Health Information Management Professional
Summary of profession
Health information professionals care for patients by caring for their medical data. They ensure that all of a patient’s health information is complete, accurate, and protected, yet readily available for healthcare providers when needed. There are three professional and academic areas of concentration in health information: Health Information Management, Health Information Technology and Health Informatics.
Working hours, patterns and environments
HIM professionals often serve in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational and administrative functions. They usually work a 40-hour week, although some overtime may be required.
Education and skills
After completing a two or four year program, candidates for employment will need to successfully complete a certification exam to validate their competence. In addition to a general education, coursework includes biomedical sciences, legal aspects of health information, coding and management of clinical data, statistics and computer technology applied to health information systems.
Job growth and opportunities
With experience, the Health Information Technician credential holds solid potential for advancement to management positions.