Women in Healthcare and Health IT

João Bocas - The #Wearables Expert Interviews Joy Rios, Founder , CEO & Host HIT LIKE A GIRL Podcast, HIMSS Changemaker in Health Award recipient The Topic is: Women in Healthcare and Health IT We have covered: - Why do you think are less women in Health IT than men - What are the main barriers for women to enter the healthcare and health IT industry? - You are known by taking bold actions and Inspiring others, can you expand here please How can we make Healthcare Uncomplicated? Connect with Joy Rios: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyrios/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/askjoyrios HIT Like a Girl - https://twitter.com/HITLikeaGirlpod Website : https://www.hitlikeagirlpod.com/ Feel free to 📣 CONNECT WITH ME 🟢: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joaobocas/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/WearablesExpert Share this episode with your networks: https://youtu.be/oI9vQT_8lUo If you have not subscribed, do it now - https://bit.ly/3iQ6EXP In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion in all industries, including healthcare and health IT. While women have made great strides in various areas of the workforce, the healthcare industry has not seen the same level of progress. There are still significant disparities in gender representation in the healthcare and health IT industry. To explore this topic, we interviewed Joy Rios, the Founder, CEO & Host of HIT LIKE A GIRL Podcast, and HIMSS Changemaker in Health Award recipient, to get her perspective on the issue. One of the first questions we asked Joy Rios was why there are fewer women in health IT than men. According to her, there are several factors that contribute to this gender gap. The first reason is the lack of visibility and awareness of the opportunities that exist in health IT for women. Many women are not exposed to the potential careers available in the industry or the benefits of working in this field. Additionally, the industry itself is not always viewed as being friendly towards women. Another contributing factor is the lack of representation of women in leadership roles within the healthcare industry. According to a study by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), women hold only 30% of executive positions in healthcare organizations, and only 13% of CIO positions. This lack of representation can create a barrier for women who aspire to reach leadership positions in the industry. Finally, Joy Rios noted that there are also cultural and societal barriers that discourage women from pursuing careers in health IT. These can include gender stereotypes, cultural expectations, and family obligations. All of these factors can combine to create a challenging environment for women in the industry. In addition to the factors that contribute to the gender gap in health IT, there are also specific barriers that can make it difficult for women to enter the industry. Joy Rios highlighted several of these barriers. The first is the lack of access to education and training programs. Women may not have access to the same educational opportunities as men or may not be aware of the training programs that are available to them. This can limit their ability to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the industry. Another barrier is the lack of mentorship and support networks for women in health IT. Without access to role models and mentors, it can be difficult for women to navigate the industry and identify opportunities for advancement. A third barrier is the lack of flexible work arrangements. Many women have caregiving responsibilities or other obligations outside of work that can make it challenging to pursue a career in health IT. Without the ability to work flexible hours or remotely, women may be forced to choose between their personal and professional obligations. #hitlikeagirl #womenintech #womenIT #HealthIT