Associate's in Health Information Technology

Is a career in health information technology right for me?

Health information technology is the perfect program for people who want to contribute to quality patient care from behind-the-scenes. Individuals who specialize in this area enjoy working with health care professionals and computer technology.

What's the job outlook?

Health information technicians play a critical role in health care organizations by maintaining accurate records and protecting patient health information. Because health care organizations are being held to higher standards, opportunities for health information technicians are plentiful. In fact, employment of health information technicians is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.* At Heald, we can help you prepare for a rewarding career in this growing field.

What will I do with my education?

Graduates of Heald's health information technology program pursue rewarding careers as health data analysts, patient information coordinators, clinical coding specialists and insurance claims analysts. They specialize in administering health care information systems, managing medical records and coding diagnoses and procedures for reimbursement and research purposes.

As a professional in this field, your job responsibilities would likely involve collecting, maintaining and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses, researchers and other health care staff use to treat patients. You could end up working in a hospital, managed care organization, ambulatory care facility, insurance company or even a government agency.

Associate's or Diploma in Medical Assisting

Is a career as a medical assistant right for me?

Medical assistants provide care and comfort to people with health care needs. They're good at multi-tasking and work well as a part of a team.

What's the job outlook?

The demand for health care professionals is at an all-time high. As our population rises and technology advances, the need for high quality services becomes increasingly great. Medical assisting jobs are an instrumental part of this expansion. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012.

What will I do with my education?

Graduates of Heald's medical assisting program pursue rewarding careers in a variety of settings - including family and internal medicine clinics, hospitals, pain centers - and a wide array of specialty areas.

Medical assistants' job duties typically include both clinical and administrative tasks. While clinical duties vary according to state law, medical assistants generally write medical histories, record vital signs, prepare patients for examinations or lab tests, and assist physicians with examinations. They also perform basic tests on the premises, including drawing blood and administering injections. On the administrative side, medical assistants typically update and file patient records, handle insurance forms, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital admissions and lab services, and assist with billing. A Heald degree can help you qualify for positions ranging from clinical medical assistant and lab assistant to patient services representative.

Associate's or Diploma in Medical Office Administration

Is a career in medical office administration right for me?

Medical office administration is the perfect program for people who want to help provide care and comfort to people with medical or dental needs. Individuals who specialize in this area generally have good multi-tasking and communication skills.

What's the job outlook?

The health services industry is thriving, and medical office administration jobs are at the heart of its growth. As our population rises and technology advances, the need for high quality health care services becomes increasingly great. The medical office administration field is an instrumental part of this expansion, so there's never been a better time to follow this career path.

What will I do with my education?

Graduates of Heald's medical office administration program pursue rewarding careers in a variety of positions, including medical office assistant, medical administrative assistant, patient representative and administrative assistant. With this expertise, you can be an integral part of any health care team, responsible for giving patients the most pleasant experience possible.

If you work for a small practice, you might handle general administrative tasks, such as greeting patients, scheduling appointments, filing records, purchasing supplies and equipment, and keeping the waiting and examining rooms in order. You might also educate patients about medication and special diets, and call prescriptions into a pharmacy. In larger practices and hospitals, medical office assistants tend to have particular areas of expertise, such as admissions, or insurance billing and coding.

*Occupational Outlook Quarterly

Associate's in Pharmacy Technology

Is a pharmacy technology career right for me?

Pharmacy Technicians assist licensed pharmacists by providing patients with medication and healthcare products. They have strong customer services skills and are able to multi-task in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

If the following qualities describe you, Pharmacy Technology might be a good career choice:

• Alert, observant, and detail-oriented
• Reliable, responsible and organized
• Willing and able to take direction
• Ethically-minded
• Customer-service focused
• Ability to work independently and
• collaboratively

What's the job outlook?

Pharmacy Technicians play a very critical role in pharmacies and healthcare organizations by handling prescriptions and medication orders and by providing assistance to licensed pharmacists. As retailers expand their pharmaceutical services and new medical treatments are explored, pharmacists' workload will increase. The increased workload will spur growth and the demand for Pharmacy Technicians. In fact, employment for Pharmacy Technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2006 to 2016.

Pharmacy Technology is the perfect field for people who are interested in establishing a career in direct patient care. Employers in today's job market are always looking for candidates who have formal training and previous experience. Heald College will provide you with both training and experience to prepare you for a rewarding career in this growing field.

What will I do with my education?

Graduates of Heald's Pharmacy Technology program pursue rewarding careers in a variety of settings, including including hospitals, nursing homes, retail pharmacies – which include drugstore chains, grocery stores, department stores, or mass retailers, mail-order and web-based pharmacies – pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers, and the federal government.

Your job responsibilities will vary depending on the type of company and the state rules and regulations of your organization's location. You will help licensed pharmacists prepare prescribed medications for patients. You may also establish and maintain patient record files, prepare insurance claim forms, and manage prescription and over-the-counter medication inventories. Additional responsibilities may include reading patients' charts and preparing the appropriate medications. In some occasions, you will work closely with pharmacy aides, performing administrative duties. A Heald degree will provide you hands-on training in laboratory and real-world settings to get you prepared for a career as a Pharmacy Technician.

Program availability may vary by campus and by quarter.