Faculty Spotlight: Amanda Kraus, MIRM Department Chair and Associate Professor

What excites you most about Health IT?

What I love about Health IT is the combination of clinical and technical aspects. Understanding the needs of the healthcare team, and being able to put them into action is not only exciting, but rewarding.

What are employers looking for when hiring for this field?

Employers look for people who commit to continuing education, are adaptable – to new technologies, new groups of users, etc.,  are problem-solvers, and have excellent interpersonal communication skills.

What are the two most important skills a candidate can have?

Communication and customer service are key! We are generally the first line of defense for a frustrated user. Regardless of whether that user is the CMIO or a CNA, the issue they are experiencing is affecting their functionality. Being customer-focused and communicating with them every step of the way will reduce their anxiety, even if the problem can’t be resolved immediately. Early on in my career, the phrase “delight your customers,” was passed-around my facility, and has always stuck with me. Be the person end-users hope to hear on the other end of the line when they call the Help Desk, or the system administrator that meets with the department to understand their workflow and make changes to an ill-functioning process. There are many talented Health IT professionals; set yourself apart with excellent communication and customer service!

What trends do you see or anticipate?

I anticipate AI to be at the forefront of Health IT for quite some time. The benefits it may offer to all aspects of healthcare are yet to be fully-determined. With this also come the potential pitfalls – what are the legal ramifications of AI? What rights do patients have with this technology? These conversations are just getting started – I highly suggest you stay up-to-speed on this discussion!

Why do you like teaching Health IT?

Health IT is constantly evolving, and offers endless opportunities for learners (of all ages and professional experience) to expand their knowledge. Being a positive part of that process for my students, and helping them to realize their fullest potential, is one of the best contributions I can make to the industry.

Amanda Kraus graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Health Information Management. She is RHIA-certified through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Amanda spent 14 years at Saint Luke’s Health System, beginning in HIM as a student intern, and ending in Information Technology as a system administrator and project lead for a variety of applications, including the EHR, dictation/transcription system, RIS/PACS, and document imaging. She began teaching full-time at JCCC in the fall of 2016, and is now a professor and department chair for the Medical Information & Revenue Management department.