| Information technology has had a profound | | | | allow doctors to instantly view lab results, |
| impact on the health care industry in recent | | | | sync with patient files and order tests as |
| years, and it's no wonder that many IT | | | | well as new applications for pharmacy and |
| professionals are finding more and better | | | | patient care systems becoming more sought |
| employment opportunities in this expanding | | | | after, it is likely that shortages for IT |
| industry. While fluctuations in growth for | | | | personnel needed to implement these |
| other sectors has been a mainstay of the | | | | developments are inevitable." |
| economy in recent years, health care industry | | | | |
| growth shows no signs of slowing down. Due | | | | Whether or not there will be a sufficient |
| to the aging of the baby boomer generation, | | | | supply of information technology degree |
| it is estimated by the US Department of Labor | | | | program graduates to meet demand in the |
| that job opportunities in the health care | | | | health care industry remains to be seen. One |
| field will grow faster than the average for | | | | thing that is certain, however, is that the |
| all other industries through 2014. | | | | database systems and industry specific |
| | | | applications that are becoming standard for |
| Most hospitals, clinics and other health care | | | | health care facilities will undoubtedly |
| facilities have incorporated some level of IT | | | | increase in complexity as time goes on. |
| into their systems, though the increased | | | | |
| complexity is creating a need for | | | | "Without question, the health care industry |
| administrators who possess the advanced | | | | is becoming far more reliant on IT" added |
| technical knowledge to implement and | | | | Alexander. "Between the added security |
| effectively run database systems specifically | | | | resulting from regulations set forth by the |
| created for the the industry. With many | | | | Health Insurance Portability and |
| software developers now offering patient | | | | Accountability Act and the sheer volume of |
| medical and billing information applications | | | | information in the average health care |
| designed to streamline and enhance the input, | | | | facility database, the move toward utilizing |
| security and availability of data, health | | | | information technology as a problem solver is |
| care facilities are heavily recruiting | | | | in full swing." |
| graduates of IT degree programs in order to | | | | |
| incorporate these programs into their | | | | As the health care industry grows, so will |
| existing platforms. | | | | the available job opportunities for those in |
| | | | the IT field. Considering the extent of |
| According to Jeff Alexander, IT project | | | | health care expansion, that could mean |
| manager at St Johns Hospital in Springfield, | | | | several thousand new positions in the very |
| IL, "The move in recent years toward large | | | | near future. |
| scale implementations of industry specific | | | | |
| software applications such as those developed | | | | For more information on IT degree programs, |
| by Meditech, Cerner or McKesson has | | | | visit our site. For IT information and |
| facilitated the increased need for IT | | | | resources, visit our blog. For online and |
| professionals at every level of the | | | | campus based degree programs, visit Search |
| healthcare system. Now, with new | | | | for Classes. |
| technologies such as physician PDA's that | | | | |