Clinical informatics

Clinical informatics staff 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. 

This page has information on the roles available in clinical informatics with links to further information

Working life 

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

Staff sitting at table

Clinical informatics staff 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.

Roles in clinical informatics 

Explore some of the roles in clinical informatics:

Administrative assistant in clinical informatics

Administrative assistants in clinical informatics could work in a variety of areas. An example could be supporting the Informatics Learning Networks (ILN). ILNs provide networking and continuous professional development opportunities for clinicians and other healthcare staff. They offer a variety of support, including seminars, small focused learning groups and web support.

Clinical informatics specialist manager

Clinical informatics specialist managers carry out full or part-time research, using their understanding of clinical practice to find ways to improve services. They manage information services for a specialist area such as maternity services and will assist in the development of specific IT and/or information projects, such as the electronic patient record.

Pathology links manager

Pathology links managers are usually healthcare professionals. They are responsible for the IT systems and applications that link shared pathology services.

Their role is to ensure that the IT system works reliably and is compliant with national information governance regulations. The work will involve a range of tasks including:

  • collating and inputting data into specialist computer programmes,
  • ensuring information meets appropriate requirements for information
  • analysing data and drawing conclusions based on set reporting procedures.

To become a pathology links officer, you will usually need to have trained and worked in a relevant clinical area. A good example would be someone who has trained and worked as a biomedical scientist.

Picture archiving communication system (PACS) administrator

A PACS administrator supports the radiography department by storing and images such as x-rays, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. They’ll also use digital systems to transfer them to specialists within a trust and around the country.

Want to learn more?

  • Most jobs in the NHS are covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) pay scales.  This pay system covers all staff except doctors, dentists and the most senior managers. 

    Clinical informatics staff in the NHS will usually work standard hours of 37.5 per week. Terms and conditions can vary for employers outside of the NHS. 

     

  • There are a wide range of opportunities, such as clinical audit, as well as openings to develop your own problem-solving projects or research. There are also opportunities to progress your career into senior management roles. Most NHS organisations will now have chief information officers who lead the delivery of ICT systems locally, regionally and nationally. 

  • If you're applying for a role either directly in the NHS or in an organisation that provides NHS services, you'll be asked to show how you think the values of the NHS Constitution apply in your everyday work. Find out more about NHS values.

    Most NHS organisations advertise their job and apprenticeship vacancies on NHS Jobs. You can find any current vacancies below. 

    Find a vacancy

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