Study points to need for 40,000 more healthcare IT professionals

As health care finally automates, additional support and consultants to assist in the progress will be in demand...the rush is on due to the lack of technology adaptation over the last few years...BD

WASHINGTON - As the nation's healthcare system moves toward automation, the need for healthcare information technology professionals in the workforce is growing. The need is deemed to be at almost 40 percent more - or 40,000 additional IT employees at U.S. hospitals, according to a new study.

"If our data represent a correct sampling of the entire U.S. , then the current IT staff workforce is about 108,390 FTE (full-time equivalents)," the report said. "However, if the U.S. HIT agenda is fulfilled and hospitals move to higher levels of adoption, an additional 40,784 FTE will be required. "