Job Duties
Working as a healthcare IT professional offers the opportunity to start a rewarding career that makes a difference. On the job, you’ll play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of healthcare systems and facilities. Those working in this role are often responsible for the secure management of health information across computerized systems, and healthcare information technicians work behind the scenes in healthcare facilities to improve patient care through tech. Here’s a breakdown of their responsibilities:
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Obtaining, processing, and recording healthcare data.
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Ensuring information quality and security.
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Installing and administering basic computer systems and networks.
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Determining hardware and interface problems and providing support.
Work Environment
Healthcare IT Professionals work in a variety of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare agencies, nursing homes, public health offices, and insurance companies. Depending on where they work, they may have variable schedules and work weekends and/or nights. In general, most healthcare IT professionals will work within an office setting within a healthcare facility, though they may be responsible to visit different departments to troubleshoot and repair a variety of technical issues that arise.
Pay Scale
Pay rates vary depending on geographic location and experience, and HIT professionals may qualify for traditional employment benefits. Additionally, certification and other credentials can increase your potential salary. The average salary for healthcare IT professionals is $48,534.*
Industry Demand
Healthcare and technology are two of the fastest growing industries in the United States, and technology is becoming increasingly important in providing quality patient care. The following estimates from the Department of Labor provide insights into the growing industry:
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Overall employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 to 2032. About 377,500 openings are projected each year, on average, in these occupations due to employment growth and the need to replace workers who leave the occupations permanently.**
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Government-mandated implementation of electronic health records is putting healthcare information technicians in high demand.
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*PayScale. “Average Support Technician, Information Technology (IT) Base Salary” Payscale.com. Accessed March 27, 2024.
Statements found on PayScale are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to estimate salaries includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. “Computer and Information Technology Occupations.” Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed March 27, 2024.
Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.