Health Information Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Health Information Technology equips professionals to manage the complex systems that organize, secure, and maintain clinical and administrative data within healthcare environments. This program emphasizes the technical and analytical skills needed to ensure accuracy, compliance, and integrity across medical records and digital health databases.

• Clinical and Biomedical Data Requirements: Understanding the specific types of data generated in healthcare settings, including patient diagnoses, treatments, and laboratory results, and how they inform clinical decision-making and research.
• Database Management: Designing, implementing, and maintaining structured databases to store, retrieve, and analyze health information efficiently and reliably.
• Data Coding and Validation: Applying standardized systems like ICD, CPT, and SNOMED CT to classify medical information accurately and ensuring data consistency and reliability.
• Information Security: Implementing safeguards to protect sensitive patient data from unauthorized access, breaches, and cyber threats in compliance with regulations like HIPAA.
• Quality Control: Establishing protocols to monitor data accuracy, completeness, and timeliness, ensuring records meet clinical, legal, and operational standards.
• Health Information Content and Structure: Mastering the organization and formatting of medical records to support interoperability, continuity of care, and regulatory reporting.
• Medical Business Procedures: Gaining familiarity with billing, coding, reimbursement processes, and administrative workflows that integrate with health data systems.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Navigating federal and state laws governing health data use, privacy, documentation standards, and audit requirements.