Choosing a Career as a Health Information Technician 

Get the answers to your questions about a career in health information technology

Why choose a career as a health information technician?
For individuals seeking to combine the desire to make the world a better place with the desire to work with computers and maintain highly detailed, sensitive data, a career in HIT (health information technician) couldn’t be a better fit. The healthcare industry is always in need of medical support professionals. Nevertheless, it's important to be aware of the necessary health information technology training you need in order to follow this path.

What does a health information technician do, and do I need a degree?
Because the field and position are relatively new, employers prefer that applicants for job openings have some sort of degree before working in a hospital, medical office, clinic, or other healthcare facility. Health information technicians tend to deal with computer software and modes of information storage and retrieval, and supervisors would like prospective employees to know how to use the tools of the trade before they are hired. Things happen quickly in a healthcare environment, and there isn’t a lot of time to learn on the job if you decide to become a health information technician.

What does a health information technician program entail?
Each health information technology program will slightly differ, but all of them are likely to consist of both traditional and computer lab-based classes. Classes teach you how to create and maintain complete health records, organize data for clinical registries, and deal with sensitive health information in an ethical, informed manner. Throughout your health information technology education, lab-based classes for Health IT professionals will teach you how to use specialized computer software to maintain a health information database and how to apply diagnosis and procedure codes.

How do health information technician programs differ?
Some health information technology programs last longer than others; some are online whereas some are classroom-based; and some have a more focused field of study, while others provide a broad, general understanding of the field. You should choose the health information technology education that matches your field of interest and think about how it will impact where your career is heading several years down the line.

For instance, the Associate of Applied Science degree at Pinnacle Career Institute focuses on the technical and scientific aspects of health IT, which employers are especially interested in. Increasingly, employers need health information technicians with backgrounds in computer science and technology. While many certification and degree programs in health information technology focus more on the secretarial aspects of health IT, Pinnacle's Associate of Applied Science degree in Kansas City and Lawrence gives you the technical expertise that more and more employers want.

What is the career outlook for a Health IT professional?
Healthcare is a rapidly expanding field. Even in a recession, science and technology is becoming more advanced. Therefore, studying to become a health information technician at Pinnacle Career Institute is an excellent career choice.