Jobs in medical records and health information technology are expected to grow by 20 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To meet that demand, Atlanta Technical College is expanding its health information technology program.
Established in 2007 and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Health Information Management Education, the program has grown to about 350 students. It already has established a quality reputation.
“Many of our students are hired straight out of their externships,” said Joyce S. Waters, program director. “Employers like their enthusiasm, their ability to get work done and their attention to detail.
“Now, thanks to a $1-million grant, we’ll be able to increase our program staffing and resources, so that we can train even more qualified people for the work force.”
The grant comes through Atlanta Tech’s participation in a 13-state consortium of community colleges that have health information technology programs. Funded through the American Recovery and Investment Act, the money aims to significantly upgrade the nation’s health care system by increasing the number of qualified health care practitioners, modernizing medical systems and enhancing data-retrieval processes.
Of the 20 community colleges selected to participate in the grant program, Atlanta Tech is the only Georgia-based institution.
Atlanta Tech offers both an associate degree and a diploma in health information technology.
Students take courses in anatomy and physiology; health care supervision and management; health information technology; data management and statistics; the legal aspects of keeping medical records; the coding of clinical data; pharmacology; and human diseases. These courses give them the technical knowledge and professional skills required to process, maintain, compile and report health information data for reimbursement, utilization management, research and other purposes.
At the end of their course work, degree students are prepared to take the American Health Information Management Association’s national examination for certification as a registered health information technician (RHIT).
“Everything is moving toward electronic medical records management, but many workplaces are still operating with paper systems. We teach both, so that our students are prepared to function regardless of the situation,” Waters said.
Health information technology is a field that fits both high school graduates and older workers who want to retrain for a career that will provide steady employment.
The job requires computer skills, good organizational abilities and a close attention to detail.
“Someone who likes science and is interested in the body and willing to read and learn about new treatments will do very well,” Waters said. “Students not only learn health records methodologies, coding and the latest equipment, but they are trained in office management and can do reports and give presentations. One of our externs was immediately put on a project at Grady [Memorial] Hospital, and that’s a compliment to our program.”
To gain real-world experience, students participate in two 120-hour externships at metro-area hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices. Some may go to nontraditional sites such as hospice organizations or government agencies.
“One of the things students love about this program is that there are so many things they can do with the degree. There are a great variety of job opportunities and workplaces,” Waters said.
Health information specialists work for hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, insurance companies, health organizations and government agencies. Without experience, new graduates can expect to make about $16 an hour. With experience, they can advance into supervisory positions and increase their salaries.
Some graduates go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in health informatics or get specialized training to become a cancer tumor registrar.
The program will be moving into a new $14.2 million allied health technology facility on Atlanta Tech’s campus later this year.
“We’re ready to take more students,” Waters said.
For information, call 404-225-4511 or go to www.atlantatech.edu.
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