Technology has radically transformed the healthcare field. From providing patients with improved access to care to enhancing the speed, accessibility, and accuracy of diagnostics, it’s proved to be a game-changer for both patients and healthcare providers—as well as for those envisioning a future in the industry.¹

Whether you’re in your first year of undergraduate studies or looking for a new career, you may have come across a relatively new role in the field: that of a healthcare data analyst. These professionals unlock key insights that may ultimately reduce healthcare costs, enhance patient care, and streamline medical processes.²

In this blog, we’ll review how to become a healthcare data analyst. We’ll go over standard education requirements, the skills you’ll need to thrive in the profession, and what a typical day looks like for many healthcare data analysts.

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Educational Requirements for Healthcare Data Analysts

Consulting companies, federal and state organizations, diagnostic centers, clinics, hospitals, and private practices – healthcare data analysts work in a wide variety of medical and non-medical settings.³ Regardless of the setting, their goal is to leverage data to help facilities, practitioners, and health executives make smarter and more strategic decisions. By harnessing the benefits of data analytics in healthcare, they contribute to enhanced patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare systems.

But how do they get there in the first place?

It starts with an education:

• Obtain a bachelor’s degree – According to some statistics, 60% of healthcare data analysts hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field.⁴ A bachelor’s degree can help provide you with crucial foundational knowledge, such as ethical regulations for processing private patient information and essential medical terminology. Some of the most common undergraduate degrees for aspiring healthcare analysts include:
  • Data science
  • Statistics
  • Health informatics
  • Information technology
  • Computer Science
  • Economics
  • Health information management
  • Healthcare administration
  • Mathematics
  • Information Technology
  • Biostatistics
  • Public Health
• Finish a master’s program – Do you need a master’s to practice as a healthcare analyst? Not necessarily: 22% have a master’s degree, while another 4% hold a doctorate degree.⁵ That said, pursuing—and earning—a master’s degree in healthcare analytics may demonstrate your commitment to the field. Plus, it’ll give you the technical and management skills you may need to excel in the profession. Other advanced degrees that are relevant to this healthcare niche include:⁶
  • Master’s in Public Health (MPH)
  • Master’s in Health Informatics
  • Master’s in Business Administration (MBA), with a concentration on healthcare management
• Earn certification – Whatever you choose in terms of your education, keep in mind that certified healthcare data analysts must also obtain certification from the American Health Management Association (AHIMA). Certification requires not only a passing grade on a written examination but also one of these credentials:
  • An undergraduate degree and three years of professional experience
  • A master’s degree and one year of professional experience
  • A registered health information administrator credential (RHIA)
  • A registered health information technician credential (RHIT) and a minimum of three years of experience working with healthcare data

On top of this, healthcare data analysts may also benefit hugely from taking extra courses in data analytics or pursuing additional certifications. This might include the Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate or certification in IBM’s data analyst program.

Given all of this information, you may be asking yourself what kind of courses do hopeful healthcare data analysts take? Ultimately, it will depend on your program, but it might involve mathematics and computer science.

Essential Healthcare Data Analyst Technical Skills 

If you’re asking how to become a healthcare data analyst, you likely have an interest in data period. But what kind of tech skills will you need to rock it in the profession?

Technology (as you know) is always changing. Yet, a few of the current skills include:⁷

• Structured query language (or SQL), which will enable you to talk directly to (and manipulate) databases. This may include learning how to use tools like Crystal Reports or Microsoft Access.
• Data modeling software, which helps capture data elements and link them in a relevant way to the actual workflow.
• Business intelligence reporting (or BI), which gives healthcare analysts the ability to present their data to nontechnical parties.
• Data management tools, like PostgreSQL and MySQL.⁸
• Statistical software, such as Stata, SAS, and/or SPSS.

In addition, healthcare data analysts may use Python and healthcare data standards like ICD codes and CPT codes.⁹ They (and, perhaps you) will also need to gain familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs) and learn the ins and outs of remaining HIPAA compliant when extracting, analyzing, and presenting patient information.¹⁰ 

This last part is key: As beneficial as healthcare data analytics may be, the practice is also at risk of security breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive patient data.

Further, healthcare data analysts may need to gain proficiency in data wrangling, data storage, data warehousing, and data mining.

As for the soft skills you may need? These include time management, strong interpersonal skills, attention to detail, collaboration, critical thinking, and effective verbal and written skills. That might seem like a lot, but the rewards—like contributing to a healthier world—can be priceless.

Job Responsibilities of a Healthcare Data Analyst 

So, what does a healthcare data analyst do on a daily basis?

It may go without saying that their role can vary according to the specific place where they work and their responsibilities. After all, healthcare data analysts work everywhere from health insurance companies to health-focused nonprofit organizations.

Nonetheless, the job often entails gathering data from multiple sources, handling data via data management systems, identifying patterns and trends, transforming complex data into accessible (and applicable) insights, and offering data-fueled recommendations.

More specifically, a day in the life of a healthcare data analyst may include one or more of the following:

• Reviewing patient diagnoses and treatment plans – Data from patients’ diagnoses and medical histories can help healthcare professionals determine the best possible treatment and curb patient risks.
• Improving patient care – Healthcare data analysts may have the chance to collect feedback from patients. This data can help a medical facility make changes where needed and enrich patient care as a whole.
• Interpreting pharmaceutical data – A healthcare data analyst might also be tasked with gathering and analyzing pharmaceutical data. This can shape how a healthcare organization develops clinical trials, for example, or create new medical devices and instruments.
• Analyzing behavioral and sentiment data – Patient behavior and sentiment analytics is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare field.¹¹ This allows healthcare data analysts to track critical information in real-time, such as a patient’s response to clinical interventions (like a prescription drug or medical device).
• Reporting and data visualization – Healthcare data analysts are often responsible for drafting detailed reports of what their health analytics have unearthed. Fortunately, there are a variety of tools to create visual representations of your discoveries. These include Power BI and Tableau.

As for what kind of data a healthcare data analyst evaluates? There’s a wide range, from insurance data to clinical data. A healthcare data analyst might also help a medical facility track their inventory or identify areas of improvement to boost operational efficiency.

Specializations in Healthcare Data Analysis

Healthcare data analytics work broadly—and in specific areas. A handful of the most common specializations include:

• Predictive modeling
• Population health management
• Cost analysis
• Genomics data analysis
• Claims data analysis
• Quality improvement analytics
• Healthcare supply chain analytics
• Operational efficiency analytics

Career Advancement Opportunities 

If you’re eyeing a career in healthcare, you may want to know where it may take you.

This will largely depend on the amount of education you pursue and your commitment to the field. However, with the right knowledge and certifications, you might choose to explore more advanced roles, like that of a:

• Senior data analyst – Senior data analysts typically have a higher level of responsibility. They may manage newer healthcare data analysts, for example, and/or offer their thoughts on a healthcare facility’s bigger strategic decisions.
• Healthcare informatics manager – A healthcare informatics manager supervises the implementation and use of information systems. They also make sure that medical data is accurately gathered, safely stored, and used in their healthcare organization’s best interests.
• Data scientist – Data scientists need to be knowledgeable in two important areas: the healthcare system and the latest data science techniques. This plays into their ability to do all kinds of amazing work, from creating machine learning (ML) algorithms to developing advanced predictive models.
• Healthcare consultants – Healthcare consultants work in a similar vein as healthcare informatics managers, but they operate on a slightly different scale. Usually brought in to offer their guidance on medical data management, analytics, and process enhancements, they provide healthcare centers with customized solutions.

Start Your Career at Alliant International University

Healthcare data analysts play a vital role in medicine. From enhancing the quality of care patients receive to providing fundamental information on how a facility can improve, they’re considered a meaningful part of today’s healthcare industry.

If you’re curious to learn more, Alliant International University might just be right for you. The Master’s in Healthcare Analytics provides aspiring healthcare data analysts with a robust, interdisciplinary program that blends healthcare administration with data management and information systems, offering the advanced knowledge and confidence you need to broaden your expertise and find the fulfillment you’re after.

Take your education to a whole new level at Alliant International University.  

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Sources: 

1. iris_dev_2021. “Top 3 Benefits of Technology in Healthcare.” IRIS, December 12, 2022. https://retinalscreenings.com/blog/top-benefits-of-technology-in-health…;
2. “Health Care Data Analyst: Career Guide and How to Become One.” Coursera. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.coursera.org/articles/healthcare-data-analyst. 
3. How to become a Healthcare Data Analyst (with faqs). Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-health….
4.  Health Care Data Analyst: Career Guide and How to Become One.” Coursera. February 5, 2024. https://www.coursera.org/articles/healthcare-data-analyst. Accessed on October 14, 2024.  
5. Health Care Data Analyst: Career Guide and How to Become One.” Coursera. February 5, 2024. https://www.coursera.org/articles/healthcare-data-analyst. Accessed on October 14, 2024.  
6. GeeksforGeeks. “Healthcare Data Analyst - Career Path.” GeeksforGeeks, June 6, 2024. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/healthcare-data-analyst/#career-advancement-as-healthcare-data-analyst. 
7. “6 Essential Data Analyst Skills for Your Healthcare Organization.” Health Catalyst, February 8, 2023. https://www.healthcatalyst.com/insights/essential-data-analyst-skills-for-healthcare. 
8. GeeksforGeeks. “Healthcare Data Analyst - Career Path.” GeeksforGeeks, June 6, 2024. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/healthcare-data-analyst/#career-advancement-as-healthcare-data-analyst. 
9. “How to Implement Patient Data Analysis in Python for Healthcare.” Data Headhunters, February 20, 2024. https://dataheadhunters.com/academy/how-to-implement-patient-data-analy…;
10. Peremore, Kirsten. “HIPAA Compliance and Data Analytics.” Paubox, July 26, 2023. https://www.paubox.com/blog/hipaa-compliance-and-data-analytics. 
11. Hillier, Will, “How to Become a Healthcare Data Analyst [2024 Guide].” CareerFoundry, May 30, 2024. https://careerfoundry.com/en/blog/data-analytics/what-is-a-healthcare-d…;