What are the Pros and Cons of a Health Information Technician?
If you are considering a career as a health information technician (HIT), you will want to be aware of the pros and cons of the job. On the plus side, you will have opportunities to work in a variety of settings and help people manage their health information.
However, on the downside, you may find that the workload is inconsistent and that your pay isn’t always great. So before making up your mind, it’s important to consider all the pros and cons of this career.
Pro No. 1 – Vital role in healthcare industry
As a health information technician, you will play a vital role in the healthcare industry by organizing and managing patient medical records. This information is essential for providing quality patient care. You will be responsible for ensuring that all patient information is accurate and up-to-date, which will help to provide better care for patients.
Pro No. 2 – Opportunity to work in a variety of settings
As a health information technician, you will have opportunities to work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and long-term care facilities.
You can also take on all kinds of projects, from individual consultations to large-scale data management projects, so you never have to worry about being stagnant in your career path.
Furthermore, your skillset is transferable; once you have an understanding of one kind of software or system, chances are there are others where it’s applicable!
Pro No. 3 – Good salary and job security
The median annual salary for health information technicians was $51,840 in 2021. Professionals in the top ten percent typically earn over $100,000.
This field is projected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is due in part to the increasing reliance on electronic health records (EHRs) by the healthcare industry.
Pro No. 4 – Personal and professional rewards
Working as a health information technician offers many personal and professional rewards. Most often, health information technicians report high levels of job satisfaction. They enjoy being able to help others and make a difference in their lives. They also appreciate the variety of work that they do and the opportunities to learn new things
Pro No. 5 – Associate’s degree typically required
Health information technicians typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program to enter the field. This degree can be obtained from a variety of accredited schools. Some employers may prefer or require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree.
Pro No. 6 – Certification can give you a competitive edge
Certification is not required for health information technicians, but it can give job seekers a competitive edge in the job market and may lead to higher salaries. Certification is a voluntary process that demonstrates an individual’s mastery of skills and knowledge related to a specific field.
There are a variety of certification programs available for health information technicians, and most require candidates to pass an exam. Certifications can be obtained from professional organizations such as the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Pro No. 7 – Ample opportunities for career advancement
Health information technicians who are comfortable working with computers and willing to learn new technologies will find ample opportunities for career advancement. With experience, they may become supervisors or managers, or they may choose to specialize in a particular area of health information management, such as coding or data analytics.
Pro No. 8 – Excellent training opportunities
Most health information technicians go through an intensive apprenticeship program during their first year at work, which gives them valuable experience working with computers and other technology systems such as databases or spreadsheets.
This helps them develop skills that are useful for different types of careers in healthcare data processing including technical support positions like those found within hospitals or clinics.
Pro No. 9 – You get to work with technology that is constantly changing and improving
One of the great things about working as a health information technician is that the job is always changing and evolving. With new medical breakthroughs and discoveries happening all the time, there is always something new to learn.
And, with advances in technology, the way that medical information is stored and accessed is constantly improving. As a result, health information technicians get to work with cutting-edge technology on a daily basis, which helps to keep the job interesting.
For example, in recent years, there has been a shift from paper records to electronic health records. This has made it easier for technicians to access and update patient information, and has also helped to improve the accuracy of records.
With changes like this happening all the time, it’s no wonder that many technicians find their job to be both challenging and rewarding.
Pro No. 10 – You will able to use your knowledge for many different purposes
As a health information technician, you will able to use your knowledge of health information systems for many different purposes: from helping patients understand their medical records better and make informed decisions about their care, to helping clinicians in hospitals incorporate new technologies into their practices for better outcomes for patients.
Con No. 1 – Vast amount of paperwork and red tape
One of the biggest cons of being a health information technician is the vast amount of paperwork and red tape that you have to deal with on a daily basis. It can be extremely frustrating trying to keep up with all the different forms and records, and it can be easy to make mistakes.
Con No. 2 – Long work hours
Another con is that you often have to work long hours, including nights and weekends. This can be tough if you have a family or other commitments outside of work. The job can be quite demanding, both physically and emotionally. You may have to work long hours, weekends, and nights, and you may have to deal with difficult patients or situations.
Con No. 3 – Work can be stressful and tedious
The job can also be quite stressful, as you are responsible for ensuring that all medical records are accurate and up-to-date. This means dealing with a lot of sensitive information and sometimes having to make difficult decisions.
The job of a health information technician can be very tedious at times. This is because a lot of the work involves entering data into computers, and making sure that it is accurate and up-to-date. This can be monotonous and time-consuming, and it can be easy to make mistakes.
Con No. 4 – You may have to deal with sick and even hostile people
Another con of being a health information technician is that you have to deal with a lot of sick people. This can be emotionally draining, as you see firsthand the effects of serious illnesses and sometimes death.
Hostile patients or their families can be a very difficult and stressful part of the job. They may be angry or frustrated with the health care system, and they may take out their anger on you. This can be very difficult to deal with, especially if you are already feeling stressed out from your work.
Con No. 5 – You might have to work with bodily fluids
The job can also be quite messy, as you often have to work with blood and other bodily fluids. This can be difficult if you are not used to dealing with blood and guts. Another con of being a health information technician is that you are at risk for exposure to dangerous chemicals and pathogens.
If you are squeamish or have a weak stomach, then this may not be the right career for you.
Con No. 6 – Work can get repetitive
The work is often very repetitive, and it can be easy to make mistakes if you are not careful. This can be frustrating and demoralizing, especially if you have been working as a health information technician for a while.
Con No. 7 – Thankless work
One of the biggest cons of being a health information technician is that the job is often thankless. Patients and their families rarely appreciate all the hard work that goes into ensuring that their medical records are up-to-date and accurate.
Con No. 8 – Paperwork can be frustrating
Frustration can stem from the many procedures and paperwork that are mandatory in the medical field. Often times, health information technicians feel bogged down by the amount of documentation they are required to complete on a daily basis. This can be extremely frustrating, especially if you are working long hours and dealing with difficult patients.
Con No. 9 – Possibility of burnout
Finally, you need to be prepared for the possibility of job burnout. This is a real risk when you work in a high-stress environment like the medical field. If you don’t take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, you could find yourself struggling to keep up with the demands of this career.
Is Being a Health Information Technician Stressful?
Health information technicians play an important role in the healthcare industry, overseeing the maintenance of patient records. In many cases, they are responsible for ensuring that these records are accurate and up to date.
While this can be a challenging task, as mentioned above, most health information technicians report high levels of satisfaction with their job. This is likely due to the fact that they typically work regular hours and have ample opportunity to take breaks during the day.
With proper time management and stress-relief techniques, many health information technicians are able to successfully manage their workload and maintain a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives.
Additionally, many health information technicians find that their work provides a sense of purpose and pride. For these reasons, it is clear that being a health information technician does not have to be a stressful job.
What Do You Learn in Health Information Degree Programs?
- Health information degree programs prepare students for a career in health informatics, which is the science of using information technology to improve healthcare.
- Students in a health information degree program learn how to collect, manage, and analyze health data.
- They also learn how to use information technology to support clinical decision making, patient care, and public health.
- Health information degree programs typically include coursework in computer science, statistics, and health policy.
- Students in a health information degree program learn how to use data to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes.
- They also learn how to design and implement information systems that support the delivery of healthcare.
- Health information degree programs prepare students for careers in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare organizations.
- Students in a health information degree program learn how to use information technology to improve patient care and public health.