Health Careers

Health Information Technology

NATURE OF THE PROFESSION

When you enter a hospital, you see a whirl of white coats of physicians, nurses, radiographers, and others. Every time these health care personnel treat a patient, they record what they observed and did to the patient. This record includes information the patient provides about their symptoms and medical history, and also the results of examinations, reports of x-ray and laboratory tests, and diagnoses and treatment plans. Health Information Technicians organize and evaluate these records for completeness and accuracy. Duties vary with the size of the facility. In large to medium facilities, technicians may specialize in one aspect of medical records or supervise medical record clerks and transcribers while a Health Information Administrator manages the department. In small facilities an accredited record technician may manage the department.

APTITUDES

•   Be able to learn medical terms and methods of processing medical records.
•   Have good ability with words and numbers.
•   Have a good memory and space and form perception.

• Be able to record information accurately, make decisions based on written information, and work within set standards.

•   Enjoy detailed work and be well organized.

HELPFUL HIGH SCHOOL SUBJECTS

Math up to algebra II, science including chemistry, biology and computer applications, including word processing and other business programs.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN and NEAR IOWA

Health Information Technology Programs

•   Eastern Iowa Community College
•   Indian Hills Community College
•   Kirkwood Community College
•   Northeast Iowa Community College
•   Northwest Iowa Community College

Health Information Administration Programs

•   College of Saint Mary (Omaha)
•   College of Saint Catherine (Minneapolis)
•   Dakota State University (Madison, South Dakota)

JOB OUTLOOK and SALARY

Hospitals will continue to employ the most technicians and administrators. Employment of medical record technicians and administrators is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2008 due to rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures and because medical records will be increasingly scrutinized by third-party payers, courts, and consumers. The need for detailed medical records in offices and clinics of doctors of medicine should translate into rapid growth in employment opportunities for medical record technicians in large group practices and offices of specialists.

Approximate starting average annual salary for health information technicians in Iowa is $20,200. Approximate starting average annual salary for health information administrators in Iowa is $33,100.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

American Health Information Management Association
233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601
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