Health information technologists (HITs, also called health informatics specialists or health information management professionals) manage the systems and processes that collect, store, organize, protect, and analyze healthcare data. They ensure that electronic health records (EHRs) function correctly, that patient data is accurate and accessible to authorized providers, that health information is coded properly for billing and reporting, that healthcare organizations comply with data privacy regulations (HIPAA), and that the vast quantities of data generated by modern healthcare are used effectively to improve patient care, reduce costs, and support research. As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, health information technology has become essential infrastructure, and the professionals who manage it play a critical role in healthcare delivery.
Education Pathway
Associate Degree (2 years): An associate degree in health information technology prepares graduates for entry-level HIT positions including medical coding, health information clerk, EHR support specialist, and data quality analyst. Bachelor’s Degree (4 years): A bachelor’s degree in health information management (HIM) or health informatics provides broader preparation for positions in health information management, informatics analysis, data governance, clinical documentation improvement, compliance, and management. Some programs are offered online. Programs should be accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education). Master’s Degree: Master’s programs in health informatics, biomedical informatics, or health information management prepare graduates for leadership positions in health IT, clinical informatics, data science, and management. Certifications: The RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator, bachelor’s-level) and RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician, associate-level) credentials from AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) are the most recognized certifications. Additional certifications include Certified Professional in Health Informatics (CPHI) and various medical coding certifications (CCS, CPC).
What HITs Do
EHR Management: HITs configure, maintain, and optimize electronic health record systems (Epic, Cerner, Athenahealth, and others) that are used by physicians, nurses, and other providers to document patient care. They troubleshoot system issues, train clinical staff on EHR functionality, build custom templates and order sets that improve clinical workflow, manage system upgrades and implementations, and analyze EHR data to identify opportunities for quality improvement. EHR analysts and informaticists are among the most in-demand roles in health IT, particularly during and after EHR implementation projects.
Medical Coding and Revenue Cycle: Medical coders assign standardized codes (ICD-10-CM for diagnoses, CPT for procedures, HCPCS for supplies) to every patient encounter, translating clinical documentation into the codes that drive billing, reimbursement, quality reporting, and population health analytics. Accurate coding is essential for healthcare organization revenue (incorrect codes lead to denied claims and lost revenue) and for public health surveillance (disease statistics depend on accurate diagnosis coding). Clinical documentation improvement (CDI) specialists work with physicians to ensure that clinical notes accurately reflect the complexity and severity of patient conditions, which improves coding accuracy and appropriate reimbursement.
Data Analytics and Informatics: Health information professionals increasingly work in data analytics roles, using large healthcare datasets to identify trends, measure quality metrics, predict patient outcomes, evaluate intervention effectiveness, and support clinical and administrative decision-making. Health informatics specialists bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and information technology, designing systems that present data in clinically useful ways (dashboards, alerts, decision support tools) and analyzing data to generate insights that improve care delivery. Privacy and Compliance: HIPAA compliance officers and health information privacy specialists ensure that healthcare organizations protect patient data, implement appropriate security measures, train staff on privacy practices, investigate potential breaches, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations. Data breaches in healthcare carry severe legal, financial, and reputational consequences, making privacy compliance a high-priority function.
Salary and Job Outlook
Salaries in health information technology vary widely by role and education level. Medical records and health information technicians earn a median of approximately $62,990 (BLS). Health informatics analysts and EHR specialists earn $65,000 to $100,000+. Clinical informatics managers and directors earn $90,000 to $140,000+. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Medical Information Officers (CMIOs) at health systems earn $200,000 to $500,000+. The field is projected to grow 16 percent through 2032, driven by the ongoing digital transformation of healthcare, the expansion of telehealth infrastructure, the growing importance of data analytics in value-based care, and the continuous need for HIPAA compliance and cybersecurity in an era of increasing health data breaches. See our AI in medicine page and technology in medical education page.
Advantages and Challenges
Advantages: Strong and growing job demand across all healthcare settings, diverse career paths (coding, informatics, analytics, compliance, management, consulting), the ability to work remotely in many roles (medical coding, data analytics, and informatics can often be performed from home), the intellectual challenge of working at the intersection of healthcare and technology, competitive salaries particularly at the management and executive levels, and the satisfaction of improving healthcare quality through better data and systems.
Challenges: The rapid pace of technology change (requiring continuous learning and adaptation), the regulatory complexity of HIPAA compliance (with serious consequences for organizational and individual non-compliance), the potential for role ambiguity (health IT encompasses many different job functions, and career paths can be unclear for new graduates), the sedentary nature of the work (most roles are desk-based), and the frustration of implementing technology changes that clinical staff may resist.
Getting Started
Middle school: Explore technology, data, and healthcare. High school: Take computer science, math, and biology courses. Undergraduate: Pursue a degree in health information management, health informatics, or a related field (computer science with health focus), gain internship or work experience in a healthcare IT department, and pursue RHIA, RHIT, or other relevant certifications.
Artificial Intelligence and Health Data: The intersection of artificial intelligence and health information is one of the most transformative developments in modern healthcare. AI algorithms analyze health data to predict patient deterioration (early warning systems that alert clinicians to patients at risk of cardiac arrest, sepsis, or respiratory failure), identify patterns in population health data (detecting disease outbreaks, predicting hospital readmissions, identifying patients who would benefit from preventive interventions), assist with clinical documentation (AI-powered speech recognition and natural language processing tools that convert physician dictation into structured EHR notes), and support diagnostic decision-making (AI tools that flag abnormal imaging findings, suggest differential diagnoses, or identify drug interactions). Health information technologists who understand both the technical capabilities and the clinical implications of AI are positioned at the leading edge of healthcare innovation. The ability to implement, validate, and monitor AI tools within healthcare organizations is becoming a critical skill set for health IT professionals. See our AI in medicine page.
Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Healthcare is one of the most targeted sectors for cyberattacks, with hospitals and health systems experiencing ransomware attacks, data breaches, and other security incidents at increasing rates. The consequences of a successful healthcare cyberattack are severe: patient data exposure (violating HIPAA and creating legal liability), disruption of clinical operations (ransomware attacks have forced hospitals to divert ambulances and cancel surgeries), financial losses (the average cost of a healthcare data breach exceeds $10 million), and erosion of patient trust. Health information professionals with cybersecurity expertise are in extremely high demand, and positions like healthcare cybersecurity analyst, information security officer, and chief information security officer (CISO) command premium salaries ($100,000 to $250,000+). If you are interested in both healthcare and technology security, this intersection offers a career with strong demand, high compensation, and the satisfaction of protecting patient data and clinical operations from increasingly sophisticated threats.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Medical Records Specialists.” BLS, 2025. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm. Accessed March 2026.