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Health Information Assistant |
Career OverviewHealth information assistants work for health information administrators and technicians and may expect to enjoy rapid employment growth and increased job opportunities in offices of health practitioners, general medical and surgical hospitals, home health care services and outpatient care centers, on a similar level to health information administrators.
Health care is a business and, as such, it needs good managers and administrators for optimum performance. Managers and administrators often need assistants to do their jobs effectively and to assist with the daily work load.
Health service administrators, also known as health service managers, plan, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care in all of the settings in which it is delivered. With specialist training, health service administrators oversee the running of specialist clinical departments; generalist managers help to manage entire facilities. Health information assistants participate in virtually every stage of the administrator’s work, assisting to collect information and undertake research.
At present, the health care system is changing dramatically. The structure and financing of the industry is changing rapidly and there is an increased need for dynamic approaches to the problems of inefficiency and high cost.
Large medical facilities generally work with several administrators and the administrators have several assistants; several administrators assist the chief administrator to handle general managerial decisions that need to be made on a daily basis. Assistants work to maintain the security of patient records and the general organization of databases for the health care facility.
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Career RequirementsHealth information assistants generally have a baccalaureate certificate or post-baccalaureate certificate in a field relating to health information, allied health, or health care management.
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Job OutlookEmployment for health information assistants is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2014. The health care industry is expected to expand and diversify through this period, creating this expansion of job opportunities for health information assistants because health information administrators need considerable assistance to complete their work.
In general practices, medical and general hospitals, employment opportunities are expected to be particularly good. Applicants with work experience in the health care field and strong business and management skills should have the best opportunities.
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Career TrackMost health information assistants work long hours but work in a comfortable office setting. They often work with a number of other assistants to help health information administrators with their work loads. The mostly work in facilities that are in operation around the clock, so there may be instances in which they are required to work overtime to deal with problems.
Health information assistants, with additional training, appropriate experience, and a demonstration of a number of required skills, can be promoted to technicians and, if appropriate, to the position of administrator, which leads to a much higher salary, more competitive benefits and job opportunities.
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CompensationStandard compensation for health information assistants is between $18,000 and $25,000 per year. Benefits are generally included, such as medical and dental insurance, paid vacations, and sick leave.
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