Health Information Technology Prospective Students

Job Outlook

Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average. Job prospects should be very good; technicians with a strong understanding of technology and computer software will be in particularly high demand.

Employment change: Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 20%, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. Employment growth will result from the increase in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be performed. As the population continues to age, the occurrence of health-related problems will increase. Cancer registrars should experience job growth as the incidence of cancer increase from an aging population.

In addition, with the increasing use of electronic health records, more technicians will be needed to complete the new responsibilities associated with electronic data management.

Job prospects: Job prospects should be very good. In addition to job growth, numerous openings will result from the need to replace medical record and health information technicians who retire or leave the occupation permanently. Technicians that demonstrate a strong understanding of technology and computer software will be in particularly high demand.

Is This the Right Career for You?

Are you interested in a health career without significant patient care responsibilities?

As a health information professional you will work without direct patient contact most of the time. Health information management professionals enjoy a broad selection of job opportunities and options for professional growth.

Would you like a job with flexible hours and the possibility of part-time employment?

Health information professionals work in a multitude of settings throughout the healthcare industry, from hospitals to insurance agencies. Work hours are flexible as well as options for full-time or part-time employment.

Are you interested in a health career that involves computers?

Health information professionals serve the healthcare industry and the public by managing, analyzing, and utilizing data vital for patient care-and making it accessible to healthcare providers when it is needed. Computer technology is advancing the capabilities of health information processes daily.

Are you interested in a curriculum with limited mathematics and no chemistry or physics requirements?

The math required for the HIT program involves basic statistics and math skills. The science requirement is BIO 101-Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology, as well as HIT 240 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. No chemistry or physics is required for a degree in Health Information Technology.

Would you like to be involved in the statistics of healthcare?

Test results, diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatments-these are exactly the types of information required to effectively treat patients. Whether stored on paper or computer files, reliable health information is critical to quality patient care.

Are you interested in a health career without heavy lifting?

Health information management professionals hold many diverse roles, yet all share a common purpose: providing reliable and valid information that drives the healthcare industry. They are specialists in administering information systems, managing medical records, and coding for reimbursement and research. There is little if any heavy lifting.

Where Do Graduates Go From Here?

Graduates from the HIT Associate Degree Program have the option of continuing their education by transferring into a Baccalaureate Degree Program in Health Information Management.

Many SUNY Broome HIT Graduates transfer onto SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica.

Health Information Administrators graduate from a baccalaureate program or postgraduate program in medical record administration or health information management. Graduates of both programs become credentialed by AHIMA after passing a national certification examination. Employment opportunities are available at all levels from technical to administrative positions in an ever expanding variety of settings; including hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory care facilities, physicians’ offices, government agencies involved in health care, insurance companies, attorneys’ offices, industry, Department of Health, correctional facilities, medical research companies, veterinary facilities, pharmaceutical companies, education, and independent consulting.