3 IT jobs in health care

Computers are revolutionizing the health care industry, even though many of the changes might not be evident to the casual observer. Chances are that if you've been to the doctor lately, he or she carried an old-fashioned folder filled with paper medical records into the exam room. 

But information technology already plays a major role in health care, from the way patient data is stored to how diseases are diagnosed and treated. And its influence is likely to grow. For just one example, President Barack Obama's administration has set a goal for most doctors and hospitals to use computerized medical records by 2015, and aims to invest up to $27 billion in incentive payments.

So it follows that the health care industry has a wide range of IT jobs, three of which are listed below. Salary information comes from CBSalary.com.

Health information technicians
What they do: These workers collect and organize health data, update national cancer registries and code medical bills for correct insurance reimbursement, among other responsibilities. Hospitals' increasing reliance on electronic health records, combined with the aging of the population, means excellent job prospects. Employment is expected to grow 20 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 
What they need: An associate degree, along with certification through the American Health Information Management Association or other appropriate certifying bodies
What they earn: The national average salary for a registered health information technician is $23,209. However, the field appears to provide significant room for advancement. The 25th percentile earns $19,510, but the 75th percentile shoots up to $78,905.

PACS administrator
What they do: The interior of the human body is no longer the mystery it once was thanks to medical imaging techniques like X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and mammography. Digital images produced by these machines can be stored, processed and shared through picture archiving and communication systems, or PACS. The technology provides better access to the images and saves space and time compared to the old film storage methods. PACS administrators are responsible for network management, user management, system monitoring, security and other tasks.
What they need: A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Some employers prefer a background in radiology, the medical specialty that relies most heavily on PACS.
What they earn: CBSalary.com doesn't track PACS network administrators per se, but it does provide information on network administrators in general. They earn an average $69,048, with the 25th percentile at $48,787 and the 75th percentile at $95,166.

Software engineer
What they do: Much of the health care software on the market today aids in medical billing, hospital administration or the maintenance of patient records. But it has more imaginative uses, too. For example, programmers and researchers at the University of Washington created an online game called Foldit that allows players to compete to create the best proteins. The innate puzzle-solving ability of these regular folks, combined with the software, has led to some useful medical discoveries -- most recently, the structure of an enzyme that allows the AIDS virus to reproduce. 
What they need: A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related discipline. Some positions require advanced degrees.
What they earn: $97,581, with the 25th percentile at $78,512 and the 75th percentile at $134,628, according to CBSalary.com.