Help Make The Medical Industry More Efficient & Effective: Healthcare Technology Degree
If you have a passion for technology, but would still like a career in the healthcare industry to help people, then a healthcare technology degree is worth serious consideration. While doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals take care of patients, they also generate numerous medical reports that are vital to the process. In the past this information was stored as files and forms inside folders, but nowadays these records are all kept electronically. This is where the expertise of people who understand healthcare information technology comes in useful. There is also a need within the healthcare industry for people who are able to create healthcare applications and systems, which requires knowledge of healthcare and information technology. Getting a degree in this field will help you to bridge the gap between these two fields.
Healthcare Technology Degree Information
There are a few different degrees in the healthcare technology field depending on the eventual career path that you would like to follow. Most of the programs are available at a Masters’ level as they are aimed professionals who already have experience in either the field of healthcare or information technology. This is also why students interested in this type of degree are usually required to have a Bachelor’s degree in areas such as health science, social science, information technology or medical science.
Master of Science in Medical Informatics
This is a suitable degree for students who would like to work as information technology specialists at clinics or hospitals. It can also help prepare you for working at companies responsible for the designing and installation of information systems in the healthcare industry. This program can be completed part time over the course of up to five years or full-time in five consecutive quarters. Courses include introduction to medical informatics, intermediate statistics, health care systems analysis and design, principles of health care management as well as electives.
Master of Science in Engineering Health Care Technology
This two year course is aimed at people who have already obtained a bachelor’s degree in fields such as healthcare, public administration, economics, health sciences or related fields. The aim of the course is to provide students with a combination of practical and academic skills and typically consists of two specialties. These are Occupational Health Science and Ergonomics as well as Healthcare Technology. The former is aimed at those with an interest in health and safety management while the latter focus more on healthcare management along with information technology. Course topics can include anything from theory and ethics in medicine to business information systems, health promotion, data coding in healthcare and organizational communication.
Master of Science in Healthcare Information Management
Because this type of degree is aimed at individuals with an existing bachelor’s degree as well as employment in the field of healthcare, it can be completed in an online format. The purpose of this degree is to familiarize you with the use of electronic tools and methods for the recording of data related to healthcare centers and hospitals. This type of course commonly covers healthcare systems, data management, decision support systems, as well as healthcare finance and economics.
Healthcare Technology Degree FAQ
Can This Type of Course Be Completed Online?
Because healthcare technology degrees cover a lot of technical information and are aimed at people with experience in the field, it can be studied in an online format. Assignments are typically downloadable and provide students with enough flexibility to be completed even for people with busy schedules. Before enrolling in an online course, first make sure that there are no in-person requirements. In addition to the cost and flexibility advantages of online courses some classes can also be completed at an accelerated rate compared to their more traditional campus based counterparts.
What Are My Career Options After Studying Healthcare Technology?
There are a few different career options that are available to students who obtain a degree in healthcare technology. Most of these jobs are in healthcare settings, such as hospitals, physician offices and clinics where the processing and management of data is required. Students can go on to become medical coders, medical records technicians, health information technicians, documentation specialists or coding specialists. Continuing your studies and earning Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in the field can also expand your career outlook. Students with these types of degrees often go on to work at companies developing healthcare applications or in laboratory management.
How Much Can I Potentially Earn When Working In This Field?
According to data published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical records and health information technicians earned about $37,110 per year as of 2015. They also have a projected employment growth of 15 percent up to 2024, which is faster than the average for other occupations. This can be attributed to the fact that as the population grows older there is a higher demand for medical services and their health information data has to be managed and organized.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate To Study In The Field of Healthcare Technology?
Students who are interested in this type of degree should preferably have a passion for the industry and possess analytical, logical and analytical skills. The ability to assimilate new ideas and information is also important along with good problem-solving abilities.
What Are The Other Advantages To Completing This Type Of Degree?
Obtaining this type of degree and working in the field of healthcare technology enables you to fulfill vital roles in the medical industry. This means that while the job can be challenging, it is also very fulfilling as you are directly contributing to the continued health and wellbeing of other people. The use of healthcare informatics means more efficiency and better reliability, which is essential in areas such as prescriptions and medical history. There is also a demand for professionals in this field as for providers it can mean cost savings along with improved quality in terms of performance.
