The medical record is the most important document utilized in a health
care environment. It is the comprehensive treatment and billing history of
each patient treated by the health care facility. The health information
technician is responsible for organizing comprehensively and accurately
the medical record of each patient. They ensure that all the necessary
forms are present, properly identified, signed and filed. Health
information technicians are able to translate complex data into
understandable, interesting and simplified information for the general
public. They take the medical records produced by the health care provider
and translate them into a code that identifies each diagnoses and
procedure utilized in treating the patient. They use special computer
programs to determine insurance reimbursements, and tabulate and analyze
data. They also produce reports utilized to improve patient care, control
cost and to be used with survey and research studies.
Health information technicians work under the supervision of the health
information administrator.
Work Environment:
Health information technicians work in hospitals, physician offices,
extended health care facilities, health maintenance organizations,
community health centers, and other health care organizations.
High School Preparation:
Individuals interested in a career as a health information technician
should take high school subjects in algebra, biology, computer skills,
typing, literature, English, office procedures, social studies, sociology,
chemistry, anatomy, government, history, psychology, and data processing.
College Requirements:
Students entering a health information technician program should have a
high school diploma or equivalent. Health information technician programs
are often 2 years in length and offer an Associate Degree. Students
interested in health information technology should contact schools for
information on admission and course of study.
For educational institutions in
Mississippi
offering this course of study
click here.
Career Outlook:
Employment opportunities for health information technicians are expected
to explode over the next 10 years. The demand for this position is
expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations in the
United States. It is expected that this demand will increase by an average
of 36% in that time frame. This increased demand is due to the rapid
growth in the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures that will
be increasingly scrutinized by third party payers, regulators, courts and
consumers. Also, the increased aging of the population in general will
increase the utilization of the health care system. Therefore health
information technicians will be required to record and code the diagnosis
and treatments for the increase patient growth. |
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Salary:
Average Annual Salary
$29,100
Salary Range
$22,800 to $34,500
Professional Organizations:
American Health Information Management Association
233 N. Michigan Avenue,
Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601-5800
Phone: (312) 233-1100
Fax: (312) 233-1500
E-mail: info@ahima.org
Web: www.ahima.org
Mississippi Health Information Management Association
P.O. Box 13706
Jackson, MS 39236
Phone: (601) 956-6105
Fax: (601) 956-4105
E-mail: ascruggs@jam.rr.com
Web: www.mshima.org
Download our Health Information
Technologist brochure
here.
(Acrobat reader required)
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before printing these brochures.
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