Health Information Technology

Offered at: Westminster

Electronic health records are here.

Government agencies and health-care providers are striving toward a goal of a nationwide electronic health records system by 2014.

Health Information Technology (HIT), a new FRCC program, has opened at the right time for you to seize this career opportunity. Download the HIT Program Application.

Is a health information technology degree right for you?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Standards says job openings for medical records and health information technicians are expected to increase by more than 20 percent in the next eight years. The bureau also says that job openings will be more numerous than job seekers. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment says there will be 144 job openings per year in Colorado over the next eight years.

• Are you looking for a wide range of opportunities?
• Do you want to be a vital part of a health-care team, but without direct patient contact?
• Are you interested in science and digital technology? What about law? Medicine? Finance?
• Do you want to work with physicians, nurses, or other health-care professionals?

Be an expert health information technician.

Health information technicians acquire, analyze, and protect digital and traditional medical information.

Job duties can include mastering computer information systems, coding for reimbursement, ensuring quality control of records, gathering and protecting research data about cancer and other diseases, and acting as caretaker of records in accordance with state and federal laws.

In FRCC’s Health Information Technology Program, you will learn the science of health information management plus the background you will need regarding legal, ethical, medical, and financial areas. See required courses and course descriptions for a health information technology degree.

Make critical contributions to health care.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “broad use of health information technology has the potential to improve health care quality, prevent medical errors, increase the efficiency of care provision and reduce unnecessary health care costs, increase administrative efficiencies, decrease paperwork, expand access to affordable care, and improve population health.”

Explore a broad range of opportunities with a health information technology degree.

What interests you? You could become a health data analyst, insurance claims analyst, records technician specialist, release of information specialist, coder, patient information coordinator, or supervisor. You could work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing-care facilities, outpatient care centers, home-health-care services, public health departments, or insurance firms.

Become RHIT certified.

Certification pays off. This program prepares you to take the Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT) certification examination. Certification opens more doors to opportunity.

Salary

2010 Labor Market Wage Rates from Colorado Department of Labor and Employment