Do you consider yourself a highly detailed person? If so, you have an opportunity to excel in one of the fastest-growing occupations with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology from Northwestern Business College (NBC). This program combines classroom lecture with computer lab and hands-on practical experience to give you the competencies you need to succeed.
Individuals interested in pursuing this program should have an interest in the health care field, although actual patient contact is very rare. Such persons should enjoy organizing, preparing, and retrieving detailed work.
Health information technicians compile, code, and maintain patient medical records, and can also tabulate and analyze data to help prepare statistical information extracted from groups of records.
Median earnings for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians is currently $23,890. Anticipated growth in these fields is excellent, with anticipated growth of 46.8% by 2012, making it one of the fastest growing careers now available. Health Information Technicians frequently have the opportunity to advance themselves in one of two ways: specializing or managing. Many senior technicians specialize in medical coding or tumor registry, which is a database used for cancer research.*
The Office of Career Development and Alumni Relations at NBC is currently placing health information technology graduates with no experience at average annual salaries ranging from $25,625 to $30,200 and graduates with experience at annual salaries of $31,250 plus.
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-2005 edition.
Health information technicians are in demand in a variety of organizations, such as hospitals, nursing homes, medical group practices, clinics, home health agencies, ambulatory care practices, insurance companies, and public health organizations.
Northwestern Business College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Room 2400, Chicago, Illinois 60602, (312) 263-0456, www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org. The Northwestern Business College Health Information Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
