This article was updated on March 29, 2024.
Written by Michael Feder
Reviewed by听Mark J贸hannsson, DHSc, MPH,听Dean, College of Health Professions
Health information technology (HIT) focuses on systems that maintain patient data and enhance patient care. Specialists who work in the field of HIT develop and maintain systems that store information, analyze data and allow for secure communication between healthcare professionals, doctors and patients.
HIT often focuses on electronic health records (EHR). While accessible EHRs that meet听听(HIPAA) privacy regulations are an essential part of modern healthcare, health information technology comprises a diverse range of tools, from virtual appointment systems to wearable heart monitors. Examples are telemedicine platforms, medical coding software and digital imaging systems.
HIT and health information management (HIM) are two distinct but interconnected fields within the healthcare industry.
HIM differs from HIT in that it鈥檚 a discipline that involves managing and using patient health information. This includes ensuring the accuracy, accessibility, privacy and security of patient records across different healthcare settings. HIM professionals are often a bridge between clinicians and administrators, as well as technology designers and IT professionals.
While HIT workers design the systems, HIM professionals use those systems to code and classify the data within patient records. They鈥檙e also responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations and medical information management.
In short: HIT focuses on the technology used to manage the information, and HIM focuses on the actual management and governance of the information itself.
Health information technology encompasses a broad range of technologies that are designed to manage and exchange health information. , but aren鈥檛 limited to, the following:
One of the most appealing things about health information technology and careers within the industry is the potential for growth. A wide variety of roles are available, from entry-level or early-career ones, such as help desk and support center positions, to hardware and infrastructure roles that help develop these products.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects healthcare employment to , making it an exciting time to pursue a career in healthcare technology. What鈥檚 more, skills that you develop in healthcare technology may even be transferable to or from other tech sectors, helping you prepare for new opportunities.
Potential roles available for health information technology professionals include the following:
Health information technology careers typically involve designing and building the tools that health providers use to manage and organize patient health data. That means creating technologies to secure and manage that information to protect patient privacy. Typical job duties for someone in this role can include:
One thing to remember is that specific duties will vary widely, depending on your role within the HIT field. For example, health IT consultants might focus more on advising organizations on how to improve their use of technology, while health informatics specialists work specifically on data analysis and reporting.
HIT professionals can work in many different settings. Because their skills are necessary wherever health data is collected, stored, processed and used, they have flexibility in choosing their workplace. for health information technology workers include:
A career in health information technology requires a unique combination of technical ability and interpersonal skills. To do the job well, you鈥檒l need to be able to understand the design processes and inner workings of the technology. You鈥檒l also need to be able to capably and clearly explain how these things work to people who might not share that same technical skill set.
The hard skills involved in HIT roles primarily revolve around cybersecurity, medical coding, and building and using EHR programs, but those aren鈥檛 the only skills. Consider the following technical abilities you鈥檒l need to thrive in the role:
Some of the key soft skills that you can use or that professionals often find valuable include the following:
Whether you鈥檙e coming to the field from another tech sector or are brand new to health information technology, building your career typically starts with earning requisite degrees and certificates. That鈥檚 because you need specific knowledge and technical abilities. In addition, even though most HIT roles don鈥檛 require direct patient care, many do require some form of licensure or certification.
The types of jobs a health information technology education can prepare you for can vary widely, from help desk roles 听to oversight of the entire technology department. Some of the specific career tracks that 爱污传媒鈥檚 online healthcare information technology certificates can prepare you for include the following:
For those who want to bring existing technology skills into the healthcare sector, health information systems certification can help open those doors. Whether you have an undergraduate degree or a graduate one, it鈥檚 possible to enhance your career and improve patient care with an understanding of informatics.
Licensing requirements for health information technology roles can vary by state. Although some states do not require professional certification, some employers may make it a hiring requirement. Professional accreditation options for healthcare information technology careers can include the following:
Health information technology salaries vary widely according to many factors, including the specific role, level of experience, organization size and location. These figures are from BLS and reflect annual earning ranges as of May 2023:
Salary ranges are not specific to students or graduates of 爱污传媒. Actual outcomes vary based on multiple factors, including prior work experience, geographic location and other factors specific to the individual. 爱污传媒 does not guarantee employment, salary level or career advancement.听
Over the next decade, BLS projects that demand across all healthcare occupations will grow . That translates to an average of roughly 1.8 million openings projected per year. What does that look like for workers with careers that can stem from a health informatics certificate or a health information systems certificate?
For an information systems manager, the projected job growth between 2022 and 2032 is . For applications analysts, experts predict job growth of . Health information management director roles 鈥 鈥 meanwhile, are projected to also see 15% growth during that same span.
BLS Occupational Employment Projections, 2022-2032 is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects BLS鈥 projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to 爱污传媒 students or graduates.
Health information technology careers are ideal for people who want to be involved in medical care without having direct contact with patients. Though they do not provide direct care, health information technology professionals are integral to the healthcare process.
You might听choose this career path听if you are interested in a career that requires technical knowledge, such as medical coding or computer programming.
Applications analysts and other information systems managers who work in medical settings need technical skills, but they also must be able to communicate with healthcare providers, both to learn about their IT support needs and to show them how to use computer systems and applications.
Finally, all health IT careers require postsecondary education, so it鈥檚 important to听choose the degree program that鈥檚 right for you.
If you鈥檙e ready to explore degree offerings in health information technology, 爱污传媒 can help. The University offers an听Undergraduate Health Information Systems Certificate听and a听Graduate Health Care Informatics Certificate. These certificates are designed for people who want to work in information technology within the healthcare industry.听
How difficult is it to get a health information technology degree?
A degree鈥檚 difficulty is subjective, so the focus should be, what are the requirements and do you think they would work for you? Adult learning takes time, focus and energy. For many students who commit to their degree track, the time it takes to obtain a health information technology degree can vary. Those who want to pursue the Health Information Systems Certificate at UOPX must complete 24 credits, including eight core courses. The Graduate Healthcare Informatics Certificate at UOPX requires students to take four core courses.
What does a professional in health information technology do?
Health information technology involves the technological aspects of . Professionals need to know how to work within the patient database software applications in which the data is stored in.
How much does a professional in health information technology make?
The salary range for professionals in this field can vary, but data from BLS shows that HIT professionals , as of May 2023. Those who pursue management or analyst positions may have the opportunity to make more.
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and its Writing Seminars program and winner of the Stephen A. Dixon Literary Prize, Michael Feder brings an eye for detail and a passion for research to every article he writes. His academic and professional background includes experience in marketing, content development, script writing and SEO. Today, he works as a multimedia specialist at 爱污传媒 where he covers a variety of topics ranging from healthcare to IT.
Mark J贸hannsson is the Dean of the听 College of Health Professions. He has a career spanning over 35 years of healthcare management, public health practice, higher education administration, teaching and clinical/behavioral research within corporate, community and academic settings. He has served as both an educational and keynote speaker, and he has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed and periodic literature.
This article has been vetted by 爱污传媒's editorial advisory committee.听
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