What Jobs Are in the Field of Health Information Technology?

<p>Health information technology jobs require knowledge of medical terminologies, as well as data management and information technology. You also might need to complete some clerical duties and basic office work. If you're looking to start a career in this field, you might want to become a medical records and health information technician, a medical coder, a cancer registrar or a medical transcriptionist. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutHealthInformationTechnologyJobs">Important Facts About Health Information Technology Jobs</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th> Medical Records and Health Information Technician </th><th> Medical Coder </th><th> Cancer Registrar </th><th> Medical Transcriptionist</th></tr> <tr><td> Median Salary (2019)* </td><td> $35,854 </td><td> $40,747 </td><td> $44,861 </td><td> $32,744</td></tr> <tr><td> Required Education </td><td> Postsecondary certificate or associate's degree </td><td> Associate's degree </td><td> Associate's degree </td><td> Postsecondary certificate or associate's degree</td></tr> <tr><td> Key Skills </td><td> Analytical and critical thinking, attention to detail, computer competency </td><td> Strong science background, computer skills, technical skills</td><td> Communication skills, strong science background, computer skills </td><td> Computer competency, critical thinking, attention to detail</td></tr> <tr><td> Work Environment </td><td> Hospitals; physicians' offices; nursing care facilities</td><td> In- and out-patient care centers; insurance companies; software makers </td><td> Hospitals; state registries; pharmaceutical companies</td><td> Hospitals; physicians' offices; administrative and support services</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *PayScale.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalRecordsAndHealthInformationTechnician">Medical Records and Health Information Technician</h3> <p>Medical records and health information technicians organize and store patients' healthcare documents. As a technician in this field, you'll be responsible for managing a number of different medical records, such as doctors' visits, test results and treatment plans. You generally need to earn your associate's degree to apply for jobs and should have extensive knowledge of computer programs, software and data systems. These professionals made a median salary of $35,854 in 2019, according to <i>Payscale.com</i>. </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalCoder">Medical Coder</h3> <p>Medical coding is a specialty within the medical records and health information technology field. Medical coders must analyze patients' health records and assign codes to this data so that payments can be easily calculated and assigned. If you work as a medical coder, you'll help with the coding systems used to bill patients, insurance companies and government health programs. In 2019, <i>Payscale.com</i> reported that medical coders made a median annual salary of $40,747. </p> <h3 id="section---CancerRegistrar">Cancer Registrar</h3> <p>Cancer registrars are special health information technology professionals who analyze cancer patients' medical records and assign codes based on a patient's illness and treatment plan. As a cancer registrar, you might check in with patients over a long period of time to monitor their progress. Their medical information can be used to determine the success of particular cancer treatment methods among specific types of individuals. <i>Payscale.com</i> indicated that cancer registrars earned a median yearly pay of $44,861 in 2019. </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalTranscriptionist">Medical Transcriptionist</h3> <p>Medical transcriptionists turn audio recordings from physicians and health officials into written reports. For this job, you'll listen to recordings describing a patient's symptoms and treatment, then type out the information for storage in the patient's medical records. Medical transcriptionists may transcribe autopsy reports, patient progress reports and notes from meetings between physicians. According to <i>Payscale.com</i>, in 2019 these transcriptionists made a median annual salary of $32,744.</p>