Coordinator for Health Information Technology
A career in health information technology bridges two of the fastest-growing sectors in the U.S. economy--health care and information technology. The right combination of education and experience, combined with certification in this field, can prepare you for a career as a health information technology coordinator in health care clinics, hospitals and other settings.
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Function
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Specialists in health information technology organize patients' medical records, checking the data for accuracy. A technology coordinator assesses the health information technology of a health care facility, and manages patient record-keeping and medical coding, ensuring that data management meets all applicable standards and regulations related to patient medical records. Coordinators also must stay abreast of developments in health information technology, a rapidly growing field.
Significance
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported in 2004 that Americans spent an estimated $300 billion a year on unnecessary, inefficient and ineffective treatments. The department reported that greater use of health information technology will help reduce high costs, medical errors and administrative inefficiency by providing physicians and other health care providers with access to a network of electronic medical records. The federal government in 2004 set a goal for all Americans to have electronic health records by 2014. Hospitals, physicians' offices, public health clinics and other providers will need coordinators of information technology to help them make the most of the benefits offered by electronic medical records.
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Education and Experience
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A coordinator of health information technology needs the appropriate level of education, as well as professional experience in the health information field. An associate's degree in health information technology will prepare a man or woman for a career as a medical coder or health information technician. The associate's degree emphasizes computer skills, medical terminology and statistical analysis. Becoming a coordinator, however, generally requires a bachelor's degree in health information management, computer science, public health or a related field, combined with 3 to 5 years of professional experience. The bachelor's degree in health information management stresses such skills as operating and maintaining technological equipment unique to the health care industry.
Certification
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In addition to the education requirements and experience, a person interested in a career in health information technology should hold certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). After receiving their associate's degrees, graduates can take a certification exam from the American Health Information Management Association to become an RHIT. Most employers prefer that health information professionals hold these credentials.
Compensation
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Only limited salary information about careers in health information technology is available. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that health information technicians (not just coordinators) earned annual salaries ranging from less than $20,000 to more than $45,000, depending on experience and employer. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that information technology managers in the insurance field earned a median salary of more than $100,000 a year.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Raul Gonzalo
