The days for paper charts and documents in doctors' clinic are numbered. As the government pushes for health care reform, which includes giving away incentives and subsidies for those who shift to the digital format, hospitals and clinics are grabbing the opportunity to modernize their medical records system, fueling demand for information technology professionals who can help them in the transition.
According to a new study released recently by the University of California in San Diego, the increasing adoption of electronic health records has created a wide array of health care IT jobs, including integration engineer, systems analyst, clinical IT consultant and technology support specialist.
"Jobs and needs in the health care information technology field are a critical component of plans for positive change in the health care industry," said Mary Walshok, associate vice chancellor of public programs and dean at UC San Diego.
Walshok said IT professionals who specialize in the health care industry typically take coursework on medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, health data requirements and standards. Most of them are also knowledgeable in clinical classification and coding systems, data analysis, health care reimbursement methods, database security and management and quality improvement methods.
In the same report, Mark Cafferty, San Diego Workforce Partnership president and CEO, noted that health care IT professionals will not only provide solutions to current needs, but will also serve as "catalyst for new and emerging types of jobs in the coming years as the impact of health care IT takes hold."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in its 2010-2011 outlook that medical records and health information technicians held about 40% of hospital jobs, adding that this sector will grow by 20% through 2018. They mostly work in physician offices, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers and home health care services.
