Imaging Informatics Education in Clinical Informatics Programs: Perspective from Imaging and Clinical Informatics Professionals

Background Imaging and Clinical Informatics are domains of biomedical informatics. Imaging Informatics topics are often not covered in depth in most Clinical Informatics fellowships. While dedicated Imaging Informatics fellowships exist, they may not have the same rigor as ACGME (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) accredited Clinical Informatics fellowships and they do not provide a direct path toward subspecialty board certification.

Objectives We compared published curricula and test content between Clinical and Imaging Informatics fellowship programs. We then highlighted differences between training programs and identified overlapping topics and opportunities for additional education for each type of trainee.

Methods Published consensus curricula and topics were extracted for each specialty. Two informaticists compared topics as shared or not shared between specialties. Next, test content outlines were compared for each specialty exam, extracted, and classified as shared or not shared content. A Venn diagram was created to highlight areas unique to each specialty as well as areas of overlap.

Results There were 139 Clinical Informatics topics compared with 97 Imaging Informatics topics. Of the 139 Clinical Informatics topics, 115 (83%) were covered in the Imaging Informatics curriculum. Of the 97 Imaging Informatics topics, 74 (76%) were covered in the Clinical Informatics curriculum. When using test content outline data, 170 out of 397 (43%) Imaging Informatics topics matched to 64 out of 139 (46%) Clinical Informatics topics. We describe examples of overlapping topics and those unique to each program to identify potential areas to expand.

Conclusion Imaging Informatics and Clinical Informatics fellowship programs have some overlap with areas unique to each. Our review may help guide those seeking informatics education and potential certification. As enterprise imaging evolves, these differences may become more important and create knowledge gaps, if not systematically evaluated.