Working as a Health Information Technician
Professionals holding the RHIT credential are health information technicians who:
- Ensure the quality of medical records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems.
- Use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs.
- Often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research.
- An additional role for RHITs is cancer registrars – compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients.
A Variety of Settings
Although most RHITs work in hospitals, they also are found in other healthcare settings including office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, and public health agencies. In fact, RHITs may be employed in any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors.