1.
How to Break Into Healthcare IT – www.LearnHealthTech.com

2.
• Patients who expect to use technology in
ways similar to other industries, such as
banking
• A push by the Federal Government to
modernize Healthcare systems
• The aging population
Healthcare IT Demand Is Growing,
Due To:

3.
Additionally, many employers continue to have
trouble finding staff with the needed skills for
Healthcare IT, such as:
• A basic understanding of clinical operations
• Project Management skills
• The ability to configure technical applications
for clinical users
More Jobs Than Staff With Skills:

4.
• Applications Analysts
• Project Managers
• Trainers
• Network Engineers
Some High Demand Jobs are:

5.
First off, you do not need a college degree to
get started.
Let’s look at three different kinds of people
who may be trying to break into Healthcare IT:
So, how exactly do you get into
Healthcare IT?

6.
1. Those with some technical skills, but no
Healthcare experience (example: Desktop
Support Tech)
2. Those with some Healthcare experience,
but not much technical expertise (example:
Medical Assistant)
3. Those with no technical or Healthcare
experience
So, how exactly do you get into
Healthcare IT?

7.
Also, be sure to read all the way to the end of this
presentation to see tips that will help anyone who is
trying to get into Healthcare IT.
So, how exactly do you get into
Healthcare IT?

8.
Consider these steps:
1. Take a Medical Terminology class at a local
community college
2. Check news releases from local hospitals’ web sites.
If there is any news about them adopting a new
system (Lab, EMR, ER, or even a new clinical wing),
they may need temporary PC or network support.
Reach out to their HR department even if there are
no related jobs posted
Some Tech Skills, No Healthcare
Skills

9.
Some tech skills, no Healthcare skills (cont.)
3. Apply with local contract technical support
firms, expressing your interest in Healthcare
(example KFORCE in several major cities). Of
course, you may have to work around your
day job
4. Certify as a CompTIA Healthcare IT
Technician. You may need to first get A+
certified link

10.
Some tech skills, no Healthcare skills (cont.)
5. If your regular family doctor is not on
electronic medical records, switch to one
who is. Then…
a) Sign up for a patient portal, such as MyChart so that
you can communicate electronically with your
provider
b) Next time you’re in with the doctor, ask if you can
watch the screen as he/she enters your visit info into
the system

11.
Some tech skills, no Healthcare skills (cont.)
6. Attend local community health fairs, usually
held in Spring and Summer. There you may
be able to connect with hospital staff who
can get you closer to IT. You might even offer
some volunteer skills in IT just to get your
foot in the door

12.
Believe it or not, this person has a better edge
than the previous one.
A phrase I’ve heard many times from hospital IT managers:
“We can teach the technical skills. We need
people who understand our values and vision for
how we care for patients. Technology is just a
means to that end.”
Some Healthcare Skills, No Tech
Skills

13.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
1. Strengthen your basic PC/tech skills. Everyone should
be proficient with these core skills:
a) Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook
b) Basic troubleshooting skills: devices, printers, print jobs,
software installs, etc.
c) Checking for network connectivity
d) Mapping drives and connecting to remote PCs and servers
e) Basic understanding of file security
f) Basic Windows services, task manager, etc.
Community college is the best place to start with this.

14.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
(cont.)
2. Consider the Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
Certification link. This very achievable program
provides a foundation in these areas:
– Windows Operating System Fundamentals
– Windows Server Administration Fundamentals
– Networking Fundamentals
– Security Fundamentals
You can’t go wrong with this step.

15.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
(cont.)
3. If your regular job does not expose you to
technology, like if you work for a single-
provider family doctor on paper- sorry, you
need to change to a place that has an
electronic medical records system. It will most
likely be a medium or large practice; possibly
connected to a hospital system

16.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
(cont.)
4. Once you have some connection to a
hospital IT department through your job,
offer your services as a Subject Matter
Expert (SME) or Super User. Usually the only
requirement is a willingness to learn

17.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
(cont.)
• Subject Matter Expert: A SME is a critical part of
any Healthcare IT project. You advise the
technical staff on the day to day details of your
job that they need to know in order to configure
and implement software that works best for your
area of expertise. You help IT to walk a mile in
your shoes

18.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
(cont.)
• Super User: In a clinic, the majority of the staff
will bring questions first to the Super User instead
of going to IT. The Super User learns how to
troubleshoot basic issues, and then escalates to
IT as needed.
• The Super User may also handle ongoing staff
training in a clinic as new employees are hired

19.
Some Healthcare experience, no technical experience
(cont.)
5. Be prepared to apply for any position in IT that
comes up. You may not start out working with the
software you really want, but a foot in the door is
almost always a good move.
A common starting point from clinic to IT is the Trainer
position. Being a Super User or SME prepares you for
this.

20.
No technical or Healthcare experience
This of course is the harder option. You’ll have
to be prepared to work hard, and there are a
lot of variables to consider such as where you
are in your career path, if you have college
experience, and if you are in management, or
want to be.

21.
1. If you have no technical skills, and want to go
that route, I would start with the advice on
slides 13-14:
• Strengthen your overall tech skills
• Obtain MTA Certification
• And I would add the CompTIA Healthcare IT
Technician Certification
No Technical Or Healthcare Skills

22.
No technical or Healthcare experience
2. If Project Management is your thing, you can
consider these two PM certification options
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
Requires 4-year degree and time spent managing projects
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
Requires 23 hours of Project Management education, which can
come through a community college. Much easier path than PMP
A successful Project Manager can usually get a PM job in
Healthcare IT, even without Healthcare experience

23.
No technical or Healthcare experience
3. Use any of the other ideas presented in these
slides in any order that you think might work!

24.
Learn More About Healthcare IT
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Finally…

25.
Here are some resources that can help anyone at
any stage of their Healthcare IT career:
1. Sign up for a LinkedIn account, even if you don’t
have much resume material. Then join groups on
LinkedIn related to Healthcare IT and start
connecting.
2. Check out my Resources page at
www.learnhealthtech.com/healthcare-
management-resources There are trade groups and
other helpful links.
Learn More About Healthcare IT