Careers in Healthcare You Might Not Have Thought About

When you think of working in healthcare, what are the first images that cross your mind? A doctor or nurse in the ER? Maybe a researcher creating a vaccine? As noble and rewarding as these careers are, they are not the only paths in healthcare and many fields offer both stability through competitive salaries and consistent growth as well the opportunity to make a difference. If you are interested in healthcare but prefer the business and technology side over direct patient care, then Health Information Technology may be the avenue for you!

Using Technology to Make a Difference in Healthcare

Healthcare providers are so busy working with patients every day that they need to be able to rely on having information accessible and complete when reviewing records. And that’s where health information specialists such as medical coders, health information technicians, or health data analysts come in.

“I often describe the field of health information as the bridge connecting the clinical side of healthcare to the administrative side,” says Diana Skarbek, the Director of Fisher’s Health Information Management Program.

Students in the Health Information Technology program take a variety of courses such as “Anatomy and Physiology”, “Law and Ethics of Healthcare,” "Computer Information Systems" and courses in Data Management which gives graduates a diverse educational foundation to work with all levels and employees of a healthcare organization.

What Kind of Career Can I Have in This Field?

If you are detailed oriented, love working in healthcare, are interested in technology, informatics or want to learn how to use health information to improve the overall healthcare efficiency, then a career in health information might be a great fit for you. As a medical coder or Health Information Technician, you will manage current and past patient data to give healthcare providers the tools to make informed decisions. 

If you are interested in the technology behind health information management and want to be part of creating the system that organizes and protects patient data, you might want to consider pursuing a career in Health Information Management. Fisher offers degrees for both fields. (See more below.) 

Education Requirements, Growth, Salary Info

You can build a fulfilling career in health information technology at any level of education you want to pursue. If you’re interested in going into medical coding or working as a health information technician, you might want to explore our certificate in medical coding or Associate Degree in Health Information Technology. Are you more interested in the leadership opportunities that Health Information Management offers? You may need a Bachelor Degree in Health Information Management. However, Fisher offers all of these programs online, so you can complete them on your own time without having to sacrifice career or salary opportunities.

No matter which path you pick, however, you will be entering a stable and growing field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Health Information career path has an overall projected growth of 8%, which is faster than average.*The salaries are nothing to sneeze at either: while medical coders and health information technicians earn in the mid five figures after a certificate or Associate Degree after a few years of work experience and in the high five figures after a Bachelor Degree. For reference, most fields require a Bachelor and Master degree respectively for these salaries (also after a few years of experience)*, talk about bang for your buck!.

Next Steps

Stay tuned for Part Two of “Careers in Healthcare You Might Not Have Thought About,” focusing on Healthcare Management. In the meantime, you can learn more about these programs by exploring the College’s many amazing academic programs that can prepare you for a career in this fascinating and diverse field.