A health field investigator is a professional who goes out into the world and conducts research to gather the information needed for effective decision-making or policy setting by an agency or healthcare organization. The purpose of the research varies according to the organization involved, and may fall in one of the following categories.
- Public Health: Epidemiology – Studies the presence or absence of a disease in specified populations
- Public Health: Environmental Safety – Studies compliance with state rules on food safety and public drinking water
- Occupational Health and Safety – Inspect workplaces for adherence to regulations on health, safety and the environment
- Healthcare Anti-Fraud – Investigates fraudulent practices in health services, billing and insurance claims
- Healthcare Compliance – Investigates complaints of non-compliance with state and federal regulations on health facilities
- Medical Investigation or Forensic Science – Investigates deaths with suspicious or unknown causes
- Pharmaceutical Compliance – Investigates alleged misconduct of pharmacy businesses and professional pharmacists
- Medical Office Compliance – Carries out organization’s compliance plan and investigates deficiencies
Job Description
The investigation procedure followed by health field investigators have in common the following basic steps.
1. Plan the study. Have a clear conception of the information needed and think through the procedure to be followed. This includes the people to be contacted and interviewed, questions to be asked, recording the information collected and the time frame of the investigation.
2. Factor in the laws and ordnances that must be followed.
3. Contact interviewees and make appointments for meetings
4. Collect data, including medical records and law enforcement reports
5. Study the data collected to form conclusions for the study
6. Write summary of findings and report to appropriate officials
An example of a thorough investigation is given by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in outlining steps of an disease outbreak investigation.
Qualifications
An entry level position with a firm that has a standardized procedure such as researching records may hire a high school graduate with a certain number of college credits or an associate degree graduate. However, most field investigator jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree, and some specialized positions such as an epidemiologist require a master’s degree. Depending on the type of investigation, recommended majors are law enforcement, criminal justice, legal studies, sciences, health sciences, social sciences, environmental science, human services or education.
With the exception of the position of environmental investigator which does not require prior experience, all other investigator positions require one to five years of related work experience.
Skills Required for a Healthcare Investigator
Competence in oral and written English is basic to the job. Interpersonal sensitivity and interviewing skills are necessary to elicit cooperation and relevant information from people of varied backgrounds. Computer skills with word processing and database management systems are necessary for recording and organizing the data collected. Problem solving ability is essential in drawing conclusions from the data collected, and communication skills are necessary for writing and presenting reports.
Related Resource: Emergency Response Specialist
Salaries and Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the following 2015 annual median salaries and job outlook for occupations related to health field investigator:
- Private Detectives and Investigators: $45,610 with a 2014-2024 job outlook of five percent, or as fast as average.
- Epidemiologists: $69,450 with a job outlook of six percent, or as fast as average.
- Compliance Officers: $65,640 – no report for job outlook.
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists: $70,210 with a job outlook of four percent, or slower than average.
This career, then, does not promise a big demand as do other healthcare professions such as nursing. However, flexibility in education requirement makes it an attractive job possibility for college graduates who possess and can demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills together with investigative traits like concentration, quick thinking, reasoning and problem solving. The career of health field investigator can be a challenging and satisfying life work.