A critical element of quality patient care is accurately maintaining health care records. Health Information Technicians help support patients and providers by performing important data and maintenance functions, including verifying treatment protocols, researching insurance eligibility, and updating patient medical records. “Health information technicians use a variety of resources and technologies to ensure quality, security and access to healthcare data to improve patient care,” noted Suzanne Peters, National Dean of Programmatic Education for Fortis.
“Our Health Information Technology (HIT) program at Fortis Institute in Ravenna - and across all of our campuses - provides students a solid foundation of knowledge and skills so they can perform the duties of health information technicians upon completion of the program.” The Health Information Technology program at Fortis enables students to become self-directed learners who possess critical-thinking, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal communication skills. Graduates are trained to fill entry-level positions in such healthcare facilities as hospitals, urgent care centers, medical offices, insurance companies, home health agencies, and more.
Graduates will be entering a health services field where demand likely will increase as the population ages and needs more tests, treatments and procedures. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration has labeled Health Information as a Bright Outlook Occupation. The Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts employment growth for medical records and health information technicians will be much faster than the average for all occupations nationwide through 2020.
As electronic health record (EHR) systems become more common, technicians with computer skills will be needed to prepare them. Prospects will be best for individuals who have a certification in health information. Visit www.fortis.edu to learn more about the Health Information Technology program at Fortis Institute in Ravenna, or the Fortis campus nearest to you.
