Would you like to become a health information technician? With America’s aging Baby Boomers reaching the age where they require increasing amounts of medical care and new health care laws that provide access to health insurance to more people, the need for trained professionals is skyrocketing across practically every facet of the health care field. Doctors and nurses are seeing explosive employment opportunities; individuals who work behind the scenes as managers, administrators and health information technicians are also enjoying a bonanza of professional prospects.
What is a Health Information Technician?
Simply put, a health information technician is a professional who manages the flood of health information generated when patients seek treatment from a physician. Using both paper and computer systems, they organize and maintain data, working to ensure that it is accurate and secure. They apply the appropriate coding to maintain medical records, apply for insurance reimbursement and update clinical registries. They may also use computer programs to run assorted analyses on health information to identify potential ways to reduce costs or improve patient care. Most health information technicians work in hospitals or doctors’ offices, but they are not directly involved in patient care. Instead, their duties require them to interact with doctors, nurses and other medical personnel as well as representatives of health insurance companies.
What Education is Required to Become a Health Information Technician?
Although some people find work as health information technicians after earning a post-secondary certificate, more and more employers are seeking individuals who hold an associate degree and a professional certification. To ensure the program you choose will provide the information you need to succeed as a health information technician, look for a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. To make this easy, the commission offers a helpful Accredited Program Directory. Users can search the directory by state, institution, and online delivery options. Associates, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are all included.
Is Professional Certification Necessary?
While not strictly necessary, becoming certified improves your professional prospects and offers tangible proof of your skills to potential employers. The American Health Information Management Association offers the Registered Health Information Technician credential. To earn this credential, health information technicians must demonstrate that they are graduates of an associate degree or higher health information programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education and pass the RHIT Exam. Comprised of some 150 multiple-choice questions, the exam takes roughly three and a half hours to complete.
What Are the Job Prospects for Health Care Technicians?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that more than 185,000 people worked as health care technicians in 2012. With an expected job growth rate of 22 percent, that number is predicted to be 227,000 by 2022. That is an increase of more than 40,000 jobs. What can the professionals who accept these jobs expect to make in terms of salary? In 2012, the median salary for health information technicians was roughly $34,000. The top 10 percent of earners in this position brought home salaries over $56,000.
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If you are a detail-oriented person who would like to join the burgeoning health care industry, but you would prefer to work with other professionals rather than patients, then consider a career in health information. Pursuing the training needed to become a health information technician will prepare you to take advantage of the multitude of professional opportunities in this in-demand field.
