What Is Health Informatics? (And Why I’m Relearning It)
Published: 2026-01-23
Health informatics is often described as the intersection of healthcare, information science, and technology. While that definition is technically accurate, it rarely captures what informatics actually looks like in practice.
In real clinical environments, informatics is less about systems and more about people — how work is done, how decisions are made, and how technology either supports or disrupts care.
Health Informatics, in Plain Language
At its core, health informatics is about making sure the right information is available to the right people at the right time — in a way that fits how they actually work.
That includes things like:
- Understanding clinical workflows
- Designing and evaluating decision support
- Structuring and exchanging health data
- Reducing cognitive burden and usability issues
- Supporting safe, effective, and sustainable systems
Most informatics failures don’t happen because technology is missing. They happen because systems are designed without a deep understanding of human work.
Why I’m Relearning Informatics
I studied health informatics in graduate school and continue to work in the field, but like many complex disciplines, true understanding doesn’t come all at once.
Concepts that made sense in theory often feel different in real-world practice. Workflows evolve. Constraints appear. Organizational dynamics matter more than diagrams.
Relearning — revisiting foundational concepts with experience — has been one of the most valuable parts of my professional growth.
Why I’m Writing This Publicly
Writing is how I clarify my thinking. Explaining a concept simply forces me to understand it deeply.
This site exists as a working knowledge base — a place to break down informatics topics in plain language, connect theory to practice, and document what I’m learning along the way.
This is not meant to be exhaustive or authoritative. It’s meant to be honest, thoughtful, and useful.
What You’ll Find Here
Posts on this site are organized around core informatics domains, including:
- Health Informatics
- Workflow Analysis
- Clinical Decision Support
- Databases and Data Models
- Interoperability
- Usability and Human Factors
- Data Analysis and Analytics
- Governance and Project Management
Each post focuses on one idea at a time — explained clearly, grounded in real work, and written as part of an ongoing learning process.
Who This Is For
This site is for clinicians, analysts, students, and anyone interested in how healthcare systems actually function behind the scenes.
If you’re transitioning into informatics, trying to make sense of complex systems, or looking for explanations that prioritize clarity over jargon, you’re in the right place.
If you’re looking for shortcuts or surface-level summaries, this site may feel slow. That’s intentional.
The best systems are built with respect for human work. That belief guides everything I write here.