Ted Said:

Can anyone tell me which is a better career choice: Cancer Registar,Health Information Tech,or,Coder?

We Answered:

A Health Info Tech and Coder are essentially the same. There are a few more responsibilities as a HIT, but even if you get hired as a coder, you will probably have to do them as well. I've been a Med Rec Coder for 5 years or so. I quit last year. It is super boring and you are basically non-existent as an employee until something goes wrong or until there are audits. The pay is decent for the responsibilities, and the stress level is very low. You dont take work home with you so the second you clock out, you are free of all responsibilities. I guess that part of it was nice. Also, your hours should be pretty flexible as your work is able to wait for you when you get back.

Sorry to say, that coding is a very unfulfilling job. You end up feeling much like an under-appreciated clerk.

Emma Said:

Health Information Technology?

We Answered:

Health information management (HIM) is the study of the principles and practices of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. (From Website of AHIMA)

Traditionally people in HIM are professional coders, i.e. they convert the medical record created on behalf of the patient by different clinicians (Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists) into special codes which are standardized with various acronoyms (CPT, CDT, ICD, HCPCS etc.). These codes allow different stakeholders (insurance companies, other doctors etc.) understand the medical record without delving into the complete details. Its a form of industry standard short-hand.

There are two career paths in this field: work up through the ranks at a hospital and become a Director of HIM. Setup a coding company that will perform this activity for small doctors practices who can't afford a full-time on the staff HIM professional.

HIM is beginning to extend beyond pure coding as the concept of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is taking off. This could be a very exciting career if you are entrepreneurial and vert detail oriented. If you can bring along a mix of systems thinking then you could do very well with EMRs.

Here is some more relevant information from the AHIMA website:

A career in Health Information Management or Information Technology is right for you if you:

* See yourself in a career that offers diverse opportunities.
* Would like to work in health care, but not directly with patients.
* Have an aptitude for science, but also like management, law, and computers.
* Enjoy working with professionals: physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators and executives.
* Want a career where you can choose to work on your own, with others, or some of both.

Health Information Management (HIM) and Health Information Technology (HIT) programs incorporate the disciplines of medicine, management, finance, information technology, and law into one curriculum. Because of this unique mixture, HIM graduates can choose from a variety of work settings across an array of healthcare environments.

Hazel Said:

Career advaancements in the health information technology industry are mainly based on?

We Answered:

They all play a factor. However, the strongest is C, then A, B, then D.

Naomi Said:

Masters in health admin vs bachelors in health information?

We Answered:

A masters beats a bachelors./

Heather Said:

Who can provide me with basic information about a health care career?

We Answered:

Here is a website to search various careers from the US occupational outlook handbook: http://www.bls.gov/oco and search 'registered nurse' or such.

Dustin Said:

career information? (health information management degree and MT certificate)?

We Answered:

Medical transcription is great only for those who are willing to listen to physician dictation and transcribing them onto a formal report. Do not be fooled by those work at home scams. The best way to earn in transcription is through a physician office or in the hospital.

However I believe you can do better with an Associates in Health Information Management. After completing your degree you can sit for the national exam and earn a "Registered Health Information Technician" (RHIT) credential.

The opportunities are endless with an RHIT credential. You can manage transcription with an AS in HIT. You will understand everything about health information and its impact in the healthcare industry. You will be trained how to do medical coding and reimbursement methodologies. You will understand how to use health information for qualitative purposes. Technology has also been a factor in healthcare. You will understand health information systems and how to help develop them.

I can keep going, but there's too much you can do with an RHIT credential....including medical transcription!

For more information go to www.ahima.org - good luck!

Wallace Said:

What does a health information technology do?

We Answered:

Medical Coding, Medical records, Medical consulting, Medical billing

It is the most pleasant and soothing job on the market. Get Faye Brown's coding book on Amazon.com and do some of the ICD 9 and CPT 4 codes and see if it is for you.

I do tax returns for them and they can make $67,000 a year easily