Essential
Skills Expected of a Health Information Technician
Successful
completion of the HIT program requires the student to participate
in and satisfy the directed practice portion of the program. Students
attend a variety of clinical settings including but not limited
to hospitals, long term care centers, ambulatory settings, specialty
treatment facilities, and managed care facilities. Participation
in directed practice requires that the student have basic abilities
that allow the student to perform successfully. Students may be
expected to perform satisfactorily in the following domains: |
Physical
The
student should be able to:
- View
computer screens for long periods of time.
- Use
keyboard or input devices to enter data into computer.
- Have
good hand-eye coordination skills to enter data, answer
phones, and write.
- Lift
light objects such as medical records and code books and
push carts loaded with records.
- Spend
long periods of time sitting.
- Hear
adequately enough to permit contact with patients, physicians
and other employees.
- Interpret reading material correctly, spell accurately
and regularly communicate health information in written
and verbal format.
|
Cognitive
The
student should be able to:
- Demonstrate
the interpersonal skills necessary to regularly interact
effectively with patients families, physicians, co-workers
and other facility personnel.
- Demonstrate
the organizational and time management skills necessary
to carry out multiple functions on a daily basis.
- Follow
job related logical thought processes to make judgments.
- Take
initiative and work independently, yet recognize self
limitations.
- Regularly
accept guidance and supervision from superiors.
- Demonstrate
prolonged concentration skills in activities like coding
and abstracting.
- Apply
numeric logic and analytical skills in interpretation
and presentation of data.
|
Emotional/Psychological
The
student should be able to:
- Cope
in an appropriate manner to common job related stressful
situations.
- Articulate
ideas and communicate information clearly.
- Exhibit
flexibility in response to shifting priorities.
- Display
a courteous and professional manner through interaction,
appearance, and attitude.
- Keep
confidential material confidential.
- Meet
the ethical standards of the profession.
|
| The
above statements were derived in part from job descriptions and
work expectations from various employers of health information technicians.
Each student’s right to participation in the directed practice
portion of the curriculum is also contingent upon compliance with
the rules of the clinical site. The clinical site has the sole discretion
to determine when its rules have been violated. |
