Health Information Specialist

Health Information Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities:

Health Information Specialists obtain, post, and analyze medical, workload, finance, and insurance data.  They ensure that this information is properly recorded into medical records so practitioners can plan and evaluate health care provided to patients.

There are a variety of job specialties within this field including Registered Record Administrators, Accredited Record Technicians, and Certified Coding Specialists.  Administrators coordinate the various information management responsibilities and supervise record technicians and coding specialists.  Record technicians ensure medical records are accurate, coordinate reimbursement, and maintain disease registries for research.  Coding specialists assign and post correct diagnosis and procedure codes to records and report codes to insurance companies.

Health information specialists work in hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, physician offices, and many other medical settings.

Average Salary(yearly):    $20,000 - $25,000 (Coding Specialists) 

$23,000 - $30,000 (Record Technicians) 

$30,000 - $40,000 (Record Administrators)

Educational Requirements:

            Student should take courses in business, information management, science, math, and English during high school.

            Coding Specialists must have a high school diploma or GED. You are usually trained on-site, but classes are offered at technical schools and junior colleges. To be certified you must pass an exam.

            Accredited record technicians must earn an associate’s degree from an accredited college program or a certified American Health Information Management Association Independent Study Program.

            Record Administrators must have a bachelor’s degree program completed in their field and pass an exam for certification.

I do not believe that would like to be a Health Information Specialist because I don't enjoy this type of work in the medical field.

Student Success Statement #28

"Good thoughts bear good fruits. Bad thoughts bear bad fruit"

-  James Allen

Reflection: When he talks about though bearing certain fruits, me means that whatever sort of thought you bear, it would later manifest itself in actions. If you think about doing something bad, then more than likely, you would do something that would negatively impact yourself  or others. But if you think postively then you would more than likely impact the world positively.

Genetic Counselor

Genetic Counselor

Duties and Responsibilities:

            Genetic Counselors work with patients and families who have genetic, or inherited, disorders and birth defects.  They also counsel people who are at risk for these problems.  Genetic counselors often:

• ·        Educate patients and families on how to solve their problems with genetic disorders
• ·        Look at possibility of disorder through family line
• ·        Help to find solutions that do not interfere with religion or ethics
• ·        Conduct research about genetic disorders.
• ·        Educate the public about the genetic disorders

Average Salary:  $25,000 - $55,000

Educational Requirements:

Students interested in becoming genetic counselors should take a challenging high school curriculum that emphasizes science and mathematics.

A master’s degree is necessary. Most graduate programs want a person with a strong undergraduate background in biology, chemistry, and behavioral science. Many states have the requirement for genetic counselors to be certified.

             CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

I do not believe I would like to be a genetic counselor because I would not have the patience and do not have the ability to explain situations to families about genetic disorders.

Student Success Statement #27

"I wasn't trying to leave a legacy. I was trying to do what was right."

- Dean Smith

Reflection: He seems like an amazing person. That should be everyone's primary goal in life aside from survival. One should live with the goodness in one's heart by doing what is right rather than for the fame or money. You will eventually get noticed if you do what is right constantly because it's hard to find people who choose to do right all the time. I make the error of doing wrong sometimes but not because I'm a bad person. It's because I'm a human and I'm still learning on how the world revolves.

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologist

http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/car1a.html

Duties and Responsibilities:

            Epidemiologists study the frequency and distribution of diseases within human populations and environments. Specifically, they measure the incidence of disease occurrence and relate it to different characteristics of populations and environments. Epidemiologists perform research, education, and public health practice in universities, government agencies, international organizations, and private corporations. Epidemiologists often:

·        Work on developing or refining methods of measuring and evaluation disease occurrences.

·        Develop and recommend public health policy.

·        Study or research chronic diseases, infectious disease outbreaks, injuries, occupations, and environments.

Average Salary: $30,000 - $50,000

Educational Requirements:

            Students should take the most challenging high school courses (including AP or IB courses) available in science, math, and English.

            Epidemiologists have, as a minimum, master’s degrees in public health. Undergraduate requirement for admissions into public health graduate programs vary by schools but usually include strong backgrounds in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and or statistics.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

            I do believe it would be interesting to be an epidemiologist because it would fascinate me to learn about diseases.

Student Success Statement #26

"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."

- Aristotle

Reflection: If one does no teach the heart then one would never be able to succeed. One needs the heart to give yourself a drive to wake up every morning to know that one will look to succeed in what the heart loves. It'll wake you up to tell you that today may be a big day. It also teaches moral values. Without the knowledge of these values then one would not be able to succeed because one would not be able to create connections and network with people causing life to be nearly impossible.

Environmental Health Specialist

Environmental Health Specialist

http://library.thinkquest.org/15569/car1a.html

Duties and Responsibilities:

            Sanitarians, or environmental health specialists, enforce government regulations and advise and educate clients. They also improve water and sanitation facilities and are involved in improving the quality of community environments. They often:

·        Collect and analyze samples.

·        Screen samples for possible health hazards.

·        Design or manage sanitation, disposal, and water systems.

·        Oversee disposal of infectious wastes.

·        Develop and manage prevention and education programs.

·        Evaluate and identify health hazards and ensure compliance with regulations.

Average Salary: $25,000 - $50,000

Educational Requirements:

            Students should take college preparatory courses especially in mathematics and science during high school.

            A career as a sanitarian or environmental health specialist requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in environmental health or environmental engineering. Many jobs require certification and/or a Master’s Degree in these, or related fields.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

I do not believe that I would like to be a Environmental Health Specialist because I would not enjoy being in a profession in the environment.