leaders are usually qualified health professionals, such as doctors, nurses or allied health professionals who develop a strong interest in using IT and information to find better ways of working. There are also a number of roles at a more junior level where clinical experience isn’t necessary to start this career path.

Health professionals need access to vital information at a moment's notice. This makes health records and patient administrators crucial to the delivery of healthcare. They are also responsible for promoting and supporting the effective use of data, information, knowledge and technology within their organisation. Health records and patient administration staff collate, store and retrieve records used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. 

If you prefer dealing with people than dealing with data then a waiting list coordinator might be more appealing for you. These staff complete and maintain the accuracy of waiting lists and plans patient activity to minimise waiting times and the ensure the best use of resources. This role is likely to involve:

• monitoring waiting lists and ensuring they are accurate and complete
• implementing and maintaining a system to monitor waiting times 
• identifying changes in demand for particular services 
• developing and monitoring plans to improve practice
• contributing to improving the quality and overall management of the waiting list
• providing weekly statistical information and reports on performance