With the current job markets unprecedented demand for specialists in healthcare, IT Professionals have a new challenge to face as they re-evaluate their expertise and prepare to embrace a career change andplay an important role in U.S. healthcare history. In this blog, I am going to take a brief look at Healthcare IT and the likelihood of long term growth in this segment of the employment market.

In order to provide better health care at lower cost, the U.S. healthcare industry is making significant investments to build a powerful interconnected information technology system. The implementation of electronic health records (EHR) systems, redesigned processes, and the accompanying databases have hospitals and healthcare centers first looking at candidates with vendor specific skills and experience in the development of EHR systems. These people are almost fully engaged on existing projects.

However, as a Hay Group study shows, the demand for IT professionals does not match the offer due to a shortage of the required skills and experience required for these mission critical positions.More employers are hiring recent graduates or certificate candidates. Therefore, this is a great opportunity for experienced IT professionals who are looking for a job or career path change to get the necessary training to enter the Healthcare IT job market. And it is surely not a dull one, to be part of a process that will impact and change the U.S. healthcare industry forever is monumental. At Relational IT, we believe that careers in Healthcare IT open new and exciting opportunities for IT Professionals of diverse backgrounds.

The first thing you need to know when considering a new career path into Healthcare IT is that the conversion of mainstream IT skills into Healthcare IT skills is possible! If you have compliance experience in financial and insurance industries, retail, or in implementing large-scale ERP or CRM systems; chances are high that you are employable in Healthcare IT. Intrusion protection and firewall management are high priority challenges to protecting medical records and mobile initiatives inside and outside the enterprise are valuable skill sets to Healthcare employers. If you can empathize with the enormous shift the U.S. healthcare industry is going through, provide good organization and communication skills you are surely qualified to transfervaluable IT experience that healthcare organizations need now.

I know many candidates wonder if IT certifications are a must. In this matter, I agree with the study published by CompTIA, which reveals certifications are a big plus for your resume and are viewed by hiring managers as a high-value validation of candidates’ IT skills.

If you are considering a career in Healthcare IT, become familiar with the clinical workflows and processes of healthcare, and read relevant industry publications, such as Healthcare IT News and look seriously at obtaining training in one of the premier solutions such as Allscripts, EPIC, Cerner, McKesson and others. Furthermore, seize the many opportunities online, join healthcare IT organizations, read their forums, and as in any career change or job search; Brand your Image and network with others who have made the shift into Healthcare IT. Check out Relational IT’s job opportunities and contact our team of consultants to talk more about your potential career in Healthcare IT.

Relational IT is adding value to the Healthcare IT revolution working with both candidates and organizations to help achieve their goals. The Relational IT team has deep knowledge of Healthcare IT systems, and looks forward to speaking with you.