What Is a Health Information Technician?

If you're exploring career options in healthcare, you may have come across the field of health information technology and wondered what it involves. A health information technician helps manage, organize, protect and maintain patient health information used throughout healthcare systems.¹

Understanding what health information technicians do and where they work may help you determine whether this type of career path aligns with your interests and strengths.

What Is Health Information Technology As Used By a Health Information Technician

Health information technology is part of the broader practice of health information management (HIM), which focuses on acquiring, analyzing and protecting the medical information needed to support quality patient care. The field combines knowledge from healthcare, business, science and information technology to help ensure patient information is managed throughout the healthcare delivery process.¹

Health information professionals are trained in managing health information and electronic health records (EHRs) across a variety of healthcare settings. They help ensure patient information is complete, accurate and protected while serving as a link between clinicians, administrators, technology professionals and other members of the healthcare team.¹

What Does a Health Information Technician Do?

Health information technicians help manage health information and electronic health records used throughout healthcare organizations. Their work supports the quality, integrity and protection of patient information while helping healthcare providers and organizations maintain accurate and reliable health records.¹

Depending on the role and work setting, health information technicians may:

• Help manage health information and electronic health record systems¹
• Review patient records for completeness and accuracy¹
• Help protect the privacy, security and integrity of patient health information¹
• Classify diseases and treatments using standardized coding systems for clinical, financial and legal purposes¹
• Support the quality and organization of health information used throughout healthcare delivery¹

How Do Health Information Technicians Fit Into the Healthcare Team?

Although health information technicians may have limited direct patient interaction, their work supports healthcare operations and contributes to the availability of reliable patient information used in patient care. By helping maintain complete, accurate and protected health records, they contribute to the availability of reliable information used throughout the healthcare system.¹

Health information professionals also serve as a bridge between clinicians, administrators, operations teams and information technology professionals, helping ensure health information is managed effectively across healthcare organizations.¹

Individuals who earn the Registered Health Information Technician^® (RHIT^®) credential demonstrate competencies in areas such as reviewing records for completeness and accuracy, assigning standardized codes used for reimbursement and data collection, maintaining data quality, and supporting the management of health information.²

Where Can Health Information Technicians Work?

Health information technicians may work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, physician practices and other healthcare organizations. Their knowledge of health information management and electronic health records may also support roles in long-term care, behavioral health, public health and other environments where patient information must be managed accurately and securely.¹

Professionals with the RHIT credential may also find opportunities in organizations such as insurance companies, government agencies, healthcare technology companies and other industries that rely on effective health information management.²

Exploring a Career as a Health Information Technician

Health information technology combines healthcare knowledge with information management and technology to support the quality, security and accessibility of patient information. Individuals who enjoy detail-oriented work, organization and working with healthcare data may find this field worth exploring.¹

Those interested in pursuing this career path may choose to complete a Health Information Technician program that introduces topics such as health information management, medical coding, healthcare information systems and healthcare regulations while preparing students with foundational skills used in the field. Depending on the program and individual qualifications, graduates may be prepared to pursue professional credentials such as the Registered Health Information Technician^® (RHIT^®), where eligibility requirements are met.³

Earning a degree does not guarantee employment or specific job outcomes. Employment conditions in your area may vary.

¹American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA^®), Health Information 101, https://www.ahima.org/about/health-data-and-information/health-information-101/ (accessed May 8, 2026).
²American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA^®), Registered Health Information Technician^® (RHIT^®), https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/rhit/ (accessed May 8, 2026).
³Rasmussen University, Health Information Technology Associate's Degree, (appropriate program URL) (accessed May 8, 2026).

Registered Health Information Technician^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association, 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.
RHIT^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association, 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.
American Health Information Management Association^® (AHIMA^®) is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association, 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.
AHIMA^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association, 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.