Women in HIT: Good for women, good for our industry
Some say follow your passion. I agree, but at the same time, I wouldn’t have found my passion had I not first followed the opportunity.
I’ve often been either the only woman, or one of very few, sitting down to a meeting with my colleagues. No surprise, given the statistics about how few women are in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers. Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent of STEM jobs, according to a U.S. Department of Commerce report.1 This despite the fact that STEM jobs pay more than non-STEM jobs and that, according to the report, the gender wage gap is smaller in STEM jobs than in non-STEM jobs. Women in STEM careers make 33 percent more financially than women in non-STEM occupations.
There are a number of theories about why fewer women go into the STEM workforce. Among the possible contributing factors are a lack of female role models and gender stereotyping.
I always knew I loved technology, but working in a field where I had a better chance of achieving financial stability was important to me. And that pursuit ultimately led me to my true passion of working in health IT, where every day I get to see the impact that technology can have in patients’ lives.
Looking to build financial security means different things to different people. For me, it means having a stable base from which to weather life’s inevitable ups and downs. The inspiration of someone who handles adversities with real grace came from my mother. As the sole provider for me and my siblings, she demonstrated the importance of being able to support herself and her family. She worked hard and was smart with what she earned. I remember she wore the same red dress for what seemed like 10 years. It makes me proud when I remember the vision of my stoic mom – the lady in red – who achieved financial stability for her family all on her own.
Part of my personal drive to encourage more women to go into STEM careers is due to the incredible opportunity. And along the way, they’ll likely discover just how fun and rewarding this industry can be. My career in health IT has led to so many amazing experiences and growth. I never would have found out that I love HL7 and designing a radiology information system to allow information to flow in order to help define patient workflow. Selling technology isn’t always easy, and there’s a lot to learn and demonstrate. I have the most amazing memories of working with incredibly smart, highly competent, fun, and very funny women and men that have given me opportunities that I’d never have known.
A natural progression
It’s important that more women go into the technology industry not just for their own sake, but also for the sake of our industry. The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2018 there will be 1.4 million technology jobs open in the United States. According to a Microsoft Research white paper, at the rate that students are now graduating with computer science degrees, only 61 percent of those openings will be filled – and just 29 percent of applicants will be women.2
So, where are the women? We are working in healthcare! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy, employing over 18 million workers – and women represent nearly 80 percent of the healthcare workforce. A natural progression for women is to move from direct patient care as a clinician or nurse into IT. And being comfortable with technology is a requirement for any position in healthcare – even hospital beds include computerized monitors. In addition, there are healthcare positions that have a hand in both patient care and IT, such as the “chief nursing information officer” and the burgeoning profession of nursing informatics.
What’s more, we need more women in STEM careers so they can help shape the future. Tackling many of the world’s toughest challenges in healthcare, for example, will rely on the help of technology. According to the National Center for Women and Information Technology, research shows that groups with greater diversity solve complex problems better and faster than do homogenous groups.3 It also shows that teams with 50-50 gender membership are more experimental and efficient.
The fact is, to meet the diverse and changing needs of health professionals and the populations they serve, we need the teams working to meet those needs to be just as diverse. That means we need teams made up of both men and women from all walks of life and cultures who can offer a wide range of perspectives and insights based on their varying experiences. It means embracing equality and diversity, with both women and men.
I know many of you reading this are leaders in the health or technology industry, so please help me encourage more girls and women to join us. I’d also love to hear your story. Why did you get into the technology industry? How have you seen diversity contribute to innovation? Where do you think we need to grow for our industry? Email me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you.
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