50,000 IT professionals likely needed in the healthcare industry

5/26/2010 11:47 AM

As the healthcare industry continues to update its IT operations, Modern Healthcare recently reported that the industry may need nearly 50,000 additional IT professionals to accomplish its goals. The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education reports that it annually awards nearly 3,500 degrees from its programs.

Modern Healthcare conducted a survey of its readers and found that 58 percent said they need to hire more IT staff in the next 12 months. Many healthcare institutions have struggled to retain IT professionals that they have hired because of the low wages compared to other industries in need of experienced computer workers.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology told Modern Healthcare that community colleges in the United States will likely train roughly 10,500 new healthcare IT professionals per year for the next five years.

A report recently released by the University of San Diego Extension School concluded that healthcare IT is the premier field for college graduates to enter. However, since IT professionals often command high salaries, the healthcare industry needs to find funding to pay these workers to keep them on staff.

About SetFocus

In business since 1997, SetFocus is the global leader in selecting, training, placing, and supporting Microsoft professionals worldwide. Through strategic relationships, SetFocus develops programs that directly source skilled professionals to meet the immediate hiring needs of its partners. A Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Learning Solutions, SetFocus utilizes a unique combination of services to help organizations grow allowing them to meet marketplace opportunities with speed and agility. SetFocus has won semi-finalist awards for both the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year as well as the New Jersey Family Business of the Year. It is currently ranked on Inc. 5,000 fastest growing companies in America. For more information, SetFocus can be reached at +1-886-91-TRAIN and through its website, SetFocus.