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BFIT prepares students to become Health IT professionals

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BFIT prepares students to become Health IT professionals
Students from BFIT’s Health IT program had the opportunity to work alongside IT professionals as they completed an internship with Partners eCare this past semester. (Photo: Photo: Courtesy BFIT)

Health IT is booming in Massachusetts with hiring expected to grow by 19 percent in Massachusetts by 2022.

What is Health IT?

Health IT involves an array of technologies to store, share and analyze health information in order to improve patient care and reduce costs.

Programs

Associate of Science in Health Information Technology

Bachelor’s of Science in Health Information Technology

What will you learn?

Medical terminology

Electronic health records

Interoperability (Health Level Seven)

Medical coding and classification

Healthcare databases

Healthcare compliance

Anatomy and physiology

Legal and Ethical Issues in Health IT

Job Outlook

Hiring in Health IT is expected to grow by 22 percent nationally by 2022

Hiring in Health IT is expected to grow by 26 percent in MA by 2020

Salaries for grads with an associates degree in this field range from $38,000 to $57,000 per year

Grads with a bachelor’s degree can earn between $52,000 to $82,000 Career Paths

Health Information Technician

Clinical Application Coordinator

EHR Project Support Specialist

Health Information System Administrator

Network Success Analyst

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor, MA Labor and Workforce Development

A closer look

To learn more about this program and industry, download our free Health IT Fact Sheet at bfit.edu/hit.

Enroll today! Classes begin Sept. 6.

For more information, call 617-588-1368 or email us at admissions@bfit.edu

In Massachusetts and throughout the U.S., hospitals are investing heavily in Health Information Technology or Health IT to improve care and reduce costs. Health IT is being used in myriad ways — from capturing and storing patient health records in a digital format, to equipping clinicians with complete and accurate patient health information, to reducing prescription refill errors.

Since Health IT professionals play such a critical role in this digital movement, they are in very high demand, with hiring expected to grow by 19 percent in Massachusetts by 2022. “There are plenty of jobs in Health IT because of national policies encouraging healthcare organizations to use Health IT,” said Gerald Elysee, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology’s (BFIT) Health IT programs. “However, there are few professionals with the right combination of skills in IT, healthcare, and management to fill these new positions.”

Enrolled in either the college’s associate or bachelor’s degree program, BFIT students learn how to build, implement, and maintain Health IT systems along, while gaining skills in communications, management, and teamwork. Coursework also provides students with an overview of the healthcare industry, as well as the legal, regulatory, and confidentiality issues inherent in the field.

Jobs in high demand

“There are plenty of jobs in Health IT because of national policies encouraging healthcare organizations to use Health IT,” said Gerald Elysee, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology’s (BFIT) Health IT programs. “However, there are few professionals with the right combination of skills in IT, healthcare, and management to fill these new positions.”

“Our small classes ensure that students receive individualized attention,” said Prof. Elysee. “Students’ chances of career success are greatly enhanced through the practical experience gained through internships in reputable healthcare organizations.”

BFIT students and graduates have landed paid internships and high-paying jobs in prestigious institutions such as Partners HealthCare, Joslin Diabetes Center, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. To ensure that the academic program is aligned with industry needs, BFIT faculty keep in close contact with hospital administrators, vendors and technology leaders to determine their current and future needs.

“The fact that the Health IT field is booming in Boston should not come as a surprise,” he said. “After all, Boston is an international hub of healthcare, hosting some of the largest and most prestigious medical centers, teaching hospitals, and health systems.”