What Do Healthcare Data Analysts Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for healthcare data analysts?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what healthcare data analysts do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Healthcare Data Analysts Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about healthcare data analysts by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Healthcare Data Analysts compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the healthcare system. Classify medical and healthcare concepts, including diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment, into the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system. Includes medical coders.
Popular Job Titles For Healthcare Data Analysts
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Medical Billing Specialists
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Billers
- Medical Records Clerks
- Medical Records Specialists
- Health Information Specialists
- Inpatient Coders
- Medical Coders
- Medical Records Coordinators
- Medical Records Technicians
- Clinical Documentation Specialists
- Coding Specialists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for healthcare data analysts can be found.
Best Industries for Healthcare Data Analysts
Healthcare Data Analysts Jobs By Industry
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 20.1%
- Offices of Physicians: 19%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 8.9%
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 4.8%
- Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services: 4.3%
- Office Administrative Services: 4.2%
- Other: 38.7%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of healthcare data analysts can be found working in the General Medical and Surgical Hospitals sector. In 2022, about 20.1% of all jobs for healthcare data analysts were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Physicians (19%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (8.9%), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (4.8%), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (4.3%) and Office Administrative Services (4.2%).
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Healthcare Data Analysts
Turn patient data into knowledge that improves lives with Franklin’s M.S. in Health Informatics. Finish your master's online in as few as 12 months.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Healthcare Data Analysts Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what healthcare data analysts do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work healthcare data analysts do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that healthcare data analysts tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Healthcare Data Analysts
Top 5 Common Skills for Healthcare Data Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 76,591 | 38% |
| Management | 47,703 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 46,415 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 34,101 | 17% |
| Operations | 30,866 | 15% |
For common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for healthcare data analysts, followed by management, customer service, detail oriented, operations and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 76,591 | 38% |
| Management | 47,703 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 46,415 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 34,101 | 17% |
| Operations | 30,866 | 15% |
| Writing | 30,511 | 15% |
| Problem Solving | 29,850 | 15% |
| Leadership | 29,281 | 14% |
| Microsoft Excel | 28,527 | 14% |
| Research | 28,478 | 14% |
| Microsoft Office | 23,574 | 12% |
| Computer Literacy | 21,218 | 10% |
| Multitasking | 20,781 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 19,219 | 9% |
| Clerical Works | 18,556 | 9% |
| Collections | 18,464 | 9% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 17,922 | 9% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 17,040 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 16,545 | 8% |
| English Language | 16,127 | 8% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Healthcare Data Analysts
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Billing Specialists | 26,121 | 11.7% |
| Medical Scribes | 38,347 | 17.1% |
| Medical Billers | 27,622 | 12.3% |
| Medical Records Clerks | 26,290 | 11.8% |
| Medical Records Specialists | 13,105 | 5.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was medical billing specialists, with 8,898 unique job postings. Medical scribes were second, with 6,907 postings, followed by medical billers, medical records clerks and medical records specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to healthcare data analysts.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Billing Specialists | 26,121 | 11.7% |
| Medical Scribes | 38,347 | 17.1% |
| Medical Billers | 27,622 | 12.3% |
| Medical Records Clerks | 26,290 | 11.8% |
| Medical Records Specialists | 13,105 | 5.9% |
| Health Information Specialists | 9,345 | 4.2% |
| Inpatient Coders | 7,388 | 3.3% |
| Medical Coders | 8,000 | 3.6% |
| Medical Records Coordinators | 8,523 | 3.8% |
| Medical Records Technicians | 6,354 | 2.8% |
| Clinical Documentation Specialists | 7,001 | 3.1% |
| Coding Specialists | 5,151 | 2.3% |
| Healthcare Data Analysts | 4,908 | 2.2% |
| Coders | 5,165 | 2.3% |
| Patient Account Representatives | 7,881 | 3.5% |
| Medical Billers/Coders | 5,000 | 2.2% |
| Outpatient Coders | 4,033 | 1.8% |
| Health Information Management Technicians | 4,621 | 2.1% |
| Clinical Informatics Specialists | 4,151 | 1.9% |
| Medical Surgical Travel Registered Nurses | 4,720 | 2.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for healthcare data analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for healthcare data analysts.
How much do healthcare data analysts make?
Healthcare Data Analysts: How do you become one?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.