HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
TECHNOLOGY
Associate Degree Program
What is Health Information
Technology?
Health information management technology involves the processing of all types of
health information, and focuses on legal, accreditation, licensure and
certification standards. HIMT involves reimbursement, facility planning,
marketing, risk management, utilization management, quality assessment
and research. Graduates may work in hospitals, in doctor’s offices, for
healthcare vendors, or for government and non-profit agencies. Learn
more about the career at www.ahima.org.
Length of Program
4 semesters, Cohort begins in the Fall, Primarily Day courses, with some evening and online
1.
General Admission Application Process
2.
Program Application Process
1.
2.
Prerequisite Courses
Additional Required Courses
Competitive Admissions
Apply to Gwinnett Technical College at www.gwinnetttech.edu, submit all
transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the COMPASS
test if required (You must be accepted into Gwinnett Tech prior to applying to
a program of study.)
Applicants are initially accepted into the Healthcare Science Certificate program
while completing the required prerequisite courses
All applicants are required to submit a Health Information Management
Technology program packet by the file completion deadline. The Health
Information Management Technology program packets are available online at
http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/enrollment/forms-documents/
For Fall semester admission, the program application and all prerequisites
must be completed by the deadline. Please see website for deadline.
All of the following:
•
Composition and Rhetoric-ENGL 1101,
•
College Algebra-MATH 1111,
•
Medical Terminology-ALHS 1090,
•
Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab-BIOL 2113 and BIOL 2113L*,
•
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab-BIOL 2114 and BIOL 2114L*
•
Human Pathological Conditions-MAST 1120
•
Intro to Psychology – PSYC 1101
One of the following:
•
Introduction to Humanities-HUMN 1101,
•
Art Appreciation-ARTS 1101, Music Appreciation-MUSC 1101 or
•
American Literature-ENGL 2130
First Year Experience Seminar-FYES 1000 preferred that it is taken prior to program start date but can be taken
during the first semester in the program. Transfer students with 30 or more transferrable credit hours will be
exempt from taking FYES 1000
.*Courses may not be more than 5 years old at time of program application
Admissions for the Health Information Technology program is based on a
minimum 2.5 GPA. GPA is calculated using all attempts of prerequisite
courses. Applicants who have completed their prerequisites are accepted
into the program on a first come, first served basis.
For more information, contact:
Tavia Thurmond, Program Support Specialist for Health Information Systems
[email protected] 678-226-6404 Building 200, Office Room 213
Everyone is welcome to attend our Information Session held on the 3rd Thursday of each
month* at 6:00 p.m. in Building 200, Room 246
*There will NOT be an Information Session in December*
Like Us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GTCHIT
Health Information Management
Technology
Quick Facts
2015 Median Pay
$37,110 per year /$17.84 per hour
Entry level education
Associate’s degree
Number of Jobs 2014
186,600
Job Growth 2014-2024
15% (29,000 more positions)
Nature of the Work
Medical records and health information technicians assemble patients’ health information, including
medical history, symptoms, examination results, diagnostic tests, treatment methods, and all other
healthcare provider services. Technicians organize and manage health information data by ensuring its
quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security. They regularly communicate with physicians and other
healthcare professionals to clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional information.
The increasing use of electronic health records (EHR) will continue to broaden and alter the job
responsibilities of health information technicians. For example, with the use of EHRs, technicians must be
familiar with EHR computer software, maintaining EHR security, and analyzing electronic data to improve
healthcare information. Health information technicians use EHR software to maintain data on patient
safety, patterns of disease, and disease treatment and outcome. Technicians also may assist with
improving EHR software usability and may contribute to the development and maintenance of health
information networks.
Medical records and health information technicians’ duties vary with the size of the facility where they
work. Technicians can specialize in many aspects of health information. Some medical records and health
information technicians specialize in codifying patients’ medical information for reimbursement purposes.
Technicians who specialize in coding are called medical coders or coding specialists. Medical coders assign
a code to each diagnosis and procedure by using classification systems software. The classification system
determines the amount for which Medicare, Medicaid, or other insurance programs will reimburse
healthcare providers. Coders may use several coding systems, such as those required for ambulatory
settings, physician offices, or long-term care.
Medical records and health information technicians also may specialize in cancer registry. Cancer (or
tumor) registrars maintain facility, regional, and national databases of cancer patients. Registrars review
patient records and pathology reports, and assign codes for the diagnosis and treatment of different
cancers and selected benign tumors. Registrars conduct annual follow-ups to track treatment, survival, and
recovery. This information is used to calculate survivor rates and success rates of various types of
treatment, to locate geographic areas with high incidences of certain cancers, and to identify potential
participants for clinical drug trials.
Work Environment
Medical records and health information technicians work in pleasant and comfortable offices. This is one
of the few health-related occupations in which there is no direct hands-on patient care. Medical records
and health information technicians usually work a typical 40-hour week. Some overtime may be required.
In health facilities that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, technicians may work day, evening, and
night shifts. Health information technicians held about 188,600 jobs in 2014. Most health information
technicians work in hospitals or physicians’ offices.
This is one of the few health-related occupations in which there is no direct hands-on patient care.
Medical records and health information technicians held about 188,600 jobs in 2014. The industries that
employed the most medical records and health information technicians were as follows:
Hospitals; state, local, and private
Offices of physicians
38%
21
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
7
Administrative and support services
6
Professional, scientific, and technical services
5
More than half worked in hospitals or physicians’ offices in 2014, and most others worked in various
healthcare settings. Technicians typically work in offices and may spend many hours in front of computer
monitors. Some technicians may work from home.
Employment
Medical records and health information technicians held about 186,300 jobs nationally in 2014. About 39
percent of jobs were in hospitals. Health information technicians work at a number of healthcare providers
such as offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, and home healthcare services.
Technicians also gain employment outside of healthcare facilities, such as in federal government agencies.
Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 21 percent,
faster than the average for all occupations through 2020. Employment growth will result from the increase
in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that doctors perform.
Earnings
The median annual wage for medical records and health information technicians was $37,110 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount
and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,190, and the highest 10 percent earned
more than $61,400.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for medical records and health information technicians in the top
industries in which they worked were as follows:
Professional, scientific, and technical services
$40,790
Hospitals; state, local, and private
$39,570
Administrative and support services
$36,630
Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities)
$35,270
Offices of physicians
$32,080
Job Outlook
Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much
faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the
population ages.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Percent change in employment, projected 2014-24
Health technologists and technicians
16%
Medical records and health information technicians
15%
Total, all occupations
7%
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment
Projections program
An aging population will require more medical services, and health information technicians will be needed
to organize and manage the older generations’ health information data. Moreover, the number of
individuals who have access to health insurance is expected to continue to increase because of federal
health insurance reform. This will mean more claims for reimbursement from insurance companies.
Additional records, coupled with widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) by all types of
healthcare providers, will lead to an increased need for technicians to organize and manage the associated
information in all areas of the healthcare industry.
Cancer registrars are expected to continue to be in high demand. As the population ages, there will likely
be more types of special purpose registries because many illnesses are detected and treated later in life.
How to Become a Health Information Management Technologist
Health information technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation,
although some may need an associate’s degree. Certification is often required.
Job Prospects
Prospects will be best for those with a certification in health information, such as the Registered Health
Information Technician (RHIT) or the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR). As EHR systems continue to become
more common, health information technicians with computer skills will be needed to use them.
Important Qualities
Analytical Skills. Health information technicians must be able to understand and follow medical records
and diagnoses, and then decide how best to code them in a patient’s medical records.
Detail oriented. Health information technicians must be accurate when recording and coding patient
information.
Integrity. Health information technicians work with patient data that are required, by law, to be kept
confidential. They must exercise caution and a strong sense of ethics when working with this information
in order to protect patient confidentiality.
Interpersonal Skills. Health information technicians need to be able to discuss patient information,
discrepancies, and data requirements with other professionals such as physicians and finance personnel.
Technical Skills. Health information technicians must be able to use coding and classification software and
the electronic health record (EHR) system that their healthcare organization or physician practice has
adopted.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition,
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians,
on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-informationtechnicians.htm .