Health Information Technology Schools

Health information technology (HIT) is used to manage the health information of patients in a secure manner. A patient file is a record of that individual’s treatments, notes, observations, previous medical history, and laboratory test results among much more. Such a record is of utmost importance in order to provide healthcare of the highest quality.
Health information technicians are the ones responsible for organizing these patient records. Such technicians ensure the patient fills out the correct forms. The information is then entered into a computer and is saved to the clinic or hospital data management system. Health information technicians also interact with doctors to ensure all the information stored on a patient’s record is accurate. As the emphasis on improving the national healthcare system increases, the demand for health information technology professionals will also rise.

Health Information Technology Degrees
Associate, Bachelor and Master level programs are available in the area of health information technology. You can even find doctoral level degrees in this field. An Associate degree prepares a student for an entry-level position in the health information management field. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Information Technology degree is a 2 year program that teaches students how to use technology and computer systems for the maintenance of patients’ health records. Many choose to transfer to a 4 year Bachelor’s program after completing the AAS degree. For those who wish to specialize further in the field, a Master or PhD program covers the aspects of management, health privacy laws and computer information systems in a more in-depth manner.
Areas of Study in Health Information Technology
During the course of a health information technology degree, a student learns health data statistics, structure and content. Pharmacology, medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology are also taught to familiarize students with all the terms they will come across in their patient and doctor dealings. Knowledge of disease coding and classification systems is also learned by students. At the undergraduate level, health information technology schools also teach health information analysis, along with fiscal analysis and health informatics.
At the Master’s level, a graduate student is required to learn how to manage and analyze data more effectively. Courses taught at this level cover the areas of database management, information security and data analysis. PhD students take their knowledge of health information technology into the realms of research and theory.
careers for Health Information Technology Graduates
Any place where health care information is gathered and analyzed is a potential work environment for a health information technology graduate. Professionals in this field can be found working in clinics, hospitals, law firms, government agencies, insurance companies, consultancies and at research firms. Clinical coders and data collection specialists are some of the roles available to health information technology graduates. A career in health information technology may lead to jobs such as health information director, data quality manager, clinical research associate, informatics researcher and public health information manager. You can embark upon an exciting career after graduating from a program at one of many health information technology schools.