Volume 28, Issue 3 (12-2025)
jha 2025, 28(3): 105-108 |
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Sheikhtaheri A. A reflection on the technological roles and competencies of medical librarians and health information technology specialists. jha 2025; 28 (3) :105-108
URL: http://jha.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4803-en.html
URL: http://jha.iums.ac.ir/article-1-4803-en.html
Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence in Medicine Research Unit, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , sheikhtaheri.a@iums.ac.ir
Keywords: Health information management, Health information technology, Medical informatics, Role, Position, Competency, Curriculum
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The evolution of health systems and the expansion of IT have led to the redefinition of professional roles across various health disciplines. Accordingly, numerous studies have been conducted to revise curricula and to define or redefine competencies, professional skills, and organizational roles and positions in various disciplines, such as health services management, health information management, etc.[1-4].
A recent study published in the Journal of Health Administration, titled "Required roles and skills for master's degree graduates in medical library and information science: a qualitative study" represents a valuable effort to rethink the professional position and competencies of graduates in this field. The study involved faculty members of medical library and information science departments, managers and policymakers in education and human resources, as well as master's graduates, and doctoral students in medical library and information science. The focus on the perspectives of medical library and information science experts and the attempt to develop a map of emerging roles constitute important strengths that can enrich the literature in this field. This study appropriately highlights key competencies and roles, such as organizing knowledge and managing information resources, promoting information literacy, supporting research and education, knowledge translation, scientometrics, and other related professional roles and competencies. Another part of the findings emphasizes professional competencies, roles, and positions related to health information managers, health information technology experts in hospitals and health service delivery centers, health records, electronic health records, and health information systems as the expected competencies or positions for medical library and information science graduates [5].
Some findings require reflection within a broader framework of the professional and educational structure of the Iranian health system. In particular, where positions and competencies related to health information technology, health information management, and health information systems are attributed to medical librarians, it is essential to consider the educational and professional context of these domains. In the Iranian higher education and health system, health information technology, health information management, and medical informatics are formally established disciplines with approved curricula, dedicated faculty members, university departments, and a national specialized accreditation board. These fields are specifically designed to address the administrative, technical, analytical, executive and managerial needs related to health data and information, as well as health information systems and technologies. Therefore, directly attributing professional responsibilities in these areas to medical librarianships, without the participation of scientific and professional representatives from other disciplines in the research process, may lead to conceptual overlap between “information support” and “specialized competencies,” and does not necessarily imply endorsement of these findings by the relevant experts. Medical librarians can play valuable collaborative roles in health information technology-related projects, just as the awareness, knowledge, and participation of other health professionals contribute to the adoption of health information technologies. However, such contributions do not necessarily imply assuming formal organizational roles or positions such as health information manager or health information technologist.
Defining and redefining roles and responsibilities, even in interdisciplinary contexts, without the participation of formal representatives from all relevant disciplines substantially reduces the external validity of the results and limits their applicability for impactful and effective policy-making. The next step is to pursue collaborative efforts involving specialists in medical librarianship, health information management, health information technology, and medical informatics. Such an approach could lead to the development of realistic frameworks for strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations.
Declarations
Ethical considerations: Not applicable.
Funding: Not applicable.
Conflict of interest: Abbas sheikhtaheri is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Administration.
Authors' contributions: Abbas sheikhtaheri: Conceptualization, writing – review and editing, final approval.
Consent for publication: Not applicable.
Data availability: Not applicable.
AI declaration: ChatGPT was applied to proofread the text. All AI-generated contents were reviewed and approved by the author.
Acknowledgments: Not applicable.
A recent study published in the Journal of Health Administration, titled "Required roles and skills for master's degree graduates in medical library and information science: a qualitative study" represents a valuable effort to rethink the professional position and competencies of graduates in this field. The study involved faculty members of medical library and information science departments, managers and policymakers in education and human resources, as well as master's graduates, and doctoral students in medical library and information science. The focus on the perspectives of medical library and information science experts and the attempt to develop a map of emerging roles constitute important strengths that can enrich the literature in this field. This study appropriately highlights key competencies and roles, such as organizing knowledge and managing information resources, promoting information literacy, supporting research and education, knowledge translation, scientometrics, and other related professional roles and competencies. Another part of the findings emphasizes professional competencies, roles, and positions related to health information managers, health information technology experts in hospitals and health service delivery centers, health records, electronic health records, and health information systems as the expected competencies or positions for medical library and information science graduates [5].
Some findings require reflection within a broader framework of the professional and educational structure of the Iranian health system. In particular, where positions and competencies related to health information technology, health information management, and health information systems are attributed to medical librarians, it is essential to consider the educational and professional context of these domains. In the Iranian higher education and health system, health information technology, health information management, and medical informatics are formally established disciplines with approved curricula, dedicated faculty members, university departments, and a national specialized accreditation board. These fields are specifically designed to address the administrative, technical, analytical, executive and managerial needs related to health data and information, as well as health information systems and technologies. Therefore, directly attributing professional responsibilities in these areas to medical librarianships, without the participation of scientific and professional representatives from other disciplines in the research process, may lead to conceptual overlap between “information support” and “specialized competencies,” and does not necessarily imply endorsement of these findings by the relevant experts. Medical librarians can play valuable collaborative roles in health information technology-related projects, just as the awareness, knowledge, and participation of other health professionals contribute to the adoption of health information technologies. However, such contributions do not necessarily imply assuming formal organizational roles or positions such as health information manager or health information technologist.
Defining and redefining roles and responsibilities, even in interdisciplinary contexts, without the participation of formal representatives from all relevant disciplines substantially reduces the external validity of the results and limits their applicability for impactful and effective policy-making. The next step is to pursue collaborative efforts involving specialists in medical librarianship, health information management, health information technology, and medical informatics. Such an approach could lead to the development of realistic frameworks for strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations.
Declarations
Ethical considerations: Not applicable.
Funding: Not applicable.
Conflict of interest: Abbas sheikhtaheri is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Health Administration.
Authors' contributions: Abbas sheikhtaheri: Conceptualization, writing – review and editing, final approval.
Consent for publication: Not applicable.
Data availability: Not applicable.
AI declaration: ChatGPT was applied to proofread the text. All AI-generated contents were reviewed and approved by the author.
Acknowledgments: Not applicable.
Type of Study: Commentary |
Subject:
Health Information Technology
Received: 2025/12/22 | Accepted: 2025/12/23 | Published: 2025/12/24
Received: 2025/12/22 | Accepted: 2025/12/23 | Published: 2025/12/24
References
1. Jaafaripooyan E, Alizadeh N, Habibi F, Mehri M, Sajjadi-khasraghi J. Internship program for health services management students: challenges and solutions. Journal of Health Administration 2024; 27 (2) :59-73. doi: [DOI:10.61186/jha.27.2.59]
2. Ahmadi M, Sheikhtaheri A, Tahmasbi F, Eslami Jahromi M, Rangraz Jeddi F. A competency framework for Ph.D. programs in health information management. International Journal of Medical Informatics. 2022;168:104906. [DOI:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104906]
3. Eslami Jahromi M, Sheikhtaheri A, Tahmasbi F, Ahmadi M, Rangraz Jeddi F. Evaluation of PhD curriculum in health information management: a need for revision. Journal of Modern Medical Information. 2023;8(4):362-73. [DOI:10.32598/JMIS.8.4.2]
4. Sadoughi F, Davaridolatabadi N, Sheikhtaheri A, Maleki M, Shahi M. A comparative study on organizational positions of health management and information technology department of hospitals and proposing a model for Iran. Hormozgan Medical Journal. 2015;19(2):93-9.
5. Zare-Farashabadi F, Daie A, Ghasemi A-H, Nematianarakki L, Panahi S, Shekofteh M, et al. Required roles and skills for master's degree graduates in medical library and information science: a qualitative study. Journal of Health Administration. 2025; 28(3):88-104. https://dx.doi.org/10.61882/jha.28.3.88
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