What Is a Health Informatics Internship and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Health informatics, also called health information systems, utilizes software and applications to compile, organize, and analyze health records to improve patient care. Students in health informatics programs must complete a health informatics internship before they graduate. Because health informatics is such a diverse field, your job duties depend on the discipline you pursue. You may work in applications, record management, research, medical decision support, or engineering. As a student intern, you may be assigned to administrative duties, entering data and processing documents, while shadowing professionals in the field. You may also focus on machine learning and other emerging technologies used in the clinical setting.

To obtain a health informatics internship, you must be currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program and have completed two years of study. Many interns major in bioinformatics, statistics, or electrical engineering, while others are completing a pharmacy program. Organizations that offer health informatics internships look for well-rounded candidates who have proficiency with bioinformatics software, excellent research skills, patient care experience, and knowledge of HIPAA laws and other relevant governmental regulations. There is no minimum grade point average required to obtain an internship, but a high GPA may make your application more impressive. Employers also prefer those who are self-motivated and have attention to detail.