Health Informatics is Making an Impact in Arkansas
Arkansas offers solid career potential in health informatics:
- $15.2 billion annual economic impact from hospitals, creating 47,300 jobs and supporting 43,100 additional jobs
- Rural hospitals at risk: 30 of 47 rural hospitals (64%) face closure
- Leading employers: UAMS, Baptist Health, and Arkansas Children’s actively hire informatics experts
The Arkansas economy supports health data innovation and technology integration:
- HealthTech Arkansas accelerator ensures startups pilot projects in state hospitals
- SHARE HIE evolving into Health Data Utility: Arkansas’s statewide exchange now integrates clinical and public health data
- UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) drives telehealth, mobile health, and analytics
The state drives health equity through informatics in underserved areas:
- Population health “living lab”: Efforts integrate clinical, genomic, and NLP-driven insights—UAMS and Arkansas Center for Health Improvement lead innovation in rural health
- Telehealth expansion: UAMS e-Link and telehealth infrastructure support digital care delivery across the state’s rural counties
- State-supported rural health programs: Arkansas’s Office of Rural Health coordinates data sharing, workforce support, and grant assistance for rural healthcare systems
2026 Best Health Informatics Degree Programs in Arkansas
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR - Public 4-Year - atu.edu
Master's - Master of Science in Health Informatics
Online Learning - Visit Website
Arkansas Tech University's Master of Science in Health Informatics is a fully online program that integrates healthcare and information technology to address the growing need for skilled professionals. It emphasizes privacy and security of health data, leadership, and emerging IT trends, preparing graduates for diverse roles in settings from rural clinics to large hospitals. The program features a capstone project tailored to individual career goals, offering practical experience. Admission requires meeting academic standards, but no entrance exam is specified. Students from bordering states benefit from in-state tuition, and financial aid is available to support their studies.
- 100% online curriculum
- Multidisciplinary approach
- Capstone research project
- In-state tuition for bordering states
- Financial aid available
- Focus on privacy and security
- Leadership and policy training
- Emerging IT trends in healthcare
- Hands-on learning opportunities
- Career-aligned capstone projects
List of Arkansas Colleges With Health Informatics Degree Programs
Russellville, AR
Arkansas Tech University
- Master's - Master of Science in Health Informatics
Online Learning - Website
- 100% online curriculum
- Multidisciplinary approach
- Capstone research project
- In-state tuition for bordering states
- Financial aid available
- Focus on privacy and security
- Leadership and policy training
- Emerging IT trends in healthcare
The Job Market for Recent Graduates in Arkansas
Based on current job postings from major Arkansas healthcare organizations and national companies operating in the state, here’s what employers are seeking in health informatics professionals.
Clinical Systems and EHR Support
Electronic Health Record Implementation and Support
Unity Health in Searcy offers Health Care Informatics Analyst positions requiring bachelor’s degrees in healthcare or information systems/technology fields, with associate degrees considered. These roles focus on MEDITECH system support, troubleshooting, and clinical application optimization, requiring minimum 2 years of integrated information system experience in clinic or hospital settings. The positions emphasize hands-on software troubleshooting and both independent and collaborative work capabilities.
Carthage Area Hospital seeks Clinical Informatics specialists requiring bachelor’s degrees in Nursing, Health Information Management, Computer Science, or related fields, with equivalent clinical/IT experience accepted. These positions demand 1-3 years of experience in clinical practice, health informatics, or EHR implementation, with proficiency in EHR platforms like Thrive, Medent, or T-Systems. Current clinical licenses (RN, LPN, allied health) are preferred but not required, encouraging applications from IT specialists passionate about healthcare.
Advanced Nursing Informatics
Baxter Health in Mountain Home provides Registered Nurse CIS Analyst II positions requiring Associate Degrees in Nursing from accredited schools, active Arkansas or multi-state RN licenses, and minimum 4 years of clinical/technical experience with at least 2 years in EHR support roles. These positions demand previous project management experience and emphasize planning, reporting, and implementation efforts for assigned system projects.
Data Analytics and Research Informatics
Healthcare Data Science and Analytics
Atomic Weapons Establishment contracts Healthcare Data Analysts in Bentonville at $80,000 annually, requiring bachelor’s degrees in Data Science, Health Informatics, Public Health, Statistics, or related fields. These roles demand minimum 3 years of healthcare data analysis experience and proficiency in R, Python, or SQL for analyzing Value-Based Care metrics, claims data, and electronic medical records. The positions emphasize transforming raw data into actionable insights for healthcare operations optimization.
Humana Inc. offers remote Informaticist positions requiring bachelor’s degrees and 2+ years of data analysis experience, focusing on claims data analysis to understand medical costs and utilization patterns. These roles emphasize experience with data mining, predictive modeling techniques, and tools like SAS, SQL, R, Python, Power BI, and Tableau. Advanced degrees are preferred, along with experience in advanced analytics and program optimization.
Senior Analytics Leadership
Humana Inc. provides Informatics Principal positions in Rogers requiring master’s degrees and 10+ years of analytical or consulting experience, plus 2+ years of team leadership experience. These executive-level roles demand advanced SQL experience, strategic thinking capabilities, and experience presenting to senior leadership. The positions focus on developing enterprise-wide functional strategies and managing high-performing informatics teams.
Health Information Management and Coding
Clinical Coding and Documentation Management
Arkansas Children’s Hospital offers Manager Health Information Management positions requiring high school diplomas or GEDs with 5 years of relevant experience including 1 year in leadership, or 7 years of experience without formal education. These roles require professional certifications including Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), or Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT). Bachelor’s degrees in related fields are recommended, with additional certifications like Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist (CCDS) preferred.
Academic and Educational Roles
Faculty and Clinical Coordination
University of Arkansas seeks Health Information Technology Faculty & Clinical Coordinators in North Little Rock requiring bachelor’s degrees in Health Information Management, Health Informatics, or related fields, along with RHIA or RHIT certification. These positions emphasize bridging academic learning with practical healthcare applications, requiring strong organizational and communication skills plus ability to build relationships with healthcare professionals. Master’s degrees and community college teaching experience are preferred, along with online course development experience.
Medical Informatics and Clinical Fellowship Programs
Physician-Level Medical Informatics
Confidential employers in Fayetteville offer Medical Informatics positions at $180,000-$220,000 annually, requiring MD/DO degrees with Medical Informatics training. These roles focus on designing and implementing healthcare information systems, developing electronic health records systems, and collaborating with clinicians on user-centered interfaces. Experience with healthcare software development and strong understanding of data privacy and security regulations are essential.
Advanced Clinical Training
UAMS Medical Center provides Clinical Informatics Fellowship programs in Little Rock requiring previous residency training in ACGME-accredited adult medical specialty programs. These two-year appointments combine up to 60 hours weekly of didactics, rotations, and operational responsibilities, with fellows completing research projects and Epic Physician Builder training. The programs lead to Certificate Degrees in Biomedical Informatics with potential for Master of Science completion.
Crossover Disciplines and Integrated Roles
Healthcare Administration Integration
The Arkansas market demonstrates strong integration between health informatics and healthcare administration, with positions at Arkansas Children’s Hospital requiring coding expertise combined with operational management skills. These roles bridge clinical documentation, financial performance, and regulatory compliance.
Data Science and Public Health Convergence
Atomic Weapons Establishment’s Healthcare Data Analyst role exemplifies the convergence of traditional data science with healthcare applications, requiring statistical analysis skills applied to Value-Based Care metrics and population health initiatives.
Clinical Practice and Technology Integration
Carthage Area Hospital and similar employers seek professionals who can translate between clinical workflows and technical implementations, requiring understanding of healthcare terminology (HL7, SNOMED, LOINC, ICD-10) combined with EHR platform proficiency.
Educational Requirements and Career Pathways
Bachelor’s Degree Foundation
Arkansas employers demonstrate flexibility in educational requirements:
- Healthcare-focused programs: Health Information Management, Health Informatics, Nursing
- Technology-focused programs: Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science
- Traditional disciplines: Statistics, Public Health, Business Administration
- Experience substitution: Many positions accept equivalent experience in lieu of formal education
Advanced Degree Preferences
Higher-level positions increasingly require advanced education:
- Master’s degrees preferred for senior analyst and leadership roles
- Doctorate degrees required for physician-level medical informatics positions
- Professional certifications essential for health information management roles
- Specialized training like Epic certification for EHR-focused positions
Professional Certification Requirements
Arkansas employers emphasize professional credentialing:
- AHIMA certifications: RHIA, RHIT for health information management
- AAPC certifications: CIC, COC, CPC for clinical coding
- Nursing certifications: RN-BC, CPHIMS for clinical informatics
- Epic certifications: Required within specified timeframes for EHR roles
Salary Ranges and Compensation Analysis
Arkansas health informatics salaries reflect both regional cost of living and role complexity:
- Entry-level analyst positions: $40,000-$60,000 annually (estimated based on requirements)
- Mid-level specialist roles: $80,000 annually (Healthcare Data Analyst at Atomic Weapons Establishment)
- Senior management positions: $60,000-$90,000 annually (estimated for Manager roles at Arkansas Children’s Hospital)
- Executive and principal roles: $120,000-$180,000 annually (estimated for Humana Informatics Principal)
- Physician-level positions: $180,000-$220,000 annually (Medical Informatics roles in Fayetteville)
- Fellowship positions: Commensurate with national fellowship pay scales
Technical Skills and Competencies in High Demand
Core Technical Proficiencies
- EHR Systems: MEDITECH, Thrive, Medent, T-Systems, Epic
- Programming Languages: SQL, R, Python, SAS
- Data Visualization: Power BI, Tableau, QlikView
- Healthcare Standards: HL7, SNOMED, LOINC, ICD-10, CPT
- Analytics Tools: Advanced statistical analysis, predictive modeling, machine learning
Clinical and Healthcare Knowledge
- Medical Terminology: Essential across all clinical informatics roles
- Healthcare Workflows: Understanding of patient care processes and clinical operations
- Regulatory Compliance: HIPAA, HITECH, data privacy practices and laws
- Quality Improvement: Experience with process improvement and regulatory benchmarking
- Value-Based Care: Understanding of metrics and outcomes measurement
Professional and Soft Skills
- Project Management: Timeline development, resource allocation, change management
- Communication: Ability to translate technical concepts for clinical audiences
- Leadership: Team management, strategic planning, cross-functional collaboration
- Problem-Solving: Analytical thinking, troubleshooting, crisis management
- Customer Service: Strong interpersonal skills and user support capabilities
Industry-Specific Applications and Specializations
Managed Care and Insurance Analytics
Humana Inc. positions emphasize managed care applications, requiring understanding of provider contracts, claims data analysis, and cost containment strategies. These roles focus on utilization patterns, medical cost trends, and financial model optimization.
Academic Medical Centers
UAMS Medical Center represents academic healthcare applications, combining clinical informatics with research and education components. These positions emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration and contribution to peer-reviewed literature.
Critical Access Hospitals
Carthage Area Hospital demonstrates rural healthcare informatics needs, requiring professionals who can work across multiple departments and provide comprehensive IT support in resource-constrained environments.
Pediatric Specialization
Arkansas Children’s Hospital shows specialized applications in pediatric healthcare, requiring understanding of unique pediatric workflows, coding requirements, and family-centered care models.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
Arkansas health informatics positions typically require:
Technology-Intensive Work
- Computer proficiency: 8+ hours daily of screen time, keyboard/mouse utilization
- Multiple platform usage: Ability to work across various software systems simultaneously
- Technical troubleshooting: Hands-on problem-solving capabilities
Healthcare Environment Navigation
- Clinical unit travel: Movement between hospital departments and healthcare facilities
- Flexible scheduling: Availability for evenings, weekends, on-call duties
- Collaborative spaces: Work in open office environments with moderate noise levels
Physical and Mental Demands
- Extended sitting/standing: Ability to work at computers for prolonged periods
- Critical thinking: Handle high-pressure situations with efficiency and composure
- Communication requirements: Present to diverse audiences from technical staff to executives
Regional Advantages and Market Opportunities
Cost of Living Benefits
Arkansas offers competitive salaries relative to lower cost of living compared to coastal markets, providing strong purchasing power for health informatics professionals.
Healthcare System Diversity
The state provides opportunities across various healthcare settings from critical access hospitals to major academic medical centers, allowing professionals to gain diverse experience.
Academic Integration
Strong connections between healthcare organizations and academic institutions like UAMS provide opportunities for continued education, research collaboration, and career advancement.
Rural Health Focus
Arkansas’s significant rural population creates unique opportunities for professionals interested in telehealth, population health management, and healthcare access improvement initiatives.
Arkansas’s health informatics job market demonstrates robust growth potential with opportunities spanning traditional clinical informatics, data analytics, health information management, and emerging areas like medical informatics. The state’s combination of established healthcare systems, academic medical centers, and growing technology adoption creates diverse career pathways for professionals at all experience levels. Success in Arkansas’s market requires blending technical expertise with healthcare knowledge, strong communication skills, and adaptability to work across diverse healthcare environments from urban academic centers to rural critical access hospitals.