Health Information Technology LOWDL meeting May 20, 2010

Today’s Presentation What is Health IT? Legislation and Trends Adoption of EHR Occupations Using Health IT Skills Health Information Technicians Employers’ Perspective Existing Programs Training Needs and Recommendations

What is Health IT? Health Information Technology is: “the application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for communication and decision making.” Source: Brailer, D., & Thompson, T. (2004). Health IT strategic framework. Washington, DC: Department of Health and Human Services

Legislation and Trends Health IT is one of the top health care trend or issue of Health IT is expected to make patient care safer and more effective, save money, and improve the efficiency of the system. Goal: adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR). 10-year long process to establish EHRs at all levels of healthcare started by the Bush Administration in 2004 and affirmed in CA in In 2009 ARRA allocated $36 billion for establishing EHRs and training the necessary workforce.

Adoption of EHR The use of EHRs is growing more slowly in the US than in other parts of the world. Within the US, adoption varies by geographic area and type of organization. In CA, most health care workers still practice in paper-based (as opposed to electronic) environments. Only ¼ of CA hospitals are fully using bar coding technology for tracking lab specimens and only 13% report using EHRs. In 2008, about 38% of physician offices were using some level of electronic record systems. Source: California HealthCare Foundation, “Snapshot: The State of Health Information Technology in California”, 2008.

Occupations Using Health IT Skills Virtually all health care workers may need to have health IT skills. For example: – Health information technicians – Medical coding and billing – Health care practitioners (physicians, nurses etc.) – EHR implementation: consultants, information technology specialists, technology analysts, instructors/trainers and clinical experts.

Health Information Technicians The only job category directly related to health IT with an SOC code and labor market information available is “Medical Records and Health Information Technicians”. Projections for LA/OC from 2009 to 2014: 715 new jobs (12% growth). New + replacement jobs: 1,511 openings (26% of all of the jobs in this occupation). Source: EMSI 1,511 job openings in LA/OC represents 866 more openings than students who will complete local programs. Average wage $18.22/hr. Moderate number of new jobs to fill but need for incumbent worker training to adapt to EHR adoption.

What do HIT do? “The health information technician (HIT) assures that documentation is consistent with professional standards and licensure requirements. HITs monitor and track information recorded in a patient's medical record which includes the medical history, physical examination, progress notes reflecting treatment, and laboratory and radiology reports. Interacting with physicians, administrators, nurses and other allied health professionals, the HIT quantifies, manages, and interprets the health record data that becomes the basis for crucial medical and financial decisions. The HIT functions as the patient advocate in protecting the confidentiality of sensitive health care information recorded in the medical record. Source: Cypress College Health Information Technician Program description.

Employers’ Perspective Health IT is one of the top issues. Evolving field. Employers have different levels of use of EHR, staffing patterns, hiring needs and training needs in regards to health IT. Workforce development needs vary in each district based on the local health care employers. Important to talk with local employers regularly to understand their needs and be informed about how the adoption of EHR is affecting them.

Existing Programs A.S. and certificate programs available at: – Cypress College – East Los Angeles College – Private schools (Drew, DeVry and ITT Tech). The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) announced $120 million in funding available in 2010 for the Health IT Workforce Development Program. – New short-term programs: Grants for HIT recently awarded to community colleges (e.g. Los Rios grant in collaboration with Cypress, ELAC, Orange Coast and Santa Monica).

Training Needs and Recommendations New Health IT programs based on local demand (may be different from HIT programs at Cypress and ELAC). Incumbent worker training: short term programs and contract education. Add health IT courses to other health care programs. Distance learning, online classes. Re-evaluate needs on a regular basis because of the dynamic nature of the field. Coordinate colleges’ efforts in health IT to leverage resources and avoid destructive competition or oversupply of HIT.

Thank you! Full report available at For more information, contact Audrey Reille, Center of Excellence Director (909)