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What does someone in health information technology do?

Health IT 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:

• Building out software for the management of patient health data
• Designing tools to help improve interoperability between health technology systems
• Troubleshooting and maintenance of health information systems
• Securing patient data by implementing security measures against unauthorized access
• Integrating healthcare systems to ensure data flows between departments and facilities.

One thing to remember is that specific duties will vary widely, depending on the 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.

Where does someone in health information technology work?��

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 IT workers include:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Healthcare IT companies
• Insurance companies
• Government agencies
• Consulting firms
• Research institutions
• Educational institutions

Hard skills��

The hard skills involved in HIT roles primarily revolve around cybersecurity, medical coding, and building and using EHR programs, but those aren’t the only skills. Consider the following technical abilities needed to thrive in the role:

• Medical coding: Health technologists working in��medical coding��need to know the appropriate diagnosis and treatment codes, including the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and diagnostic-related group (DRG) codes.
• EHR programs: Clinical IT analysts and application specialists need to be familiar with programs and systems used to collect and organize patient data. Depending on their duties, these IT professionals may also need to know computer languages like SQL and Python.
• Cybersecurity: Because of privacy regulations, every health IT professional needs to know cybersecurity best practices. Technical staff members need to��monitor the network security��of their databases and systems and ensure that firewalls and antivirus software are up to date.
• Data analysis: Health informatics professionals need to be able to look at large amounts of data and��extract information��for accurate analysis.
• Attention to detail: Since mistakes can affect the chances of a positive outcome for patients, HIT professionals need to pay close attention to detail regardless of their area of specialization.

Soft skills

Some of the key soft skills that you can use or that professionals often find valuable include the following:

• Communication: HIT professionals act as a bridge between healthcare providers and IT. That means explaining complex technical concepts in simple language.
• Problem-solving: As with any tech-related field, problems can and will arise. Having the ability to think on one's feet and solve problems is crucial.
• Adaptability: Health information technology constantly evolves, whether it’s regulations, systems or practices. Professionals need to be willing to learn new things.
• Teamwork: HIT professionals are a valued part of a team, which means collaborating with other healthcare stakeholders.
• Ethics and confidentiality: Because of the sensitive nature of health information, HIT professionals must adhere to ethical guidelines and protect patient confidentiality.
• Organization skills: Working in HIT means handling large volumes of data and multiple tasks at once. Staying organized and prioritizing projects are vital.
• Customer service: HIT professionals often interact with patients, healthcare providers or other stakeholders. Strong customer service skills help ensure positive interactions.

How to enhance a career in health information technology��

Whether coming to the field from another tech sector or are brand new to health IT, building a career typically starts with earning requisite degrees and certificates. That’s because specific knowledge and technical abilities are needed. In addition, even though most HIT roles don’t require direct patient care, many do require some form of licensure or certification.

Certifications and licenses��

For those who want to bring existing technology skills into the healthcare sector, health information systems certification can help open those doors. Whether a candidate has an undergraduate or graduate degree, it’s possible to enhance a career and improve patient care with an understanding of informatics.

Licensing requirements for roles in this field 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:

• ��certification is for health information technicians with an associate degree who can pass the RHIT exam.
• ��certification has no education prerequisites, but a knowledge of medical coding is needed to pass the exam.
• program is for master’s degree holders who want to advance in the field of health informatics.
• ��certification proves that qualified IT experts know necessary healthcare regulations.

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 — — 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’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to ��ɫ��Ƶ students or graduates.