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The health information technician (HIT), also known
as medical record technician, maintains the medical information
system of a healthcare facility consistent with medical, administrative,
legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements.
Supervised by the health information administrator,
the HIT collects, integrates, and analyzes primary and secondary
health care data, compiles and disseminates information, and manages
information resources related to the research, planning, provision,
and evaluation of health care services. The HIT handles the patients'
records for purposes of: coding clinical data using appropriate classification
systems reviewing, organizing, and evaluating medical records for completeness,
accuracy, and compliance preparing information for release to patients, insurance
Health
Information Technician
companies, lawyers, and other agencies according to
state and national regulations utilization management, marketing,
quality assessment, risk management and working with the medical
staff on research projects.
Work Environment
The demand is greatest in hospitals, but opportunities are expanding
to other agencies such as long term care facilities, state and federal
agencies, ambulatory clinics, physicians' offices, and cancer registries.
Health information technicians should be very accurate in their
work and be able to pay great attention to detail.
Job Outlook
The number of Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
employed in Florida in 2006 was 9,539. It is projected that in 2014
there will be 11,813, an annual average growth rate of 3.0 percent.
Length of Training/Requirements
Training programs are generally two-year associate degree programs
in community colleges. The curriculum may include human anatomy
and physiology, medical classification systems, using personal computers,
supervision of personnel, concepts of disease, legal aspects of
medical records, and clinical experience in a health care setting.
Advancement
In large institutions, HITs usually work under the supervision of
a health information administrator (HIA). Experienced HITs may advance
to section supervisors. In a small facility, an experienced technician
may be promoted to director of the health information department.
Licensure/Certification
HITs are not licensed. Registration is voluntary, but recommended.
Graduates of an associate degree program accredited by the American
Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) are eligible for
the national accreditation examination, sponsored by AHIMA, to become
Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs).
Updated: 2009 |
