IT in the Healthcare Industry

In tough economic times, stability in an industry is more important than ever. For those individuals who can adapt and learn on the job, and enjoy working in an exciting, fast-paced, cutting-edge work place, looking into the growing industry of health care information technology is definitely worthy of their time. Due to the sudden boost in the use of technology in hospitals medical informatics has become an ever increasing job sector. New technological systems are necessitating the need for bright, computer savvy individuals to work in the public and private sphere of health care.

A 2004 report produced by MedPac for the United States Congress says that health care IT "has the potential to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of health care." At the time of the report, health care IT had yet to spread throughout the industry. Many of the technologies that are now being implemented were simply too expensive or unmanageable to try in the past, but improvements in both hardware and software have made them feasible. Some of these technologies include:

Today, we see health care IT systems in use from companies like Google (in their employee health clinic system) to the United States government. The new president has committed to increasing the utilization of EHR (electronic health records), in both the public and private sectors, thus creating new jobs for systems technicians, data management professionals, and nurses.

There have also been exciting advances in the implementation of RFID (radio frequency identification device) chips. RFID chips are exceedingly small and transmit a radio signal that can be used in compliance with implants to transmit information into a patient's electronic health record and then straight to a patient's doctor. This technology has revolutionary implications: doctors will soon be able to monitor all the vital changes in a patient without having to see him in person. The introduction of RFID integrated medical devices will also provide new opportunities for IT specialists trained in their use and management, particularly RFID transmitter technicians who can diagnose any trouble that might arise with implants and devices that use RFID technology. The United States ' Air Force and other organizations have already implemented this technology and jobs are in high demand.

Kodak and a few other imaging companies have made strides in the implementation of PACS. PACS is a data management system for digital images and medical information that enables a doctor to have a patient's entire medical imaging history at his or her fingertips. Before the implementation of PACS, films were often lost or misplaced and referring clinics were unable to see the records. Now doctors can immediately view the records and send them straight to specialists for consultation if need be. The United States Department of Defense has contracted with Kodak to implement PACS into their systems. The soon-to-be high use of PACS will create many positions in the medical informatics field.

Computer Physician Order Entry (CPOE) is another health care IT system that has seen a recent explosion in use. CPOE is a system that physicians (particularly those working in hospitals) can use to keep track of the various medications being given to their patients. Since every patient reacts to medication differently, dosage and drug information on an individual level is invaluable to a physician, especially if he is seeing the patient for the first time. The information is also shared with nurses, pharmacists, and other appropriate medical professionals to make sure that the patient receives the proper medication in the proper doses. The application of CPOE systems will greatly increase the demand for CPOE specialists, who will be called upon to maintain and manage the huge amounts of data the CPOE systems hold. The Department of Veterans Affairs has already implemented a CPOE system that has been heralded as a complete success.

In the end, even with the recent recession, the health care IT industry continues to grow. More implementation of health care IT seems inevitable in the coming years. Conditions are perfect for the industry's continuing stability and success, making information technology an ideal career.