One of the reasons why work as a health information technology professional is an in demand job these days is because the medical industry continues to place a higher importance on information and data.
Medical records and reporting is driving the healthcare industry and its only going to grow.
A recent NPR article highlighted the need for even more healthcare reporting, which will only increase the need for professional with training in health information technology.
“The healthcare community is not doing enough to track and prevent widespread harm to patients, and preventable deaths and injuries in hospitals and other settings will continue unless Congress takes action, medical experts said Thursday on Capitol Hill,” reported Marshall Allen for NPR.
The medical industry has increased its use of medical records and information sharing, but medical professionals believe more can be done.
“Our collective action in patient safety pales in comparison to the magnitude of the problem,” Dr. Peter Pronovost, senior vice president for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine, told NPR. “We need to say that harm is preventable and not tolerable.”
Allen also reported that “missed and delayed diagnosis is also a problem, and a primary cause of malpractice lawsuits in the outpatient setting. Systems need to be put in place to monitor patient care instead of simply relying on doctors to get it right.”
“We cannot just tell clinicians to try harder and think better,” said Dr. Tejal Gandhi, president of the National Patient Safety Foundation.
The recently held hearing on the matter was called “More Than 1,000 Preventable Deaths a Day Is Too Many: The Need to Improve Patient Safety.” It was inspired by a study by John James, a scientist and patient advocate whose son died because of a string of medical errors, NPR reported.
“James’ recently published study estimated that preventable harm in hospitals contributes to as many as 400,000 deaths a year,” Allen reported. “James suggested that lawmakers establish a National Patient Safety Board — similar to the National Transportation Safety Board — to investigate patient harm. He also proposed a national patients’ bill of rights that would contain protections similar to those for workers and minority groups.
“Lisa McGiffert, director of the Consumers Union Safe Patient Project, urged the legislators to ensure there is more meaningful public reporting of the harm to patients, so consumers can make informed choices and providers will be motivated to improve.”
The healthcare community continues to look for ways to use data and health records as a way to better treat patients, while also improving overall care. As these types of records become more and more important, there will be an increased need for health information technology professionals, especially those with training from a respected school, such as A Technical College.
If you are someone who would like to take advantage of the growth of the medical industry, but are looking for a career other than that of doctor, nurse or other type of hands-on medical professional, then the health information technology professional career may be right for you.
The medical profession is in need of workers of all types. This includes a need for those with medical training, but there are also thousands of support positions that need to be filled. This includes health information technology professionals.
A Technical College’s health information technology training program is one of the best ways to secure a career in the healthcare industry without studying to become a doctor, nurse or other type of clinical professional. However, medical assistants are required to possess a lot of different skills ranging from administrative oversight to specific clinical administrative tasks, and those skills are changing every year as the medical industry continues to change. These positions require workers that are experts on patient data and can communicate effectively with doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. The job is in high demand, especially as the healthcare industry continues to experience strong growth throughout the United States, in both traditional and non-traditional of medical care.
Now is the perfect time to take the next step in your career and enter a growing field that offers long-term stability, good pay and a chance to do what you love.