MIDDLETOWN — In an effort to address a growing demand, Miami University has decided to offer a new bachelor’s degree in health information technology at its Hamilton and Middletown regional branches.

The Health Information Technology Program was approved by the Ohio Board of Regents in August and will officially launch in January 2012, said Jan Toennisson, a spokeswoman for Miami University.

The bachelor’s completion program in health information and technology also will be offered some classes at Greentree Health Science Academy starting in January.

Health information technology lets health care providers manage patient care through secure use and sharing of health information. It promotes the use of electronic health records (EHRs) instead of paper medical records to maintain health information for patients and medical professionals, university officials said.

Cathy Bishop-Clark, chair and professor of Computer & Information Technology for Miami University, said the federal government is putting a lot of money into electronic medical record systems.

“Whenever you look at the projections for future needs, health care is one of the few that have a continued need for a long time. We all know we’re an aging society, more and more resources are going into health care, and that includes technology as health care,” she said.

“The essence of why we did this is there’s a need, there’s expected to be a continued need and part of our mission is to serve the needs of the region.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of health information professionals is expected to increase by 20 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations, through 2018.

With the increasing use of electronic health records, more professionals will be needed to complete the new responsibilities associated with electronic data management, university officials said.

Without any advertising and by word of mouth, Clark said about 60 students have expressed interest in the program.

Clark said those students are individuals from high school to people who already have degrees. They range in age from 18 years and older and include some Miami students who learned about the program from faculty members.

“Some of those students already have associate degrees in information technology and now they’re going to keep going and get a bachelor’s degree in health information technology,” she said.

The university also has talked to people who already have degrees or individuals who work in hospitals that are interested in the new program, she said.