HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

What Is Health Information Technology Every time you receive health care, a record of your visit is kept. That record includes your medical history, test results, x- rays, and treatment plans. All of that information is evaluated and organized by a Health Information Technician. They make sure your personal information is complete, accurate, secure, and confidential. That information is entered into a computer. A code is assigned to each diagnosis and procedure. This code determines how much money a doctor or health care facility will receive.

HIT JOB DUTIES MAY INCLUDE Medical Transcription Bill Insurance Companies and Prepare Patient Invoices Process Patient Admission & Discharge Forms

SPECIAL SKILLS & ABILITIES Good Communication Reading Comprehension Reason & Problem Solving Time Management Detail Oriented Critical Thinking Organized Billing Software Computer Applications English Language Managing Files Medical Terminology Medical Transcription Microfiche or Microfilm Scanners Employee of the Month

WORK ENVIRONMENT Pleasant & comfortable High level of social contact Technicians who work at computer monitors for prolonged periods of time should guard against eye strain & muscle pain Usually work a 40-hr. week. Some overtime may be required. Work day, evening, or night shifts

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS Completion of a 2-yr. Associate Degree – including coursework in medical terminology, anatomy & physiology

CAREER ADVANCEMENT Bachelor & Masters of Science Advancement opportunities are typically achieved by specialization or promotion to a management position. Two recognizable specialties are tumor registrar and medical coder Upon successful completion of an associate degree, you can take the national registration exam to become a Registered Health Information Technician Health Information Technology Associate In Applied Science

SALARY RANGE Technician’s Level of Education and Experience Affects Wages $19 – 35,000

JOB OUTLOOK Employment is expected to grow faster than average so job prospects should be very good New jobs expected in physicians’ offices, home health care, nursing and residential care facilities Technicians with strong background in medical coding will be in particularly high demand Public health departments need technicians to supervise data collection from health care institutions and assist in research Insurance companies that deal with health matters need HITs to tabulate and analyze health information Technicians will be needed to enter patient information in computer databases to comply with Federal legislation mandating the use of electronic medical records

CONCLUSION Overall I feel this would be a good occupation to pursue. There is some sense of job security and advancement opportunities. Plus you have a variety of places you could transfer your skills. If you like working with computers and prefer little or no direct contact with patients, then Health Information Technology is the job for you!