South Dakota Health Informatics Degree Programs

The demand for health informatics skills within South Dakota’s is high. Major healthcare systems like Sanford Health and Avera Health are continually investing in technology and data-driven initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and streamline operations.

The healthcare industry is one of the state’s largest employers, and health informatics is a big part of its growth.

• initiatives like SD Health Link facilitate secure sharing of medical information across providers
• the South Dakota Department of Health’s strategic plan highlights the ongoing need for informatics expertise to strengthen public health infrastructure
• institutions like South Dakota Mines, in collaboration with the University of South Dakota and the Sanford School of Medicine, are actively engaged in projects to enhance medical education and biomedical advancements through computation and artificial intelligence.

Local Health Informatics Career Opportunities

Based on current job postings from major employers across South Dakota, health informatics professionals are in high demand with diverse opportunities spanning healthcare systems, government agencies, and academic institutions. Here’s what employers are seeking:

Technical Skills & Systems Expertise

Electronic Health Records (EHR) Management

• CVS Health (Pierre) seeks a Lead Director of Informatics ($100,000-$231,540) to oversee EHR governance and clinical data strategy across multiple business units
• Avel eCare (Sioux Falls) offers an RN Clinical Informatics position (salary not disclosed) focusing on EMR template design and low-code application development
• CommonSpirit Health (Bismarck, ND) requires Epic proficiency within one year for their Clinical Informaticist role
• Sanford Research (Rapid City) pays $26.50-$41.50/hour for Clinical Informatics Analysts with EMR experience

Database and Programming Skills

• South Dakota Department of Health (Pierre/Sioux Falls) seeks an Informatician ($68,099-$80,116) with SQL, Python knowledge and public health informatics experience
• UC Davis Health Informatics (Davis) offers multiple positions requiring SQL proficiency:
  • Research Data Analyst: $33.33-$59.48/hour for statistical programming and epidemiological analysis
  • Integration Support Analyst: $60K-$80K for database management and enterprise system integration
• My3Tech (Pierre) provides Health Informatics Analyst contracts ($80K-$100K) for MyInsight EHR oversight and data analytics

Clinical Background Requirements

Nursing Credentials Essential

• South Dakota Department of Corrections (Multiple locations) requires RN licensure for Clinical Informatics Specialist ($59,153-$146,494) with 5-8 years progressive experience or MSN with informatics concentration and 3-5 years experience
• Sanford Research mandates clinical field licensure/registration for their informatics analyst positions
• Avel eCare requires RN license plus 2-3 years clinical patient care experience

Data Analysis & Reporting Capabilities

Advanced Analytics

• UC Davis positions emphasize statistical modeling, complex query development, and large dataset management
• CVS Health requires experience with clinical data set management across multiple constituencies
• South Dakota DOC seeks proficiency in query/report writing and data extraction across multiple applications

Cross-Disciplinary Integration

Healthcare Administration Intersection

• CVS Health combines informatics with legal compliance, medical affairs, and privacy governance
• CommonSpirit Health integrates clinical expertise with IT project management
• UC Davis blends epidemiology, biostatistics, and laboratory sciences

Public Health Integration

• South Dakota Department of Health connects informatics with disease surveillance, immunization systems, and vital records
• UC Davis combines firefighter cancer research with epidemiological data analysis

Educational Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree Minimum

• Most positions require bachelor’s in nursing, healthcare informatics, computer science, or related fields
• UC Davis accepts statistics, epidemiology, or related fields for research positions

Advanced Degrees Preferred

• CVS Health prefers master’s degrees for director-level positions
• South Dakota DOC accepts MSN with informatics concentration for reduced experience requirements
• South Dakota Department of Health considers master’s in public health as alternative to bachelor’s plus experience
• UC Davis strongly prefers CCNE or NLN accredited nursing programs

Geographic Distribution & Salary Ranges

Major Cities

• Sioux Falls: Multiple opportunities from state government, Avel eCare, and regional health systems
• Pierre: State government positions and CVS Health director role
• Rapid City: Sanford Research clinical analyst positions

Salary Spectrum

• Entry-level: $26.50-$41.50/hour (Sanford)
• Mid-level: $59K-$100K annually (State positions, contracted roles)
• Senior/Director: $100K-$231K (CVS Health leadership)
• Specialized research: $33-$59/hour (UC Davis academic positions)

Specialized Requirements

Security & Compliance

• South Dakota DOC requires background investigations, drug screening, and physical self-defense training
• CVS Health emphasizes HIPAA, privacy, and regulatory compliance expertise
• Multiple employers require knowledge of healthcare coding standards (ICD-10, CPT, HL7, LOINC, SNOMED)

Project Management

• CommonSpirit Health seeks experience with large, diverse project implementation
• CVS Health requires strategic roadmap development and vendor relationship management
• UC Davis emphasizes concurrent project management and timeline coordination

The South Dakota health informatics market demonstrates strong demand for professionals who combine clinical expertise with technical skills, offering career progression from hands-on analyst roles to strategic leadership positions across diverse healthcare settings.