AAS in Health Information Technology
People with an Associate’s Degree of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Information Technology work as medical records and health information technicians and are typically responsible for the compilation and maintenance of a hospital or clinic’s patients’ medical records in accordance with legal and medical requirements in healthcare. In order to work as a medical records/health information technician, an associate’s degree is required. Graduates can go on to earn credentials as well as continue their education with a bachelor’s degree.
Requirements for Earning an Associate’s in Health Information Technology (AAS)
Requirements to become a medical records/health information technician can vary by state. Successful students generally complete the following steps:
- Complete courses in biology, math, chemistry, health and computer sciences while in high school.
- Earn proper associate’s degree (requirements vary by state). Typically, students complete an associate’s degree in applied science in health information technology.
- Earn proper bachelor’s degree (requirements vary by state). Students with a bachelor’s degree in health information technology can advance higher in their career.
- Obtain appropriate certification. Credentialed medical record and health information technicians are generally given preference in the job market. Several organizations offer credentials based on a credentialing exam. Maintaining credentials requires continuing education and recertification.
Average Salary and Career Data
The expected salary, career growth, and work environment for a medical records/health information technician might include:
- Medical Records/Health Information Technician – Median expected salary: $30,610, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Job Prospects – Employment is expected to grow much faster than average because of the increase in the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures that will be performed, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Job Setting – Medical records/health information technicians find employment in hospitals, private practices, home healthcare services, nursing care facilities and outpatient care.
Job Duties and Responsibilities for an Information Technologist
A medical records/health information technician is typically responsible for the following job responsibilities:
- Ensuring the accuracy of patient’s records, including reviewing for completeness and entering data into records, such as demographic information, history and treatment of disease, and diagnostic procedures.
- Organizing health record storage and retrieval systems to collect and analyze information.
- Retrieve medical records for physicians and technicians.
- Process patient admission and discharge documents as well as process and prepare business and government forms.
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
AAS in Health Information Technology Degrees Online
- DeVry University — Associate in Health Information Technology
- Kaplan University — AAS in Health Information Technology
Featured Master's in Healthcare Informatics Programs
Health informatics is the study of how technology, particularly artificial intelligence, computer science, and informational science relates to the medical field. This field of study is typically applied to clinical care, nursing, public health, and biomedical research. The universities and colleges listed below offer online master's degree programs in this subject
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