Mississippi Health Informatics
Health Informatics Job Descriptions / Employment Outlook
As America slowly but surely pulls itself out of the doldrums, the nature of the nation’s job market is beginning to shift. Health care institutions are showing a resurgence in the employment field, as technology and patient care continue to grow at an astonishing rate. Perhaps no other position is in higher demand than that of Registered Health Information Technicians, also known as RHITs. Poised at the cutting edge of communication, computing, and medical science, this exciting new field has helped legions of students in Minnesota find fulfilling, profitable careers. RHIT’s are scattered across numerous institutions, including hospitals, clinics, college campuses, and correctional institutions, just to name a few. Mainly, these detail-oriented individuals will find themselves responsible for the transmission of confidential health care data, keeping in mind the latest standards of both ethics and law.
Mississippi Health Informatics Links – MS
Among all of the myriad work forces in America, few are growing at the rate enjoyed by the field of Health Informatics. Current estimates suggest that the industry is poised to see a 20% increase in jobs over the years between 2008 and 2018 . RHIT students who would like to make an immediate surge toward the top of the pile can increase their chances even further by obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in the field, which earns the title of Registered Health Information Administrator, or RHIA.
RHIT and RHIA Certification in Minnesota
No matter which level a student my aspire to, there is one governing body which determines the fate of the nation’s Health Informatics technicians. The Commission on Health Informatics and Information Management (or CAHIIM) provides certification only to the programs of a select few schools in each state, pending their compliance with a rigid set of academic criteria. To a Health Informatics graduate, CAHIIM certification is the gold standard of career marketability.
CAHIIM Accredited Programs in Minnesota
Currently, there are four CAHIIM accredited programs operating in the state of Mississippi, three of which come from community colleges. First is Itawamba (located in Tupelo), and next is Meridian (located, predictably, in Meridian). Both of these offer two-year Associate’s Degrees boasting RHIT certification through online courses. The third and fourth programs are located in the capital city of Jackson – Hinds Community College, which also offers two-year RHIT courses, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center, which features a more traditional four-year baccalaureate degree amounting to RHIA certification. Each enjoys a respectable job placement percentage among its graduates, which bodes well for the Health Informatics job market in the nation’s 20th state.
As with many of the nation’s RHIT and RHIA programs, a great deal of Mississippi’s Health Informatics students are of the nontraditional variety. With easy access to schools via online education, students of all ages will find it easy to craft an educational schedule which suits their needs.
Health Informatics Salary in Minnesota
Those who attain RHIT status will be able to hold their head high in the ever competitive wage war. The average Health Informatics technician in Mississippi earns $12.72 per hour , which translates into approximately $26,460 per year. Industry veterans will enjoy even further pay luxuries, with hourly rates rising to $14.88 and yearly grosses weighing in at $30,950. Those with a Master’s level of education will have and opportunity to make even higher salaries.
*Salary Data: Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Earnings Statistics
All graduates of Mississippi’s accredited RHIT and RHIA programs are eligible for entry into the American Health Information Management Association. Commonly known as AHIMA , this organization affords several unique benefits to its members. Among these perks are exclusive, regularly updated job postings, and access to the latest information and advances in the Health Informatics field. Check out their website, www.ahima.org, for further information.
