Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/648015
February 29 - March 21, 2016 10 Working World l WorkingWorld.com FEATURE ARTICLE T echnicians organize and maintain data for clinical databases and registries. Health information technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation, although some may need an associate's degree. Certification is often required. EDUCATION Postsecondary certificate and associate's degree programs in health information technology typically include courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, health data requirements and standards, classification and coding systems, healthcare reimbursement methods, healthcare statistics, and computer systems. Applicants to health information technology programs may increase their chances of admission by taking high school courses in health, computer science, math, and biology. A high school diploma or equivalent and previous experience in a healthcare setting are enough to qualify for some positions, but most jobs for health information technicians require postsecondary education. IMPORTANT QUALITIES • Analytical skills. Health information technicians must be able to understand and follow medical records and diagnoses, and then decide how best to code them in a patient's medical records. • Detail oriented. Health information technicians must be accurate when recording and coding patient information. • Integrity. Health information technicians work with patient data that are required, by law, to be kept confidential. They must exercise caution and a strong sense of ethics when working with this information in order to protect patient confidentiality. • Interpersonal skills. Health information technicians need to be able to discuss patient information, discrepancies, and data requirements with other professionals such as physicians and finance personnel. • Technical skills. Health information technicians must be able to use coding and classification software and the electronic health record (EHR) system that their healthcare organization or physician practice has adopted. How do you Become a Medical Records or Health Information Technician? Applicants to health information technology programs may increase their chances of admission by taking high school courses in health, computer science, math, and biology.