I was fortunate to be invited to be a panelist at the Governor’s Healthcare IT conference  in Boston held on April 29th and April 30th . The conference was hosted by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and was titled “Health Information Technology: Creating Jobs, Reducing Costs and Improving Quality.” I spoke on the panel titled “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs - Health IT, Business Opportunities and Job Creation” along with Girish Navani of eClinicalWorks, Howard Messing of Meditech and Richard Reese of Iron Mountain. The panel was moderated by Chris Gabrieli of Bessemer Venture Partners.There were three key themes that emerged from the panel: 1. Healthcare IT companies are growing and hiring 2. There is a shortage of talent 3. There needs to be a fundamental change in how computer science is taught in our schools and how healthcare IT is perceived by the best and brightestHealthcare IT companies are growing and hiringAs I shared with conference attendees, I expect NaviNet to double in size over the next two years. Other vendors also spoke about predicted fast-paced growth of their companies. Much of this growth in healthcare IT is being fueled by government stimulus and the urgent need to overhaul our healthcare system to improve efficiency and reduce costs. KLAS Enterprises, a health IT research firm, reports that nearly 70% of healthcare providers nationwide expect to hire outside consultants to help them achieve meaningful use and thus qualify for federal EMR subsidies.Talent shortageThe American healthcare system is very complex. The challenge healthcare IT companies are facing is finding experienced computer science professionals that also understand the complexities of healthcare workflows and standards. Currently, most healthcare IT companies are willing to hire someone with a strong IT background and then invest the time and money to get them up-to-speed on healthcare related issues.The good news is that the government is willing to invest in programs to address this shortage. FierceHealthIT wrote in an article published on May 3, 2010, “Two-billion dollars going toward grant programs to motivate students to enter IT careers in the healthcare industry should help to create between 45,000 and 50,000 jobs over the next five years, said Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, while speaking at the Health Information Technology (HIT) Conference in Boston last Thursday.” (read full article)There needs to be a fundamental change in how computer sciences are taught in our schools and how healthcare IT is perceived by the best and brightestPanelists were very vocal about the need to change how computer sciences are taught in schools and about changing the image of healthcare IT. Computer science is not currently part of the core curriculum in middle and high schools as it is usually offered as an elective. Messing believes that all students should get exposure to IT through required classes, just like English and mathematics are taught. The other problem is that the nation’s most proficient programmers and engineers are going to work for technology companies like Google and Microsoft or financial companies like Goldman Sachs or JP Morgan. Healthcare IT isn’t necessarily perceived as a sexy and exciting industry.There are signs that healthcare IT is becoming a sought after profession by college graduates. In a new trend study from the University of California San Diego Extension, healthcare information technology is the hottest career option for college graduates. The study was based on enrollment figures, national employment statistics and interviews with San Diego business executives. (download and read the full report)Mark Cafferty, San Diego Workforce Partnership president and CEO, was quoted in an article published by HealthcareITNews saying, “Several factors - a growing industry with vast employment needs, a societal concern with federal backing for broad reform, and a solution incorporating advanced knowledge and skills among workers - combine to form a strong base for workforce development and employment opportunity for the coming decade.”All that said, NaviNet is currently hiring. We are seeking bright, motivated and talented IT professionals who are eager to make a mark in healthcare, one of the strongest growth sectors in our country’s economy. If you think you have what it takes, please view the NaviNet Career Opportunities page for job openings.Sincerely,Brad WaughPresident and CEO