10 Careers You Can Pursue in Health Information Technology

Health information technology includes any electronic systems a healthcare facility might use. Because healthcare professionals typically use an array of different technology and devices, they often hire information technology specialists to help maintain and improve their processes. If you have a background in information technology and are interested in the healthcare industry, a job in health information technology might be ideal for you. In this article, we explore 10 jobs that you can pursue to start a career in health information technology.

What is a career in health information technology?

Health information technology is the use of electronic devices and computer systems in a health care setting. Many careers in health information technology involve assessing how a medical facility uses information technology and finding ways to improve their procedures that involve technology. There are many aspects of a healthcare facility that a professional in health information technology can help with. Here are a few areas of healthcare that healthcare information technology can contribute to:

• Personal health records (PHRs)

• Electronic health records (EHRs)

• Electronic prescribing (E-prescribing)

• Privacy and security

10 health information technology careers

Here are 10 careers you can pursue in health information technology:

1. Health information technician

National average salary: $45,363 per year

Primary duties: A health information technician is an IT professional who helps to organize a facility's information technology and data. This can involve ensuring that data is stored correctly and securely, organizing patient records so physicians and medical professionals can access them and updating a medical facility's databases, registries and insurance records. Health information technicians can also keep track of patient progress by monitoring their records to evaluate the quality of care they receive that includes technology use, like medical tests or surgical procedures.

2. Medical coder

National average salary: $47,536 per year

Primary duties: A medical coder is a coding specialist who helps to process insurance claims for healthcare coverage. Medical coders can designate codes to represent specific diagnoses and procedures in an IT system, review data for insurance claims to make sure it contains the correct information and communicate with insurance companies to address any challenges and determine how much coverage a patient can receive. Most medical coders also work closely with their facility's billing department to verify that patients pay any medical bills on time and in full.

Related: Learn About Being a Medical Coder

3. Health services administrator

National average salary: $69,828 per year

Primary duties: A health services administrator is responsible for overseeing the operations of an entire healthcare facility or a department within one. Health services administrators can use information technology to organize scheduling and appointments, review insurance policies for clients receiving care and ensure that a healthcare facility maintains any standards or regulations relating to medical care. A health service administrator can also contribute to improving the health service a facility offers by recommending changes in processes, policies and technology use.

Related: Learn About Being a Health Administrator

4. Clinical informaticist

National average salary: $73,305 per year

Primary duties: A clinical informaticist is a professional who analyzes data and technology use in clinical settings. Clinical informaticists often help to collect and organize clinical data like health records and patient information, make recommendations for how healthcare facilities can improve their data management and implement a protocol for using health information systems in healthcare. Because much of their job relies on a knowledge of the healthcare industry and common industry practices, many clinical informaticists work in clinical settings before they start their careers as informaticists to ensure they're prepared to give accurate and relevant advice.

5. Systems analyst

National average salary: $76,276 per year

Primary duties: A systems analyst is an IT professional who oversees and maintains a company's computer systems. Systems analysts can evaluate an organization's computer systems to determine how they might be improved, conduct research on new technologies their clients might want to use and collaborating with coworkers in the IT department to develop plans for improving and maintaining computer systems. A systems analyst can also create instructional materials that explain the systems they help to maintain for users and future employees.

Related: Learn About Being a Systems Analyst

6. IT analyst

National average salary: $76,281 per year

Primary duties: An IT analyst is primarily responsible for evaluating how their clients use information technology and making recommendations that can improve their operations. IT analysts can monitor how an organization uses information technology to determine where they might make improvements, help install new hardware and conduct recovery procedures for servers and data when necessary. An IT analyst who works in healthcare might also consider how information technology can apply to a clinical setting and create processes for storing patient records and organizing schedules.

7. Programmer analyst

National average salary: $80,438 per year

Primary duties: A programmer analyst develops and tests new software applications for an organization. This can involve writing code using computer programming languages, testing new software programs to ensure they function properly and researching new trends in technology that might improve an organization's operations. In healthcare, a programmer analyst might help to develop systems for storing and managing patient records or scheduling appointments across departments and specialists in a medical facility.

8. Analytics consultant

National average salary: $82,820 per year

Primary duties: An analytics consultant is a professional who creates new processes for data analytics. This can involve gathering large quantities of information through methods like data mining, evaluating the performance of businesses in the market and carrying out auditing plans that can allow them to review data in high volumes. Analytics consultants can also take part in programming data systems and recommending ways for businesses to improve their operations.

9. Chief information officer

National average salary: $128,708 per year

Primary duties: A chief information officer is a top-level executive who oversees the information technology needs for a business or organization. Chief information officers can monitor a company's information technology use to determine where they can make improvements in cybersecurity, lead teams in developing new processes for information technology and create standards for a company's IT department. A chief information officer who works in healthcare might also find methods for using information technology in new ways to support patients and medical professionals.

Related: Learn About Being a CIO (Chief Information Officer)

10. Chief technology officer

National average salary: $146,131 per year

Primary duties: A chief technology officer is a top-level executive who supervises and evaluates how an organization uses technology and different technological devices. Chief technology officers can pay attention to an organization's software and hardware to ensure it can contribute to their business, make decisions about implementing new procedures and using new technology products and establish standards for an organization's technology use. They can also act as the head of an IT department, which can involve hiring and training new staff members.