title: Medical informatics education: an alternative pathway for training informationists.
abstract: Recognition of the growing complexity of health information needs has led to a call for the creation of a new health care professional, the informationist. Controversy exists as to the role of such individuals and what their training should be. A library science degree, augmented with clinical background or experience, is one pathway. Another to consider is training in medical informatics. With the right coursework, individuals trained in medical informatics should be equally well qualified to assume the role of informationists.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Informatics and Outcomes Research, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland 97201-3098, USA. hersh@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D002321:Career Choice; D003479:Curriculum; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D006801:Humans; D007998:Library Science / Q000193:education*; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D024382:Professional Role; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education; D014481:United States