What Can A Degree In Health Information Technology Do For Your Career?

According to estimates from the Institute of Medicine, medical errors cost the U.S. nearly $300 billion each year, and between 44,000 and 98,000 American lives.

Administrative errors often lead to treatments that are unnecessary, ineffective, wrong, or altogether absent. They're often caused by miscommunication or poor record-keeping, and they're usually preventable. Although our healthcare system is revered the world over for its advances, it clearly faces a number of healthcare administration hurdles.

That's why the federal government has mandated that the healthcare industry work toward an electronic information system, which would put nearly every American's medical records in electronic form by 2014. As a result, many schools around the country are ramping up their online programs in health information technology (HIT).

Inside Online Health Information Technology Degrees

Online programs in Health Information Technology, which generally can be completed in four semesters, encompass subjects ranging from anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology to computer training, medical laws and ethics, and insurance reimbursements. Once finished with your online education, you can enter one of the fastest growing careers in the healthcare industry.

Putting Your Online Education to Use

Health information technicians consult with patients and doctors to assemble, verify, and electronically input patient health info. The training they've earned helps them to control costs, provide documentation for legal issues, substantiate research, and improve patient care, as well as create a more efficient information system.

Additionally, since most healthcare providers prefer to hire technicians who have completed associate degrees in this field, education earned via one of many online schools can help you secure a position in this field, which is expected to grow by roughly 18 percent through 2016.

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Medical Records and Health Information Technicians"

• The White House, "Promoting Innovation and Competitiveness: President Bush's Technology Agenda"

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