Career Quest Learning Centers, in Lansing, Mich., has introduced a new Health Information Technology program to meet employer demands for new workers to handle federally mandated electronic health records. Classes begin Feb. 1 at Michigan campuses in Lansing, Jackson and Kalamazoo.

The digitizing of patient records across the country is creating new jobs, officials said, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 35,000 jobs nationwide will be created for employees who will work with and manage patient health records.
 
Students who enroll in the program will finish in less than a year. Classes are offered both nights and during the day to accommodate the needs of working adults.
 
“Health Information Technology is one of the fastest growing programs in the field of healthcare right now,” said Cindy Whittum, director of career services at Career Quest Learning Centers in Lansing. “Career Quest Learning Centers has developed a concentrated program for students who want to get into this field now – not years from now. Our students can get in on the ground floor. It’s a great way to get ahead in this new program.”

The Health Information Technology program at Career Quest is a 900 hour, or 47-semester credits, program. The program was designed to prepare students to enter a career with the skills employers are looking for. The aim of the program is to provide students with foundation computer skills an understanding and fluency in using medical terminology, regulations and payer systems.

Graduates of the program will be prepared to work with electronic medical records in hospitals, clinics, medical labs or in any healthcare setting. To enroll in the course, students must have a high school diploma or GED. 

Training will be delivered in a combination of lab, lecture and work-based environments, provided by instructors with healthcare career experience. All students completing the Health Information Technology program will complete a work externship giving them a real-life healthcare work experience. The curriculum for the program, like other Career Quest programs, was developed with the assistance of an employer advisory board to ensure the value and accuracy of course content as matched to current workplace needs, officials said.