Attention IT professionals: America needs you to help cure ailing public and private health care data systems. While many career aspirants have chosen the broad field of information technology for their future, there's a dire need for specialized, well-trained health information technology specialists everywhere. Are you up for the challenge? There's a lot at stake. Physicians, hospitals, and clinics face an overwhelming deluge of public and private medical records, sweeping changes in digitally transmitted insurance reports and regulations, as well as billing and collections. This mountain of data has affected healthcare quality, speed of service and overall patient safety. You can make a difference.

To meet some of these needs, medical specialty and business schools have stepped up their accelerated coursework to provide training through IT network, data maintenance, medical transcription, and coding programs. Many entry-level health information technicians hold associate degrees or special certifications. You'll find health information technology training programs near you, or on the web. Many have flexible, accelerated programs that prepare you for the workplace. Most programs offer direct training in medical terminology, physiology and anatomy, database software and health information technology management, as well as specializations in coding and patient-physician-insurance correspondence. You may also choose to receive certification by taking the exam by the American Health Information Management Association to become a Registered Health Information Technician. Because of the rapidly aging national population, grads of health information technology training programs will also find jobs in nursing homes, extended-care facilities, outpatient clinics, and with private billing and transcription service agencies. Some technologists even work from home.