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What is Health Information Technology?
Health Information Technology refers to the framework used to manage health information, and the exchange of health information in a digital format. Professionals who work in health IT are focused on the technical side of managing health information, working with software and hardware used to manage and store patient data. HIT professionals are usually from Information Technology backgrounds, and provide support for electronic health records and other systems HIM professionals use to secure health information.

What is Health Informatics?
Health Informatics (HI) is a science that defines how health information is technically captured, transmitted and utilized. Health informatics focuses on information systems, informatics principles, and information technology as it is applied to the continuum of healthcare delivery. It is an integrated discipline with specialty domains that include management science, management engineering principles, healthcare delivery and public health, patient safety, information science and computer technology. Health Informatics programs demonstrate uniqueness by offering varied options for practice or research focus.

There are four major focus research areas in informatics education reflecting various disciplines:

Medical/Bio Informatics - physician and research based, attracts medical students
Nursing Informatics - clinical and research based, attracts nursing students
Public Health Informatics - public health and biosurveillance based, attracts public health students
Applied Informatics - addresses the flow of medical information in an electronic environment and covers process, policy and technological solutions, attracts HIM students