What can you do with a degree in health information technology? It depends on your interests, but you should have plenty of options in business, finance, technology and administration.
With high average salaries and rising job demand, it’s also a degree that can pay off dividends for the future.
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Like its name implies, health information technology (HIT) is the intersection of healthcare and technology. It uses computers, networks, databases and other information systems for the benefit of doctors, patients, administrators and insurance providers. It’s also known as “health informatics” and “health information systems.”
You can earn a HIT degree at every level from associate to doctorate, but the most common is a bachelor’s degree. It typically requires 120 credits, and common subjects that are studied span everything from finance to management policy.
What jobs will be waiting for you after graduation? With a health information technology bachelor degree, you may pursue the following careers:
This is just a small list. There are many other possibilities in health technology, including entry-level jobs for associate degree holders and high-level careers for PhD holders.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for those with a bachelor’s degree in this field is around $77,920 per year.
Averages don’t represent the true range of salaries for a career in the health information technology field, however. You may easily make more than six figures per year if you have a senior-level job in a busy city with high demand for health information technologists.
On the flip side, you might make less than the average if you live in a rural community without big tech or medical companies willing to recruit you.
Keeping in mind that salaries are flexible, here are some career opportunities in the health information technology field:
Careers | Annual Median Salary |
IT Security Manager | $151,150 |
Computer Network Architect | $116,780 |
Health Information Manager in Hospitals | $112,870 |
Software Developer | $110,140 |
Database Administrator | $98,860 |
Software Quality Assurance (QA) Analyst | $96,040 |
Information Security Analyst in Healthcare | $89,900 |
Project Management Specialist | $77,420 |
Computer Support Specialist | $55,510 |
Medical Records and Health Information Technician | $44,090 |
Just remember that averages aren’t always representative of true salaries. If you’re interested in a particular career, look up its exact salary in your location at your degree level.
You don’t need a license for a career in health information technology. However, certain titles and certifications can help your job prospects, especially as a recent college grad. Here are a couple that might interest you:
Additionally, you should check out certifications for healthcare administrators and managers. Some of them are open to information technology specialists as well as general admins.
If you’re unfamiliar with professional organizations, they’re basically networks for people within a specific industry. In exchange for an annual membership fee, you can get to access things like conferences, seminars, job boards, academic journals, scholarships programs and more.
Here are a few organizations that might interest you as a health information technology student:
These are all national organizations. For groups a little closer to home, check out clubs and student associations at your university, or look into local organizations that serve your community’s healthcare needs.
There’s more to enrolling in a health informatics bachelor degree program than just registering for the right classes. Not only will you need to think about tuition, credits, admissions and accreditation, but you’ll also need to choose which type of degree to pursue in the first place.
Online Programs – These degrees can be obtained online. Some have “synchronous” classes that are held in real time through video conferencing software; others have “asynchronous” classes where self-paced students control their own schedules.
Hybrid Programs – Also called “blended” programs, hybrid programs take place partially online and partially on campus. For example, they might have online lessons but in-person exams, or they might supplement in-person lectures with online learning materials.
On-Campus Classroom – Traditional college classes take place on campus. They might still have an online element when it comes to reading or submitting assignments, but the instruction is face-to-face.
Every school is different, so before you enroll in their health information technology program, check to see which learning options are available to you.
A degree in health information technology can take you in many different directions. While it’s true that most jobs are computer-based, you should have your pick of specializations within technical and technological fields.
For example, if you’re good with numbers, you may work with budgets, claims, invoices and other financial records. If you have a knack for computer science, you may build software or troubleshoot hardware.
You may also take a straightforward path into becoming a health information technician or health information informaticist. These jobs are a natural extension of a HIT degree, but as you can see, they’re far from the only option that you’ll have.
Health information management is multidisciplinary field within HIT. Looking at data systems through a leadership lens, it combines business, finance, technology, policy and healthcare administration into a single degree program.
It also stresses the importance of understanding the companies and corporations that make up the infrastructure of the healthcare industry.
Depending on what you study, you may take a health information management degree and become everything from a project manager to a human resources director. The assumption is that you’ll want to climb the corporate ladder and assume a supervisory role somewhere.
Health information technology can be a very worthwhile career choice for many. It’s in high demand, and experts don’t see that changing anytime soon.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in medical records and health information systems are expected to grow by a rate of 8% within the next decade. That’s much higher than the national average for all occupations and translates into thousands of new jobs.
Health informatics jobs often result in impressive paydays. While the average salary for bachelor’s degree holder is $77,920 per year, that number can reach more than $100,000 per year for select HIT occupations. The minimum requirement is nothing more than a bachelor’s degree.
Also known as “health information technicians” and “health informatics specialists,” health information technologists work with computers within the healthcare industry.
They might code systems and software; they might be in charge of medical records and patient accounts; they might work in information technology (IT) to troubleshoot problems. Their job duties can be just as flexible as their work titles.
The length of your schooling will depend on the type of degree that you’re seeking:
If you want to get out of school faster, talk to an academic advisor. They might be able to accelerate your degree program with special shortcuts. For example, a dual degree program may allow you to complete your bachelor’s and master’s studies in five years instead of six.
A health information technologist needs to have a strong eye for detail. Since you’ll probably be working with lots of data, including numbered codes and other forms of medical and technological input, you don’t want small details to pass you by.
You’ll also need good administrative skills, including organizational skills. You’ll need patience, diligence, intelligence and a certain amount of tech savviness. If you’re aiming for a leadership position, you’ll need to be comfortable making decisions and delegating tasks.
Additionally, you should be okay with working behind the scenes of the healthcare industry. Information technologists rarely get the glory of doctors and other bigwigs.
It isn’t always easy to get a degree in health information technology, but the good news is that your paycheck may make up for it.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average is $77,920 per year for a bachelor’s degree holder. And in health informatics, that figure can climb to more than $100,000 per year with the highest-paying careers.
As the world continues to explore the possibilities of digital systems and networks, fields like health information technology will keep growing. It may be a great time to get a degree and find a niche within the industry. Consider enrolling in a university program to get started with a health information technology degree.
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