HIMSS Analytics: Clinical Support Staff In High Demand

The demand for top health IT talent remains high, particularly for those with experience in clinical application support. According to the 2014 HIMSS Workplace Study, 84 percent of respondents said their organization hired at least one staff member in the past year, and 82 percent said they plan to hire at least one full-time employee in the next 12 months.

Of those positions, the most sought-after is clinical application support staff, with 58 percent indicating they plan to hire for the position in the next year, marking a 34 percent increase from the 2013 survey results.

When it comes to meeting the demand for skilled IT workers, healthcare employers use multiple approaches, with the most effective being IT recruiters and executive search firms.

“In an industry in which recruiting workers away from other healthcare organizations is fairly common practice, IT recruiters and staffing agencies are clearly seen to be the most effective recruitment resource at a healthcare employer’s disposal,” said Lorren Pettit, VP of Research, HIMSS Analytics. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see the use of recruiters increase as a preferred recruitment resource as the demand for select IT professionals increases.”

The study, which was conducted by HIMSS Analytics, also found that more than two-thirds (70 percent) of respondents expect to use outsourced services, which is significantly less than the previous findings (93 percent).

To view the report, click here.