Health information technology: A career for difference makers

The world of healthcare isn’t limited to just doctors and nurses. From the time you make an appointment until when you pay your bill, a whole team of people have influenced your experience. From the referral coordinator who organized your appointment with a specialist, to the compliance specialist who made sure the practice was following all the regulations to keep you safe, it takes hundreds of jobs to keep the world of healthcare running and our community healthy. 

Through the health information technology program at Seminole State College of Florida you can fulfill your purpose of helping others through a world of opportunities. As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, healthcare demands are increasing. In fact, employment of medical and health services is projected to grow 20 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

After 10 years in the fast-paced world of banking, alumna Crystal Velez transitioned to the world of healthcare, determined to make a difference. She started in an entry-level registration position, taking health information technology classes online. “It amazes me how each and every course that I took in this program was needed in order for me to progress as quickly as I have within healthcare,” Velez said. Now she is a business office manager and loves seeing patients improve every day. “From a front office perspective, it is always moving to see patients getting better and know that I had a hand in making that happen.”

Rachel Partin also completed the health information technology program and found her own way to help patients. “For me, my position is rewarding because I play a key role in ensuring the integrity of the patient charges,” Partin said. As a charge monitor in the revenue integrity department she identifies incorrect or missing charges or charting and determines a resolution. Even after eight years in healthcare, she still encountered new information in her courses. “This program gave me a solid foundation of the terminology and structure of patient records and the payment methodologies that I encounter daily,” Partin said. “Even though this is an online curriculum, there were opportunities to collaborate with our peers such as multiple group projects and weekly discussions.”

Through flexibility and practical applications, the health information technology program gave these two alumnae the chance to expand their professional worlds and find their place in healthcare. If you are searching for a job with purpose behind it, an Associate in Science in Health Information Technology offers a strong foundation in healthcare knowledge to jumpstart your career.