Train now for one of the hottest careers of the decade!
Health information technology (HIT) has been identified as one of the high growth industries eligible to receive Federal stimulus monies to prepare workers for careers in the health care sector. The HIT field is expected to create 50,000 new jobs nationwide. The U.S. Department of Labor has identified HIT as a high growth and emerging industry sector. This means that the federal government is providing tuition funding to support progression in career pathways to develop the health information workforce that can facilitate the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and meaningful health information exchange (HIE).
Health IT hottest career trend for college graduates
A recent study from the University of California San Diego Extension listed health IT as the number one career opportunity in 2010. Thanks in part to government initiatives, jobs and needs in the health information technology field are a critical component of plans for positive change in the health care industry, this study reports.
Health IT to fuel job growth for consultants
KLAS Enterprises reports that nearly 70 percent of health care providers nationwide expect to hire outside consultant firms to help them achieve meaningful use and thus qualify for federal EMR subsidies.
Ahead of the Curve: Health Informatics Specialist
"The job market for health informatics people is absolutely out of sight," exclaims Merida Johns, founding director of the graduate program in health informatics at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. And it's no surprise: hospitals, insurers, and regional collaboratives are switching to electronic medical records. Nurses and doctors, urged to do more evidence-based medicine, are using computerized expert systems to guide their diagnoses and treatment recommendations. Health care providers are also collecting more data to evaluate quality of care.
Nursing Informatics play a key role in information technology
The results of a recent survey suggest that informatics nurse professionals play a crucial role across a wide variety of information technology areas. On a scale of one to seven, where one is a low rating and seven is the highest rating, respondents reported an average score of 6.29 with regard to the value informatics nurses bring to the IT systems implementation process.
Many more HIT pros needed as EMRs roll out
A new study backed by AHIMA suggests the HIT workforce will need to expand dramatically in coming years to meet demand. The study, which drew on data from the HIMSS Analytics Database, found that while there are about 108,390 HIT professionals available in the U.S. today, providers will need an additional 40,784 to support widespread EMR adoption, or about 40 percent.
Health care CIO leadership reports that 42% will increase their staffing within the next 12 months
The 20th Annual HIMSS Leadership Survey revealed that health care CIOs strongly believe that IT can have a positive impact on health care delivery, with 38 percent of respondents suggesting that IT will reduce medical errors. Another quarter noted that IT will improve clinical/quality outcomes. Clinicians play an active role in multiple facets of IT at their organization, from system evaluations to acting as project champions to developing policies and procedures related to clinical information systems.
HITECH
An unprecedented $19 billion program to promote the adoption and use of health information technology (HIT) from the federal stimulus package is fueling this scholarship program. Learn more about the HITECH program (and workforce development initiatives like the Colorado HITEC scholarship program from the National Coordinator for Health IT, Dr. David Blumenthal.
University of Colorado – HITEC Program Announcement
University of Colorado College of Nursing awarded $2.6 million to expand Health Information Technology workforce.
Colorado Health Information Education Collaborative (HITEC), a program within the College of Nursing health care informatics program, was awarded $2.6 million grant to expand education in the this rapidly growing field.