Health Information Management: A Good Option for Me?

Health Information Management: A Good Option for Me?

If you have a passion for working in the health industry but don't have the stomach to work directly with wounds and injuries, enrolling in a health information management program could be a perfect fit. The good news is that the demand for HIM professionals is projected to increase by 13 percent in the next seven years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means obtaining a degree in the field of health information management now might be the start of a beautiful new career for you.

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What Exactly is Health Information Management (HIM)?

Health information management refers to ways in which a patient’s medical records and data are handled, whether in a paper file or electronic format. It’s an interdisciplinary field which involves the combination of clinical, business, and information technology to improve patient care and workflow of a health facility.

Professionals in this field are responsible for collecting, storing, analyzing and protecting patient’s health information such as x-ray reports, radiography information, patient histories, lab results, nurses and doctors’ notes. Other data handled by folks in this field include patient’s information regarding symptoms, diagnosis and medical procedures.

For example, a health information manager is responsible for making sure a patient's bloodwork reaches the correct doctor and the billing office knows what tests they had run so they can be billed appropriately. Without HIM in a hospital, there would be no clear workflow for tests, records, and patient information.

Skills and Qualities Needed to Succeed in the Field of HIM

Communication skills: As a health information manager, you’ll interact with a multitude of professionals in your workplace such as doctors, colleagues and administrators. Occasionally you’ll be required to hold meetings with your coworkers and other health workers to discuss health information policies. This means that you should possess excellent verbal and writing skills in order to convey health info in an accurate way and relate well with other employees.

Advanced IT skills: Due to the rapid growth of technology, health information systems have greatly been affected. This implies that you are expected to be a technologically savvy in order to perform your duties effectively. You need to master health information technology programs such as master patient index, a specific database that’s used to keep all the info about each patient registered in a particular healthcare facility.

Knowledge in medicine: Even if your work is making a difference in patient’s health and wellbeing outside the operating room, you must have some medical education such as medical terminologies, human anatomy, disease processes and epidemiology statistics. This way, it will be easier for you to work your way up through higher ranks in this field. Also, you will be able to quickly comprehend the information delivered to you by the nurses and doctors. You might even be responsible for catching a mistake or two. Such as a patient prescribed a medication when their file reads they are allergic to it.

Problem-solving skills: Dealing with data isn’t a simple task. You need to be a thinker as well as a problem solver. Because you’ll be working with other staff members, having critical thinking skills will help you to solve any issue that may arise in your team. Since your job will entail collecting, analyzing, compiling health data and giving reports about the health information, you need to have mathematical reasoning skills and attention to detail.

Why Formal Education Is Essential in Health Information Management

The perfect way to kick start a career in the field of HIM is to enroll for formal training in order to learn the basics and gain experience. A associates degree could be a wonderful foundation for you to start building your new career. Further advancement could depend on more education or certifications in the field.

When you start your classes in health information management, you should learn how to capture health data, store it, and retrieve the same data electronically using advanced techniques and apps. HIM program should also help you to acquire broad knowledge on the integration of IT in the health industry, including HIPPA laws, quality control of health information, and organizing accurate electronic data.

Some of the courses you should expect in this degree program include electronic health records, pharmacology, ethical, and legal aspects of HIM, etc. Upon graduation, you’ll be required to successfully complete an accredited certification such as RHIA or RHIT in order to have a higher chance of landing a job.

Jobs You Can Qualify for After Earning a Degree in Health Information Management

HIM graduate may work in a multitude of setting. While we mainly think of health information management in a hospital, here are some of the other avenues an HIM graduate could work.

  • Cancer Registry
  • Outpatient Care Centers
  • Mental Health Agencies
  • Hospices
  • Military and Industry
  • Home Healthcare

Get Started Today with ECPI University!

Are you interested to get your foot in the doors of the healthcare industry? Consider ECPI University for an Associate of Applied Science in Health Science with a Concentration in Health Information Management. For more information about this exciting opportunity, connect with a helpful admission representative today.

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