A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

I want to work in healthcare IT - sm

Posted: Apr 17, 2012

I am an MT and I need a career change. I have an Associates Degree in Health Information Technology, and I used to have my RHIT but didn't keep it up. I want to work in healthcare IT, like software or as an Epic analyst or something like that. Would I work on a degree in computer science, health informatics, RHIA, ???? Anyone know?

I hear ya - RedBaron

[ In Reply To ..]
I am in the same boat. Currently I am taking online classes for a Bachelors in IT, software application programming. It is also called software engineering. I want to write the programs for robotic surgeries or the software behind the imaging platforms used in medical facilities. The analyst I am not sure on. I found a ton of info by researching positions with Boeing, GE Healthcare, etc. Search some of the employment websites because the job descriptions will tell you exactly what you need in terms of education and certification/exp.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

contact EPIC - they train

[ In Reply To ..]
If you already have a degree, they might just take you on. I believe I read, however, that they have to be coming to a city near you :)

Suggestions - RHIA

[ In Reply To ..]
This is an up-and-coming field. Not a bad choice at all. You want to do a health informatics RHIA program. They are few and far between, but Western Governors has a good one.

To get a view of the general field, google Hitech Act, health IT workforce development, Bellevue College, and see the Bellevue website at nwhit dot org. That is a good overview of what is available at that level. There is scholarship money and funding available, I think.

Basically what you want is an informatics degree. Part HIM and part computer science. Schools are leaning in this direction, with some leaning more than others, so be careful which you choose. I think some are still in paper record mode. You want one that is solidly in informatics mode, hence the recommendation for WGU. You also do not want massive debt, hence WGU again.

Western Governors University has an AHIMA-accredited RHIA program in health informatics. Their computer science programs are excellent. They do a lot of training for Microsoft and other computer giants and are funded by them. Their tuition is very reasonable. WGU is not a diploma mill-it is a real university. It is completely online and geared toward that rather than offering online as an afterthought like traditional univesities.

Right now, that would probably be your best bet. It would be far better than repeating an associates in in IT or doing work at a 30K for-profit diploma mill.

You would be able to do a master's in health IT afterward, too. There are more master's programs in HIT than bachelor's right now.

Be sure you do an RHIA program. It opens doors. You need that and if you do not do it with the IT, you will end up doing it later at considerable expense.

Thanks for your post. I was looking at WGU but will get more info from them. - Thanks

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

degree - pumpernickel

[ In Reply To ..]
The best way I have found to find out what kind of degree I need is to look at job postings and see exactly what employers are looking for. The best one for healthcare IT is HIMSS. Google their main page, then click on Professional Development, then on Job Mine. Basically all of these jobs require a bachelor's or master's, so this isn't for the random person on this site reading this who would like to do something different by tomorrow. You can look at different job postings and check out the educational requirements and get a better feel for what you need to have to get the job you want.

Similar Messages:

Jan 16, 2011

Has anyone else answered ads for them. You do a really EASY test. They offer to train you for free.. then send you emails... basically to schedule a job interview. You text them. They send you this agreement, which says that in order to work for them you need to plunk out $450 to buy their software.. This does not quite seem on the level to me.. I have been working in this industry going on 20 years. I work in house right now.. but job situation is precariou ...

Jan 26, 2011

Anyone work for Meridian who can tell me if their tax forms were received yet? ...

Mar 25, 2011

Has anyone heard of or done business with this company? They are offering employment after I take their "tests" and possibly purchase software or textbooks. Just wanted to make sure the company is on the up and up. Any information you can provide me would be greatly appreciated. ...

Nov 03, 2011

If anyone sees ads for Tracobi Healthcare, don't apply. Just got an e-mail from them (guess they thought I was a company), and they were advertising that although they're a USA based company, most of their work is offshore in India at a MUCH LOWER fee!! Just a warning to save you time in applying. ...

May 20, 2012

Well, I've done it -- I've changed to something else for work other than anything in healthcare. I was an MT for many years, and I can't see any future for decent earnings, benefits or growth unless a person wants to be in direct patient care -- if they can even break into it after all of the hard work to earn another degree. I do have a university degree and changed to a job that pertains to that degree. I have seen many organizations go to Epic, which is an excellent system by t ...

Jun 23, 2012

Does anyone have experience with this company?? Their ad doesn't give a whole lot of information. It doesn't state whether it is IC or employee status, and no mention of benefits. Would like to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly! If anyone knows either by personal experience or word of mouth I would greatly appreciate letting me know. Thanks! ...

Jul 16, 2012

Unit clerks, physical therapy aides, central service techs, radiology techs, housekeeping...anyone but us? And the main difference is - we work at home alone, disorganized and unable to do anything for ourselves. They know this, and they exploit it. ...

Jul 24, 2013

Ascend Healthcare, LLC - Does anyone have experience working for them? ...

Jun 30, 2010

Does anyone work for Meridian Healthcare Solutions out of Indianapolis? Anything good or bad about them would be appreciated. Thanks. ...

Jun 14, 2010

See for yourself: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=555879&publicationSubCategoryId=71 Offshore medical transcription companies who are probably losing clients because of the US recession are 'fooling' themselves (and others) by saying they can expand their businesses because of the Healthcare Reform and the need for more health information exchange. This is very upsetting! ...

Jun 14, 2010

This group thinks that they can expand their businesses because of the Healthcare Reform and the need for more health information exchange! Uggghh! MT group to provide more training programs (The Philippine Star) Updated March 08, 2010 12:00 AM MANILA, Philippines - The Medical Transcription Industry Association of the Philippines Inc. (MTIAPI) recently concluded its first short but intensive course in Basic Medical Coding and Billing held at the Phili ...

Nov 16, 2010

Can anyone give me info on this company? ...

Mar 09, 2011

Has anyone heard of Healthcare Employment? They are, I think, located in Florida and paying from .05 to .11 cpl. They have a training program which is free but the books cost $60, but the course is not mandatory. ...

May 18, 2011

Is this common practice? I've worked for them for 7 years and now they are cutting our pay? I havent had a raise in those 7 years, and inflation just so happens to be raising all my gas bills, grocery, clothes, and utility bills... but i should take a pay cut? Is there ANY good company to work for out there that will pay 11 cpl or more ? I mean for heavens sake, I've got about 15 years experience... i'm not asking for more than mere chump change, but the ...

Jul 09, 2012

Is anyone else having trouble getting work at Meridian? Looking through the archives, it seems some have plenty and others very little, though the couple with plenty was a few months ago. It seems the accounts have been on extended holiday since xmas, then New Year's, then Easter, then July 4th, it's never-ending. We were also told that they were NOT hiring new MTs to service new accounts, yet there was an ad out for 30 new MTs! ...

Sep 05, 2012

xx ...

Sep 09, 2012

Their blog, it tells the whole story. She talks about what program she attended, what her plans are, it's all there. ...

Dec 28, 2012

latest victims of the MedQuist "M*Modal" world domination. I hear they were strong-armed into the buyout because Meridian was using M*Modal's software program (?) it was a case of "sell out or lose the platform." another transcription agency to stay the hellions away from. Meridian ...

Feb 23, 2013

Hey all, just wondering if by some miracle that everything is working out okay for you ? I was so sorry for all of you when MedQuist took you over, and was so glad I was able to get out last year before it happened. Is everyone doing okay ? ...

Sep 17, 2014

Hello, I am currently a HDS student and have a few questions about what happens after post graduation. What is the lowest, medium, and highest pay that an HDS gets a week, month and year for Nuance? ...

Mar 26, 2010

Just one last thing for you to think about: take a look at this list of the fastest growing occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Almost all of these careers are in computers or healthcare and expected to grow in demand in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Lets go back to SCHOOL! Computer software engineers, applications Computer support specialists Computer software engineers, systems software Network and computer systems administrators Network systems and data communicati ...

Oct 02, 2010

I was wondering if anyone uses United Healthcare HSA plan? If so, do you like it? TIA ...

Nov 30, 2010

Any recent info on Ascend/Portal Healthcare in VA? Thanks in advance for any info!! Trying to decide between them and another... ...

Nov 08, 2011

Anyone have any recent experience with Meridian Healthcare out of Indiana? ...

Nov 15, 2011

Am so frustrated with the high price of family medical insurance with this company.$300 biweekly is so outrageous. I think we all need to send e-mails to the CEO asking for less expensive healthcare! Power in numbers...... maybe? ...

Jan 18, 2012

Any feedback on Meridian? I just got a call from them for an interview. I would like feedback on them before I call them back. What platform do they use? What is their pay like, etc. Thanks! ...

Jul 01, 2014

Good morning Earthlings and Martians and Jupiternites !! This is for those of you who were hired on at Ascend recently for the big new account that went live a few weeks ago. WHAT THE FIREBALLS OF HADES HAPPENED? One day we're working, the next they're letting us go. Did they LOSE the account THAT QUICKLY? I went to log on yesterday and was unable to do so. How is it even humanly possible to lose an account you only had for a week? Were we h ...

Oct 26, 2014

I worked for them for a bit over a month. During that period of time, I was involved in a move, and they required a VPN, as did the other company that I was working for at the time. When I moved to my new location, I was on a DSL line and of course, off the internet for about 2 days or so. At that time, I was using Word 2003. During my "hiatus" from the move, and when I got on line, I received an email from them, that I needed to update. Well, the "update" did not w ...

Dec 08, 2014

Does anyone transcribe for Meridian account in NJ. If so, what are your feelings, love it, hate it, any input at all . . . I have plenty input if anyone wants to discuss ...

Aug 02, 2010

nm ...