{"id":20756,"date":"2023-02-09T13:53:11","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T05:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=advice&#038;p=20756"},"modified":"2025-09-17T14:06:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T06:06:27","slug":"what-does-a-health-data-analyst-do","status":"publish","type":"advice","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/advice\/what-does-a-health-data-analyst-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What does a Health Data Analyst do?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">We have never had more data at our fingertips than now. Research shows that a mindboggling 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created daily around the globe, with the vast majority of the world\u2019s data generated in the last few years alone!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">In healthcare, the increasing use of technology has added to this pool of \u2018big data\u2019. This includes telehealth, electronic patient records, electronic referrals and prescriptions. This digital health data has huge potential to improve population health and clinical and medical settings, when accurately analysed and understood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">This is where health data analysts come in! As skilled and highly valued professionals, healthcare data analysts, also known as public health data analysts and population health data analysts, gather, analyse and interpret data from a wide range of sources to drive better decision making in public health and improve patient care. Healthcare data analysts work on wide-ranging, impactful projects from helping research cures for cancer to managing financial risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">What is healthcare data analytics?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">The process of studying health-related data, including clinical, pharmaceutical and insurance data, is known as healthcare data analytics. Studying this data can provide amazing insights, lower costs and conquer today\u2019s biggest healthcare challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Here are some ways in which healthcare data analytics can be used:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Public health officials can use data to track the spread of diseases (eg: COVID-19) and determine the optimal response\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Pharmaceutical companies can better understand the effectiveness of a new treatment\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Patients can access preventative treatments based on their individual health records\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Administrators can forecast demand for their healthcare services and optimise accordingly<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Insurance companies can track claims, identify where best to invest and reduce fraudulent acts\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Doctors can detect diseases in the early stages and determine the best way to treat diseases by analysing patient records.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">What does a health data analyst do?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Health data analysts identify patterns and anomalies in big data and present their findings and recommendations to colleagues, researchers and leaders in healthcare. They work with sources like electronic health records, medical images, government records and smart devices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">As a healthcare data analyst, you could work in a variety of industries including hospitals and clinics, not-for-profit healthcare, health insurance and state and federal government.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">Healthcare data analyst skills\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">To succeed as a healthcare data analyst, it\u2019s important to have the right skillset.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-20982\" src=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/curtin-health-data.jpeg\" alt=\"Health data team looking at visualisations\" width=\"1260\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/curtin-health-data.jpeg 1260w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/curtin-health-data-740x370.jpeg 740w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/curtin-health-data-768x384.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/curtin-health-data-480x240.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1260px) 100vw, 1260px\" \/>Proficiency and experience in data science, machine learning and data visualisation are essential. Many employers will also be looking for skills in analysis tools like SQL and SAS, scripting languages like Python, R or Ruby and the ability to confidently use Microsoft Office programs such as Excel, PowerPoint and Power BI.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">If you\u2019re a good communicator who enjoys solving complex problems, you\u2019ll find working as a healthcare data analyst can be exciting and fulfilling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">Health data analyst duties and responsibilities\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Health data analysts have a number of important duties and responsibilities. Depending on the area you work in and the seniority of your role, these can include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Gathering and organising health-related information from various sources\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Analysing data and building models to identify trends, patterns and anomalies\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Developing solutions, optimising systems and processes, and suggesting alternative practices\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Understanding data storage and data sharing methods\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Exploring new machine learning algorithms or natural language processing techniques to improve data analysis\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Helping design or implement new systems to retrieve, store, transform and manage data\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Using healthcare data to respond to administrative needs\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Converting data into information that is readily understood\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Making recommendations to management through written reports or presentations\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li3\"><span class=\"s1\">Liaising with colleagues and managers to ensure implemented changes are working.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Health data analyst salary\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">As a graduate in an entry-level role as a health data analyst, you can expect to earn a starting salary of between $70,000 &#8211; $90,000 per annum. As a senior health data analyst, you could earn up to $130,000 per annum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">How to become a health data analyst\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">There is growing demand for experts who can collect and analyse healthcare data. If you\u2019re interested in becoming a health data analyst, it\u2019s important to have the right skills and qualifications. At Curtin, you can gain a solid foundation in public health with our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/offering\/course-ug-bachelor-of-science-health-sciences--b-hlthsc\/\"><span class=\"s4\">Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences)<\/span><\/a>. In this degree you\u2019ll explore how social, economic and environmental factors affect health and wellbeing and choose from an exciting range of units which include big data and health, epidemiology and biostatistics, healthcare systems in Australia and health promotion planning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">With our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/offering\/course-ug-health-data-specialisation--spuc-hltda\/\"><span class=\"s4\">Health Data specialisation<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll develop the critical skills you need to excel as a healthcare data analyst. You\u2019ll learn how to analyse big data to reveal patterns and trends and learn about data capture, cyber security, data visualisation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. You\u2019ll also gain the skills to interpret data and make decisions and learn how to present your results effectively to different audiences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>A postgraduate pathway to a public health career<\/h4>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">If you\u2019re a graduate who\u2019s looking to specialise or switch careers, Curtin\u2019s two-year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/offering\/course-pg-master-of-public-health--mc-pubhl\/\">Master of Public Health<\/a> could be a great option. This course is suited to healthcare workers as well as graduates from other disciplines looking to switch fields to public health. <\/span>You\u2019ll explore a wide range of topics including health monitoring and surveillance, disease prevention and control, health promotion, protection, policy, planning and management. You&#8217;ll also learn to apply and adapt statistical models and technology to address research questions, and interpret the results of public health investigations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><strong>Pursuing a career which combines the sought-after fields of healthcare and data analytics, is a smart and exciting choice. If you\u2019re ready to jump into this dynamic profession and make a difference, learn more about Curtin\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/offering\/course-ug-bachelor-of-science-health-sciences--b-hlthsc\">Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences)<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/offering\/course-pg-master-of-public-health--mc-pubhl\/\">Master of Public Health<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wondered what health data analysts do? Learn more about the duties and responsibilities, salary and potential career paths for a healthcare data analyst. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2670,"featured_media":21276,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"7186,6886,4698,4715,6335,6523","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_category":79,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20756","advice","type-advice","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-public-health"],"acf":{"post_components":false,"post_options":{"":null,"additional_content":{"title":"","content":"","image":false},"related_courses":[{"title":"","qualification":"","link":"","description":"","faculty":""}],"credits":{"author":"","photographer":"","media":false},"display_author":true,"banner":{"image":false}}},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/health-data-analyst-2000x1000-1-1920x500.jpg","author_meta":{"first_name":"Anne","last_name":"Griffin-Appadoo","display_name":"Anne Griffin-Appadoo"},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/advice\/20756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/advice"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/advice"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/advice\/20756\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}