Authors:
Susan E. Smith, Lesley E. Drake, Julie-Gai B. Harris, Kay Watson, Peter G. Pohlner
What’s the research –
Innovation and adoption of health and clinical informatics solutions are vital to sustainable, equitable and accessible health services. The article relates that health information can guide policy, service planning, decision making and health surveillance but skilled health informatics staff are a necessary building block to achieve these benefits. It describes the digital health staff issues, clinical informatics capacity building and the barriers affecting attainment of anticipated benefits.
Why it’s important –
The paper is significant as it documents the requirements that are necessary to build the clinical and health informatics workforce and urges prioritisation of solutions in order to achieve desired outcomes of improved clinical care, quality and service management. In addition, the collaboration between key stakeholders is required for clinical and health informatics workforce development.
What have we learned –
Collaboration between key stakeholders is required for clinical and health informatics workforce development. To build informatics capacity for health, government, employers, vendors, employees, academic institutions and professional associations need to work together to develop a career pathway, educational programs and delivery and education program accreditation. Practical solutions outlined include recognition of the benefits of clinical and health informatics at all levels of the health system; development and support of specialised health informatics roles and the allocation of staffing resources that recognise implementation; analytics and reporting; and ongoing maintenance and training.
Who should read this paper –
There is widespread recognition that health information technologies can transform health care delivery, health outcomes, policy making, and address issues of sustainability, access and strengthen health decision making. Policy makers, health ministers, chief executive officers and educators would find this paper insightful.
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Collaboration between key stakeholders is required for clinical and health informatics workforce development.
