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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 F E B R UA R Y 2 2 , 2 0 1 6 by the Aff ordable Care Act's push for greater use of electronic health records; increasingly sophisticated computer technology being used by hospitals, doc- tors, insurers and patients; and the continuing chal- lenge of reducing the overall cost of health care. Among the report's fi ndings: Employment for health information technicians is projected to grow 22% in the next six years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. " e health care analytics market has exploded," according to a 2013 Chilmark Research trends report. "Health care organizations of all sizes are now seeking solutions that will help them better understand the population that they will be responsible for, and the incumbent risk … as reimbursement models shift. is has created a hyper-driven market." Approximately 3,000 Mainers are employed in some form of health informatics occupation, with 2,000 to 2,500 located in Greater Portland. Half of the stakeholders responding to Growing Portland's survey reported that health informat- ics staff ers made under $75,000, while the other half reported salaries ranging between $75,000 and $150,000. e primary way of fi nding talent? "Another organization within Maine," was the most common response. " ere is not (yet) a reliable higher education pipeline for health informatics talent within the state of Maine. But the need is there." Stakeholders play a role Martha Wilson, dean of graduate and professional studies and the associate provost for online learn- ing at UNE, says the university currently has about 1,300 students taking fully online programs. About 18 months ago, UNE received a Gates Foundation grant to create a competency-based degree that would be based on students showing a consistent application of knowledge and skills tied to stan- dards of performance required in the workplace. Aware of the research done by Growing Portland, UNE decided to use the grant to craft a three-pronged approach to capitalize on the oppor- tunities its report highlighted in health informatics. e fi rst two prongs target older, working adults who would take online courses in either a two- year-and-a-semester master's program or a cer- tifi cate program requiring completion of the fi rst six courses in the master's degree. e third prong involves creating a four-year undergraduate degree program that will be launched next fall. "We did a lot of work with the stakeholders," Wilson says. "We brought together a group of individuals and came away from those conversations with the realization that there was a pressing need for health informatics. We had a really nice synergy with employers who were willing to sit at the table and tell us what kinds of things they need to have. It was a hand-in-glove fi t for us. It brought together high-level individuals from these institutions, resulting in buy-in from the top." Holly Parker, coordinator of academic innova- tions and a facilitator of networking between faculty and employers, says six stakeholders helped UNE develop the curriculum for the new health infor- matics degree programs: Athenahealth, InterMed, Dartmouth Medical School, MaineGeneral Health Services, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Winxnet. at planning process was unique in how closely the college worked with health industry stakehold- ers to shape a curriculum that had both academic rigor and would give students the essential skills that those stakeholders needed in health informat- ics employees, adds Ellen Beaulieu, UNE's vice president for strategic initiatives. " is was very refreshing to them," she says. " ey got us thinking about the idea of essential workforce competencies, such as good communication skills." Parker says UNE currently has 18 students signed up for the pilot bachelor's degree program, eight students in the master's program and two students in the certifi cate program. All eight of the fi rst master's degree enrollees are adults, ages 30 to 50, who already work in health care. Several are nurses, one is an occupational therapist, another a health promotion coach and one an insurance claims adjuster. "We expect those numbers to grow, based on the marketing test we did," she says. "Within the next three years, it's a safe bet there will be more than 100 students enrolled in the program." Jay Collier, previously the program director of Project>Login, a workforce development initiative of Educate Maine for the computing and informa- tion technology fi elds, recently was hired to coor- dinate UNE's computational and digital programs. He sees the competency-based approach of the new health informatics programs as one that could easily apply to other disciplines as well. " e core of this new degree program is making sure we are teaching our students to make decisions that are grounded in critical thinking," he says. " e core competencies at the heart of the health infor- matics fi eld are the same skills required by other industries as well." Megan Landry, manager of the health informatics program, who brings to that role more than 12 years of experience as an emergency department nurse, agrees. "Health care is changing so rapidly," she says. "It's a challenge to be constantly keeping up-to-date and being able to see the big picture is absolutely something to strive for." For master's degree candidate Vandna Bhambri, the new program seems tailor-made to her goal of becoming more involved in health care policy- making, which she could see in her current job is increasingly reliant on information technology. She wants to make sure the human side of health care doesn't get overlooked in that trend. "I really like to help people," she says. "Making health care aff ordable is one way of doing that. For a lot of people, that's what it comes down to." J MC, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at @ . and @ JM Get engaged, inspired and connected with a print + digital subscription to Mainebiz. You'll receive bi-weekly issues, special publications and full online access! Know Maine Business. Or call: 845.267.3008 Subscribe online: mainebiz.biz/knowmainebiz No more for a spot searching per day $10 open 4:30Am to 1Am or later. Drive 100 yards past baggage claim, look for our green sign. www.parknjetportland.com 747-5650 Valet parking At the Airport

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