If you have an interest in health care and computers, Gwinnett Technical College’s brand-new degree program in health information technology, combines them both to give graduates a leg up in the job market.
Health care accounts for more than half of the fastest-growing occupations in Georgia. Jobs in health information technology are growing faster than average, with employment demand projected to increase by 20 percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics and health care agencies have been moving steadily toward electronic medical records as a more efficient way of storing and sharing information. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act mandated that all health providers switch to electronic health records by 2014, which means even more people with health information technology skills will be needed.
“A lot of people say that they want to work in a field that helps people, but they can’t handle the blood and guts of being an emergency medical technician or nurse,” said Jim Sass, radiologic technology program director at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville.
Health information specialists don’t work directly with patients, but they do help them by assembling and managing health information records, and making sure they are accurate, secure and accessible to health care providers. The job requires computer and business skills, as well as attention to detail.
“The health information technology curriculum will include both allied health courses and computer courses,” said Anthony Rojo, director for computer sciences at Gwinnett Tech. “This occupation crosses between the two worlds.”
Students in the two-year program, which starts this Fall Semester, will take courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, health information technology, health data management and coding and classification, as well as computer and information technology courses. A partnership with Gwinnett Health System will allow students to hone their skills while using a real-world hospital records system.
“Employers tell us that having networking training and Cisco networking administration certification are especially in demand. And health care facilities will need people who can manage the hardware side of their systems as well as the software,” Rojo said.
Some of his computer students are interested in moving into health information technology. Some health care clinicians are planning to enroll in the program to become more marketable, or to change career directions, Sass said.
“We plan to offer some HIT [health information technology] certificates of credit that will allow students with either health care or computer training to take only the courses they need to move into the field quicker,” Rojo said.
Graduates find jobs in hospital health information departments, home health companies, doctors’ offices, government agencies or with health information systems manufacturers. The average entry-level salary is $30,610 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) but people with additional computer skills or certifications make more.
Career prospects are stable, Rojo said. “The technology will change over time, so technicians will have to keep their skills current, but the role of technology in health care isn’t going to go away.”
For information, call an admissions specialist at 678-226-6404, or go to www.gwinnetttech.edu.
— AJC Jobs on Twitter:
