Health Information Technology Careers

Health Information Technology (HIT) account manager Anastasia Adam, who works for a leading IT recruitment and staffing firm, answers additional questions regarding career opportunities for IT pros in health IT.

Tom's IT Pro: What certifications or credentials are available within HIT?  Which one of these has been industry adopted and recognized?

Anastasia Adam: There are certifications in specific EMR (Electronic Medical Record) systems (i.e. EPIC). These are widely recognized by all hospital systems. Many employers also look for a healthcare educational background (i.e. clinical informatics, public health, RN degree, etc.).

For candidates that want to break into Healthcare IT from other industries, what do you recommend to them (i.e., industry groups, training, etc.)?

Networking and getting your foot in the door is critical. Join your local HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) chapter and look into the education programs available. If you already work in a hospital, volunteer to become a “super user” and help with training. LinkedIn is always a great tool as well.

What technology applications/platforms/modules are the mostly highly desired?

HL7, EPIC, CERNER, MEDITECH, McKesson, Allscripts, ICD-10, Lawson, and many others.

For those that come from a purely clinical role (i.e., Nurse), do you see some transitioning to IT or informatics (i.e., clinical informatics, clinical information systems).  Are they training to obtain additional skills (i.e., systems management, databases, etc.)? or On-The-Job (OTJ) training?

Yes, almost every hospital is adopting this model. The understanding of specific patient and departmental workflows are critical in having a successful EMR. Most times, employers will send these clinicians to systems training in whichever EMR they will be working with. This combination also allows for a “common language” between end users (doctors, nurses, etc) and the clinician that is new to the IT side. This can lead to higher levels of adoption and usability.

On the other end of the spectrum, folks that are purely IT focused (system admins, software engineers), how can they work or transition to understand HIT needs and workflows?

This is a harder transition than the one listed above. Experience in healthcare is so critical whether it be the national legislation or patient workflows. My best advice would be, like any job, begin networking. Who do you know that has transitioned into the industry? What user groups can you join?

Have you seen an uptick of candidates moving between HIT employers?  Locally? Regionally? Nationally?

Consulting is very common in the HIT industry both locally and nationally. Because there is such a high demand for these skillsets, employers are willing to look at people that need to travel just to gain their knowledge.

Some Additional Health IT Articles on Tom's IT Pro:

• Making It in IT: Asking about Healthcare IT Certification

With the upcoming boom in Healthcare, certified Healthcare IT techs will be in demand. 

• Top 5 IT Certifications in Healthcare

There are numerous certifications that specifically target IT for healthcare.

• GIS Career Opportunities for Health IT Pros

Geographic information systems and mapping knowledge provide IT pros with in-demand skills.

• Senate Bill Has IT Pro Overtime Pay in Crosshairs

CPU Act would amend Fair Labor Standards Act to eliminate overtime pay for many IT workers.

• Health IT Look Out: The Cloud and Outsourcing Coming

The healthcare industry will spend $518 million on Infrastructure as a Service—yet another outsourcing trend—by the middle of this decade.