( U5TRN2EW6E28 ) In April of 2010, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of $267 million from the Recovery Act Funds for new Health IT Extension Centers. In February 2010, The White House announced a total of nearly $1 billion in “Recovery Act awards to help health care providers advance the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.” The release of funds is a direct result of the passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, offering a direct impact to the HIT industry that is “expected to support tens of thousands of jobs from nurses and pharmacy techs to IT technicians and trainers.”
What does this mean to current or prospective students?
With millions in grants and funding being funneled into the economy in areas of higher education and research, training programs in highly specialized health IT, development of advanced systems and technology and electronic health records (EHR), students will see the HIT market grow and expand exponentially before their eyes, creating career opportunities and job security for all qualified graduates.
Health care and electronic medical records (EMR) are currently on the cutting edge. By the year 2014, the US government has dictated that all health care facilities become totally electronic. This means that all patient records, including both their administrative (billing) and clinical information be converted from paper to electronic methods. Due to the transition from paper to computers, health care jobs will change and become redefined. For example, the medical administrative assistant may enter all of the details of the services they provided in addition to billing for these services. The billing clerk will no longer perform only data entry but will become an auditor, checking for appropriate documentation and corresponding billing. Errors will be greatly decreased. Students entering into HIT will need to learn all components of health care information technology and the new processes involved to be competitive in the market.”
Additionally,
EPIC is the health care EMR software of choice in Cincinnati and is currently being implemented in the majority of the area’s leading hospitals. Because the hospitals are still in the adoption stage of EPIC, students would be able to be part of the implementation process from the very start. In addition, many health care workers who are resistant to learning the new electronic systems are also entering retirement age eligibility and are opting to retire, opening up positions. As HIT administrators and instructors, it is vital that we learn EMR methodology and provide simulation techniques and training for the new HIT marketplace.
Submitted by:
Pam McNamara, Dean of Allied Health, Beckfield College Tri-County Campus
Beth Moores, MS, MBA, Beckfield College HIT Instructor