Health IT ●

New Landmarks in a Difficult to Navigate Profession 

STEMTech ● 2012

The Time for Health IT is Now!

President Bush’s goal in 2004 “… an Electronic Health Record for every American... By computerizing health

records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care.”

- State of the Union address, January 20, 2004

President Barack Obama announces an audacious plan in 2009 “Computerize all health records...”

- Speech at George Mason University,                 January 12, 2009

Through HITECH Act—part of the February 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (i.e., ARRA, the Stimulus Bill), Congress:

• Authorized an unprecedented investment in health IT (e.g., incentives, technical assistance)

• Charged HHS ONC with coordinating the Federal Government’s efforts to realize the implementation of a nationwide health IT infrastructure within a legislatively mandated timeline

• Established meaningful use as a framework for advancing health IT adoption and a foundation for improving the healthcare system

HITECH: Catalyst for Transformation

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Pre 2009 2009 2014A system plagued by inefficiencies

EHR Incentive Program and 62 Regional Extension Centers

Widespread adoption & meaningful use of EHRs

Three-Part Aim:Better Healthcare Better Health Reduced Costs

Paper Records HITECH Act EHRs & HIE

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ONC Health IT Workforce Training

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

Community College Consortia

BELLEVUE COLLEGEBELLEVUE, WA

CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGECLEVELAND, OHIO

LOS RIOS  COMMUNITY COLLEGESACRAMENTO, CA

PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WINTERVILLE, NC

TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGENORFOLK, VA

5 Consortia82 member colleges

Health Information CareersEmployment Outlook:Are there jobs? 

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From paper medical records . . .

To the EHR… 

“Health information technology is the circulatory                

                                                   system for the vital organs of 

health care.” David Blumenthal, MD, MPP

Former National Coordinator Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

Blending the medical/clinical profession and the IT

profession…

Roots of this profession lie in the Health Information Management profession with RHIAs and RHITs and the conversion of paper records to the EHR…but with the extension/addition of

critical IT knowledge

• What Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Do 

– organize and manage health information data by ensuring quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in paper and electronic systems. Use various classification systems to code/categorize patient information for reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical/treatment

• Employment• Expected to increase by 21% -faster than average• Number of jobs 2010 – 179,500 • Employment change 2010-2020 – 37,700• Median Pay $32, 350/yr ($15.55/hr)

• CHANGES NEEDED – in Standard Occupational Classification….in process…next major review & revision expected to begin in 2013 for2018 SOC

• Education: Post secondary non degree award (BLS)Medical records/health information technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate to enter the occupation, although they may have an associate’s degree. Many employers also require professional certification.

Employment Growth:

Medical Records and

Health Information Technicians

Health Information ProfessionalsUS Bureau of Labor Statistics

• What Medical and Health Services Managers Do 

• Medical and health services managers, also called healthcare executives or healthcare administrators, plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services….might manage an entire facility, specialize in managing a specific clinical area or department, or manage a medical practice for a group of physicians.

• Employment • Expected to increase by 22% - faster than average• Number of jobs 2010 – 303,000• Employment change 2010-2020 – 68,000• Median Pay $84,270 year ($40.52/hr)

– Entry level education: Bachelor’s degree

Employment Growth:

Medical and Health

Services Managers

Health Information ProfessionalsUS Bureau of Labor Statistics

IT Professionals: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

OCCUPATION/JOB SUMMARY/ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION /2010 MEDIAN PAY 

• Computer and Information Research Scientists – 19% average– Invent/design technology…find uses for existing technology… study/solve

complex problems in computing for business/science/medicine/other uses• Doctoral or professional degree $100,660

• Computer Programmers – 12% average– Write code to create software…turn program designs created by

developers/engineers into instructions a computer can follow• Bachelor’s degree $71,380

• Computer Support Specialists – 18% average– Provide help/advice to those using computer software/equipment - support IT -

helpdesk techs, assist non-IT with computer problems.– Some college, no degree $46,260

IT Professionals: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Software Developers – 30% much faster than average– creative minds behind computer programs… develop the applications

that allow people to do specific tasks on a computer or other device. Others develop the underlying systems that run the devices or control networks.

• Bachelor’s degree $90,530• Database Administrators – 31% much faster than average

– Use software to store/organize data, …make sure that data are available to users and secure from unauthorized access

• Bachelor’s degree $73,490

IT Professionals: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

• Computer Systems Analysts – 22% faster than average– Study … systems/procedures & make recommendations so organization operates

efficiently/effectively. …bring business & IT together by understanding needs/limitations

• Bachelor’s degree $77,740 • Network and Computer Systems Administrators – 28% faster than 

average– responsible for day-to-day operation of organization’s computer networks…

organize/install/support computer systems• Bachelor’s degree $69,160

• Info Security Analysts, Web Developers, & Computer Network Architects – 22% faster than average– Use IT to advance organization’s goals - Security analysts ensure information stays

safe -Web developers create websites -Computer network architects create internal networks within organizations

• Bachelor’s degree $75,660

Health Information Careers

• AHIMA– http://hicareers.com– www.ahima.org

• HIMSS– www.himss.org

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Number of Positions Search term3208 EHR

21284 electronic health records9053 EPIC1779 Cerner health1336 Allscripts5233 Meditech2865 McKesson4401 Siemens930 Centricity

1493 Practice Fusion184 Vitera

1496 Practice Fusion4375 Siemens

Where are the jobs?

www.indeed.com 10.23.12

Position Titles Healthcare Technology IT Project Manager

Health Information Analyst Network Security AnalystElectronic Record Analyst Application Integration AnalystEHR Implementation Specialist Health Policy Analyst EHREHR Systems Administrator EMR DeveloperDirector, EMR Operations EMR TrainerInpatient Clinical Documentation Analyst

Clinical Medical Records and Data Consultant

Lead, EHR System Trainer Health Care Project Manager EHRMedical Records Coordinator Systems AnalystDirector, EHR Workflow AnalystElectronic Health Information Specialist

Consultant

Operations Manager, Medical Records

Application Support Analyst

What are the jobs?

Issues

• Varying responsibilities within profession (clerk to executive)

• Wide diversity of types of employment, job titles and duties

• Growing field…expanding, altering, diversifying

• Need to cross train..clinical to IT..and IT to clinical

• Time crunch to get to EHR/MU

• Needs of many not yet realized

• Adoption of ICD-10 in healthcare – complicating factor and will compete for those credentialed as RHIAs and RHITs

Health Information CareersAssessing and Customizing ONC 

Curricula

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Customizing the ONC Curriculum

ONC Curriculum • Curriculum prepared by

research universities• Six workforce roles• 20 components w/ multiple

units per role• Designed for professionals

College-Specific Adaptations• Countless minor adaptions to

fit college delivery structure • Some significant

modifications Rural communities Entry-Level Workers Military  Customizations for 

specific customer needs

Gretchen LeFever Watson, Ph.D. glefever@tcc.edu

Region E - Customization Example

Health IT EngineeringBackgrounds in IT

Health IT ConsultingBackgrounds in Healthcare, Business, or

Related Field

Clinician Consultant

Implementation Manager

Trainer

Workflow Redesign Specialist

Implementation Support Specialist Technical/

Software  Support

6 Workforce Roles 2 Training Tracks

Gretchen LeFever Watson, Ph.D. glefever@tcc.edu

Customizing for Sustainability

Professional Training

• Continuing existing workforce training

• New academic offerings – certificate and degree programs

• Timely CME/CE programs• Health IT and patient safety

modules for every health-related degree program

• Consumer education preparation

Consumer Education

• Patient privacy, security, rights & responsibilities for safe care

• Community College Outreach– Large employers– Health insurance carriers– Direct to consumer

education• In-office education

Wide-Range of Programs for Local Markets

Gretchen LeFever Watson, Ph.D. glefever@tcc.edu

Health Information CareersWhat’s on the Horizon? Considerations for Keeping Health IT Programs Current

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Healthcare IT Needs of the Future

Stage 1 Meaningful Use (2011 – 2013): Adoption and Implementation of EHR Technology (both Hospital and Physician)

Stage 2 Meaningful Use (2014 – 2016?): Development of the information highway; interconnectivity issues; patient education and engagement (both Hospital and Physician)

Stage 3 Meaningful Use (2017 and beyond): Data Analytics; advanced business needs for support of ACO structure

Meaningful Use…Where We are Today

Progress to Primary Care Provider GoalCurrent Workforce Shortage ONC training programs

Education and Training to Support Transformation

Develop learning resources that will provide health care professionals with the fundamental knowledge of key topics involved in the

transformation of health care, that provide better health, better care and lower costs for patients nationwide.

Data Analytics

PopulationManagement

MeaningfulUse

HealthInformation

Exchange

Patient-Centered

Medical Home

Some Additional Tools and Resources

• Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice• http://tinyurl.com/cz3k4tf

• Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative – Education and Training• http://tinyurl.com/c9wthw2

Health Information CareersIndustry Partnership

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ImmatureIndustry

Full of Grown Up$

Industry Attention  =  Health IT Program Viability 

© 2010 Healthcare Information and Management Systems

HIT WORKFORCE NEED

70%  Inadequate IT staff to implement clinical application software

51%  Staffing issues may affect meaningful use compliance

10% Health IT work force shortage would definitely have a negative effect 

76%  Concerns about retaining existing health IT staff

Source: College of Healthcare Information Management Executives

© 2010 Healthcare Information and Management Systems

Imagine  This

© 2010 Healthcare Information and Management Systems

Free Health IT Community College Program

Start Up Kit●

National Veteran’s Health IT Initiative

●New Entry Level HIMSS 

Certification & Free Curriculum

●Free Community College Rural Clinic

Curriculum & Trainer Training

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Lessons Learned

• Evolving market place• Training needed for all health care providers• Broad band issues for rural areas• Hands on experience with vendor products• Need for internship opportunities• Soft skills – working in teams• Career pathway – stackable credentials• Articulation agreements with Universities• Availability of Faculty

 

STEMTech ● 2012

Funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

THANK YOU!