Learn about health information technology degrees with complete information on their coursework and admission requirements in the guide below. You will also find here information on potential careers with a health information technology degree, along with salary data and job requirements.
What Is Health Information Technology?
Health information technology is information technology applied to the healthcare sector to support management functions and secure exchange of health information between the various parties involved. The concerned parties are usually consumers, payers, quality monitors, or healthcare providers.
What Can You Do with a Health Information Technology Degree?
Depending on what degree you go for in health information technology, there are a variety of career paths you can opt for. Let’s take a look at some of the popular ones. The following data has been extracted from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2019.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Medical records and health information technicians manage health information data. They maintain its quality, accessibility, and accuracy, along with storing it in secure databases.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $42,630 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 11% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $46,590 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 40,900 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | District of Columbia | $59,450 |
Medical Assistants
Medical Assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks in various healthcare facilities. They keep records of patient history and schedule appointments, among other clinical duties.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $34,800 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 23% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $35,720 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 96,850 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | Alaska | $45,630 |
Medical and Health Service Managers
Medical and Health Service Managers perform multiple managerial tasks associated with entire healthcare facilities. In addition to doing administrative tasks such as patient fees management and billing, they also monitor budgets, handle recruitment, and remain up to date with the latest legalities.
| Annual Median Salary, 2019 | $100,980 | |
| Job Outlook, 2018-2028 | 18% | |
| Annual Mean Salary, 2019 | $115,160 | |
| State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019 | California | 36,940 |
| State with the Highest Salary, 2019 | District of Columbia | $150,040 |
What to Expect from a Health Information Technology Degree?
A typical health information technology degree would be at the associate’s level, taking 2 years to complete. It would include coursework on human anatomy and physiology, healthcare coding systems, foundations of health data systems, and the legal aspects of healthcare information. Students can also expect to receive training in healthcare billing and reimbursement systems, basic electronic recording software, and healthcare coding systems.
How to Choose a Health Information Technology Degree?
When choosing a health information technology degree, students ought to keep several things in mind. These include the accreditation status of the program, the reputation of the university, program length and cost, campus facilities, online study options, faculty credentials, and class size, among other things.
Health Information Technology Degree Admission Requirements
To get admission into a health information technology program, students will have to fulfill certain criteria. For most universities, this would require the completion of high school, school transcripts, SAT or other aptitude test scores, etc. As the degree level increases, the admission requirements would also increase.