Health information technology jobs available nearby you
Health information technology encompasses electronics systems utilized by healthcare facilities. Given that healthcare professionals employ various technologies and devices, they frequently enlist the expertise of information technology specialists to enhance and manage their operations. If you possess a background in information technology and harbor an interest in the healthcare sector, a career in health information technology could be well-suited for you. This piece delves into 10 potential job opportunities to initiate a career in health information technology.
What defines a profession in health information technology?
A career in health information technology entails utilizing electronic devices and computer systems within a healthcare environment. Various roles in this field revolve around evaluating a medical facility’s use of information technology and devising strategies to enhance technology-related procedures. Professionals in health information technology can make significant contributions to different aspects of healthcare, including Personal Health Records (PHRs), Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Electronic Prescribing (E-prescribing), as well as ensuring privacy and security.
Explore the following ten potential career paths within the field of health information technology:
1. Programmer analyst
National median salary: $80,438 annually
Main responsibilities: A programmer analyst is tasked with creating and evaluating new software applications for an organization. This encompasses coding using computer programming languages, conducting thorough testing of new software programs to guarantee their proper functionality, and researching emerging technological trends that could enhance organizational operations. Within healthcare, a programmer analyst may contribute to the development of systems dedicated to storing and managing patient records, as well as streamlining appointment scheduling across various departments and specialists within a medical facility.
2. Medical coder
National median salary: $47,536 annually
Main responsibilities: A coding specialist, commonly known as a medical coder, is instrumental in handling insurance claims for healthcare coverage. Their role includes assigning codes within an IT system to accurately depict diagnoses and procedures, scrutinizing data in insurance claims for accuracy, and engaging with insurance companies to resolve issues and determine the extent of coverage for a patient. Additionally, medical coders collaborate closely with the billing department of their facility to ensure patients fulfill their medical bills promptly and completely.
3. Healthcare Administration Professional
National median salary: $69,828 annually
Main responsibilities: A healthcare services administrator holds the responsibility of managing the operations of an entire healthcare facility or a specific department within it. Leveraging information technology, they streamline scheduling and appointments, scrutinize insurance policies for clients undergoing care, and uphold compliance with medical care standards and regulations within the healthcare facility. Additionally, a healthcare services administrator actively contributes to enhancing the facility’s healthcare services by suggesting improvements in processes, policies, and technology utilization.
4. Clinical informatist
National median salary: $73,305 annually
Main responsibilities: A clinical informaticist is an expert who assesses the utilization of data and technology in clinical environments. Their role frequently involves gathering and structuring clinical data, such as health records and patient information. Clinical informaticists provide recommendations to enhance data management in healthcare facilities and establish protocols for the utilization of health information systems. Given the reliance on a deep understanding of the healthcare industry and its standard practices, many clinical informaticists gain experience working in clinical settings before transitioning into their roles as informaticists, ensuring they can offer precise and pertinent advice.
5. System Analyst
National median salary: $76,276 annually
Main responsibilities: A systems analyst, an IT specialist, is responsible for the supervision and upkeep of a company’s computer systems. Their tasks involve assessing the organization’s computer systems for potential enhancements, researching new technologies that clients might consider adopting, and working collaboratively with IT department colleagues to formulate plans for enhancing and sustaining computer systems. Additionally, systems analysts craft instructional materials elucidating the systems they contribute to maintaining, catering to both current users and prospective employees.
6 IT analyst
National median salary: $76,281 annually
Main responsibilities: The primary role of an IT analyst involves assessing the utilization of information technology by clients and proposing improvements to enhance their operations. IT analysts monitor an organization’s information technology usage to identify areas for enhancement, assist in the installation of new hardware, and implement recovery procedures for servers and data as needed. In healthcare settings, an IT analyst may also focus on the application of information technology in clinical contexts, devising processes for the storage of patient records and scheduling organization.
7. Professional in health information technology
National average salary: $45,363 per year
Key responsibilities: A health information technician, an IT expert, plays a crucial role in managing a facility’s information technology and data. Responsibilities encompass safeguarding the proper and secure storage of data, organizing patient records for accessibility by physicians and medical staff, and maintaining and updating databases, registries, and insurance records within a medical facility. Monitoring patient progress through record evaluation, especially in the context of technology-based elements such as medical tests or surgical procedures, is also part of the health information technician’s role.
