The rewarding world of non-patient health care: Health Information Technology

In Northeast Wisconsin, health care and social assistance is the fastest growing industry sector. Health care careers offer stability, family-sustaining wages, and room for advancement. However, patient care is not for everyone. If you want to be part of the rapidly growing healthcare field but are not interested in patient care, a career in Health Information Technology (HIT) might be the perfect fit for you!

What is HIT?  

Health Information Technology is the area of healthcare that creates, manages, and monitors the technology systems medical providers use to store, share, and analyze patient data. Medical records, health insurance claims, online hospital portals, and more are the realm of the health information technician.

HIT professionals are an integral part of the healthcare process who work directly with patient data instead of patients. They are a vital part of any healthcare team, working closely with doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to ensure patients get the care they need. Some common careers for healthcare information technicians include health data entry, analysis, management, privacy and security, regulation, revenue cycle, data integrity, and data management.

Technologists use their knowledge of anatomy, health care, and data science to help provide patients with the best care possible.  

What does NWTC offer? 

Life is busy, and the College understands that. That’s why NWTC offers a completely online, affordable, and short-term path for those interested in transitioning to an HIT career. Engaged and passionate faculty help ensure that “online does not mean alone” and constantly communicate with their students to ensure success.

If you are interested in non-patient healthcare, check out the Medical Coding technical diploma from NWTC, which can be completed in as few as three terms. You will learn about various topics, including basic anatomy, medical terminology, and medical coding. All credits from the technical diploma apply to the Health Information Technology associate degree, so if you decide to pursue more education, your hard work will still count towards higher credentials.  

Is Medical Coding or Health Information Technology right for me?  

If you’re interested in healthcare but are unsure if patient care is right for you, this might be the perfect fit. Health information professionals are detail-oriented, critical thinkers. If you want to learn how to transform data into decisions or are interested in making a meaningful career transition, check out NWTC’s Health Information Technology program.