Career Information

Why is This a Good Career Bet?

The widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) by all types of health care providers is leading to an increased need for HIT professionals to organize and manage information efficiently.

Special purpose registries are expected to increase with the aging population, since many illnesses are detected and treated later in life. Cancer registrars in particular are expected to remain in high demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health-related occupations will add the most new jobs to the economy — nearly one-third of the total increase — through 2024. Fourteen of the top 20 fastest-growing jobs listed by CareerOneStop (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor) are in health care occupations. Health information technician positions are projected to increase by 30%.

Job Opportunities

Job opportunities include:

• Hospitals
  
• Clinics
  
• Doctors' offices
  
• Surgical centers
  
• Law firms
  
• Medical billing companies
  
• Governmental agencies such as the National Institute of Health or Medicare
  
• Medical insurance companies
  
• Long-term or extended-care settings
  

Job Titles

Common job titles held by professionals with an associate degree in HIT include:

• Health information technician 
  
• Health information management analyst
  
• Inpatient or outpatient coder
  
• Coding manager or specialist
  
• Medical billing or reimbursement specialist
  
• Clinical documentation improvement specialist 
  
• Medical transcriptionist
  
• Cancer registrar
  
• Electronic Health Records (EHR) analyst
  

According to AHIMA, professionals holding the RHIT credential are health information technicians who:

• Ensure the quality of health records and health information by validating its completeness, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Use computer applications to enter and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs.
• They use various classification systems to code diagnoses and procedures to capture and report patient encounters for reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients' medical and treatment histories or for use in research
• A specialized role for these professionals is cancer registrar, responsible for collecting and maintaining data on cancer patients.
  

Skills Sets and Training

Health information technology careers typically require education or experience with medical records management and electronic health records, coding and billing and regulatory requirement as well as proficiency with medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, diseases, treatment procedures and medications. This program provides training in medical terminology, basic anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology, computers, health information content and management, quality improvement, coding and reimbursement, legal aspects of health information, and management of health care delivery systems.

Job Prospects

Prospects will be best for those with a certification in health information technology, such as the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). As Electronic Health Record (HER) systems continue to become more common, health information professionals with computer skills will be needed to use them.

With experience, the professionals with the RHIT credential hold solid potential for advancement to management positions, especially when combined with a bachelor's degree.