What Certifications do you Need to Work in Health Information Management?
Health Information Management (HIM) is the practice of acquiring, protecting and analyzing digital as well as traditional medical information that is essential to providing quality patient care. Every time healthcare professionals encounter a patient, they make sure that they record what they observed and what treatment they implemented, along with patient outcomes. With today’s technological advances, information is stored electronically in healthcare information systems.
According to United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the employment of health information technicians is expected to grow 15% from 2014 to 2024, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase due to more people having access to healthcare, as well as an aging population.
If you're interested in working in this field you probably already know you need a solid educational background. But to advance in your career you will also need certifications to supplement and validate your knowledge. Here are some of the certifications you can earn to help you along your career path.
Registered Health information Administrator (RHIA)
To get this certification, you must have some experience in coding, release of information, HIPAA security and privacy, project management, informatics, electronic health records or any other HIM skill. RHIA Certification will help in clearing out your path to advancement. After obtaining a RHIA Certification, the employers will view you as a record management expert who fully understands the business of healthcare. That is how coded data translates into payment, patient safety scores for medical and Medicaid services and quality indicator requirements.
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
RHIT certification assures the integrity of medical records by verifying their integrity, accuracy, as well as proper entry into computer systems. Having enough experience as an RHIT is an important stepping stone if you need to advance to a management position.
Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
This certification is essential for you if you have more than six months experience in directly applying codes and you want to distinguish yourself from other medical coders. Because coding accuracy is extremely important for health care organizations, since it affects revenues as well as healthcare outcomes. It makes sense that coding certification has become an industrial standard. The CCA certification ensures that your coding competency across all areas, including physical practices and hospitals is sound.
Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-Based (CCS-P)
If you are a coding professional and would like to specialize in a physician-based setting, like physician’s office, multi-specialty clinic, group practice, or a specialty center, then this certification is vital for you.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
If you are coding professionals with an associate degree and is currently working in a physician’s office setting this could be the right certification for you. The CPC certification ensures your mastery of all codes sets evaluation and management principles, surgical coding as well as adherence to coding and documentation.
Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA)
If you want to be a healthcare data analyst or a business operations specialist and need a certification as recognition of your expertise in health data analysis, then this is an essential certification for you. According to AHIMA, this certification demonstrates your knowledge of managing, acquiring, analyzing, transforming and interpreting data into accurate, consistent, as well as timely information. To employers, the certification is proof that you are in a position to balance the big picture strategic vision with daily details.
Certified in Health Privacy and Security (CHPS)
If you have some experience in HIM, especially healthcare privacy as well as security management, and you need to become a documentation quality coordinator, or HIM consultant or perhaps a documentation improvement specialist, this a certification for you. The certificates indicate competence in designing, administering and implementing privacy and security protection in all types of healthcare settings. It also indicates strong commitment to leadership as well as advancement of privacy along with security management practices.
Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)
You should look into this certification if you have experience in clinical documentation improvement and you are passionate about supporting the integrity of health records. You already have a RHIT, RHIA, or coding credential but you need to express your competency in capturing the documentation necessary to communicate patient’s health records condition ad statuses, then this is the best option for you. This certification distinguishes you as an expert in clinical documentation in patient health records.
Do you see yourself working in health information management? If you want to get your start on this exciting career path, consider ECPI University's Associate of Applied Science in Health Science with a concentration in Health Information Management for your educational background. For more information, speak with a helpful admissions advisor today about your options.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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