For Immediate Release
December 31, 2020

Pandemic Piques Interest in Health Information Technology Careers

The need for timely, accurate, and reliable data about the publics’ health has never been greater, and during the current world-wide pandemic information systems play an important role in managing data to provide the essential information for making the most informed decisions possible, and adjusting policies to improve public health.

“Health information technology brings together the worlds of health care, medicine, information technology, computer science, information science, and business, to acquire, analyze, and protect medical information vital to providing quality patient care,” said Janine Muccio, Health Information Technology Program Coordinator and Instructor at Suffolk County Community College, who related that since the appearance of COVID-19 the college has seen a rise in interest in its Health Information Technology program.

Muccio explained that health information technology can offer graduating students an array of career opportunities, including working in hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, consulting firms, law firms, colleges, and government offices. “It’s truly unlimited,” Muccio said and explained that across the different workplace settings, health information professionals ensure the quality of health records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems. They also use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care and controlling costs.

Careers in medical records and health information technology are one of the fastest growing occupations according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment is projected to grow 11% between 2018 to 2028. Popular entry level job titles include data analyst, credentialing specialist, release of information specialist, and clinical coder.

Muccio said that the median national annual salary for medical records and health information technicians was $42,630 but will vary state to state. According to Salary.com the average medical records technician’s salary in New York is $45,879 as of November 25, 2020, but the range typically falls between $40,517 and $52,382.

For entry level positions, employers are generally looking for candidates to hold an Associate’s degree in Health Information Technology and have a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) Credential, which is nationally recognized.

For more information about Suffolk’s Health Information Technology program please visit: https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/majors-and-programs/health-information-technology/

To apply to the Health Information Technology Program please visit:  https://www.sunysuffolk.edu/apply-enroll/apply-now.jsp