Health Information Management

 

Career Opportunities

The Health Information Management Field has many career paths from which to choose.  Depending upon one’s degree choice, and interests, a foundation in Health Information Management can lead to a variety of careers.  For example, if an individual has an interest in computers, combining the fields of Health Information Management and Computer Science or Information Technology will allow an individual to work in the field of electronic medical records while a person who has an interest in Accounting can combine Health Information Management with Accounting and work in Healthcare Finance which is a growing field.  Another individual might choose to enter the field of medical coding and reimbursement.  Thus, Health Information Management may be tailored for your specific interests.  

Here is a list of some common career paths.

 

Coding and Reimbursement Specialist: A medical coder and reimbursement specialist review various medical documents provided by physicians, and other healthcare professionals. Coders then translate the medical information into appropriate numeric codes. The accuracy of these codes is extremely important because the codes determine the amount of money that the hospital or healthcare professional will receive from Medicare and/or private insurance companies.  These codes are also used for statistical purposes to track morbidity and mortality rates.  Individuals who are detailed oriented and enjoy studying pathology, anatomy, and medical terminology will excel at this field. Coders are in high demand due to a national shortage. Most coders have specialized coding certifications.

 

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT): Registered Health Information Technicians have an associate degree and have passed the Registered Health Information Technician Exam. These individuals have titles such as Health Data Analyst, Insurance Claims Analyst, Records Technician Specialist, Clinical Coding Specialist, Physician Practice Manager, and Patient Information Coordinator. RHITs work in a variety of departments within a healthcare facility.

 

Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA): Registered Health Information Administrators have a bachelor degree and have passed the Registered Health Information Administrator Exam. These individuals usually work in management have titles such as HIM Department Director; HIM System Manager, Data Quality Manager, Information Security Officer, HIM College Instructor, Consultant.

 

Hospital Administration: Hospital Administrators usually have a bachelor or graduate degree. These individuals work as Administrators, Vice-Presidents, and other senior team leaders in healthcare facilities. Many of these individuals have traditional business roles within hospitals. For example many work in human resources, marketing, finance etc.

For more information about HIM Careers Contact: American Health Information Management Association, 233 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60601-5519; 312-233-1100; www.ahima.org