Health Information Technology
Health Information Management

Health Information Technology Overview

Health Information Technology is a rapidly growing and promising field in the medical and healthcare industry that requires minimal interaction with patients. The federal government is focused on advancing the use of health information technology, thus enhancing the tremendous growth potential of this industry. >> Read Title IV - HITECH Act

Health Information professionals gather, code, manage, and maintain patient health information. They should be detail-oriented and often function as detectives. Proper coding and information management is necessary for healthcare providers to get reimbursed accurately and in a timely manner. In addition to saving money, the health information industry can improve the safety and efficiency of patient care by making accurate updated patient information readily accessible to healthcare providers.

Health Information Technology and Management Career Options

Health Information Technology and Health Information Management professionals work in numerous settings, such as hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, ambulatory care centers, specialty clinics, long term care, and public health agencies -- basically anywhere that collects, maintains, analyzes and uses medical records and data.

• Medical Coders (CCA, CCS) are the data entry experts.
• Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) compile, maintain, and analyze health data.
• Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) manage and supervise everyday operations and make decisions based on health data.
• Health Informatics Specialists develop and enhance the tools involved in health data collection and analysis.

Health Information Technology and Management Career Outlook and Salary

Health Information career outlook and salary potential are excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in health information is expected to grow by 20% between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average of all occupations. According to The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the median annual salary for entry level medical records and health information management specialists was $48,000 in 2008. With professional experience, the middle 50 percent earned $60,000 to $86,000 in 2008. The lowest 10 percent earned under $32,000 while the top 10 percent earned over $200,000. As in all fields, salaries can differ based on education, experience, location, and employer.

>> Interview with a Medical Records and Health Information Technician

Health Information Technology and Management Education and Training

Health information technicians generally enter the field after earning an associate's degree in Health Information Technology. In addition to general education, coursework includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health information, health data standards, coding and abstraction of data, statistics, database management, quality improvement methods, and computer science.

Health information professionals who plan to advance their careers to the mid-management level or higher will benefit from earning a CAHIIM accredited bachelor's degree in health information management. In addition to mastering technical aspects of health information, the baccalaureate degree graduate gains expertise in the planning, analysis, design, and management of healthcare information resources and services.

Health Information Management Certification

AHIMA offers national certifications that are respected and often required in the health information industry. Most employers require technicians to have the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification. Health information technicians will typically advance by specializing or by moving into a management position. In addition to industry experience, many employers require health information managers and administrators to have the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification. In order to sit for the RHIT or RHIA national certification exams, candidates must complete CAHIIM accredited HIT or HIM degree programs.
>> Read more on becoming an RHIT
>> Read more on becoming an RHIA

To be eligible for AHIMA's RHIT exam, candidates must have earned an associate degree in health information management or technology accredited by CAHIIM.

To be eligible for AHIMA's RHIA exam, candidates must have completed a bachelor degree level health information management program accredited by CAHIIM.

Note to Canadian Applicants: AHIMA (U.S.) and CHIMA (Canada) have a reciprocity agreement, which allows Canadian and U.S. applicants to pursue certification exams to become certified as a technician or administrator as long as the applicants have completed CAHIIM accredited (U.S. schools) or CHIMA recognized (Canadian schools) programs and meet competency requirements.

DeVry University offers 7,500 scholarships up to $25 million each year to current and prospective students from the U.S. and Canada.

Education for career success: For the year ending the October '10 graduates, 76% of U.S. DeVry Health Information Technology graduates were employed in their field.

Health Information Technology
Associate of Applied Science

DeVry's CAHIIM accredited Health Information Technology program follows a curriculum based on current associate degree entry-level competencies outlined by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This HIT program prepares graduates to work with applications systems and manage electronic health information databases. Students will have access to up-to-date coding and chart management lab software 24/7, and the opportunity for professional practice experience, including two practicum. Graduates of this CAHIIM accredited program will be prepared to take AHIMA's national RHIT certification exam.

DeVry University also offers:

• Technical Management / Health Information Management - BS
• CIS / Health Information Systems - BS

DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211 Program availability varies by location.

Health Information Technology
Associate of Applied Science

NAU's CAHIIM Accredited Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) is an excellent career choice if you see yourself working in the in-demand health care field, but not directly with patients. As a graduate of this program, it may be your job to verify the completeness and accuracy of medical records and data entry into computer systems to ensure medical record quality; to use technology to analyze for quality and efficiency of patient care; to code patient diagnoses and procedures for research or reimbursement purposes; or to work in specialized registries that maintain data for medical research. NAU's HIT AAS program holds accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) to allow graduates of the HIT program to be eligible to take the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

Health Information Management
Bachelor of Science

The CAHIIM Accredited Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program prepares students with the necessary skills and academic knowledge for management and higher-level administrative positions in a variety of health related settings including hospitals, clinics, long-term care settings, consulting firms, government agencies, insurance companies and software vendors. A health information administrator is responsible for the management of health information systems consistent with medical, administrative, ethical and legal requirements of the healthcare delivery system. They are experts in coding and classification systems, managing patient health information, and administrating computer information systems. Individuals with interests in computer science, business administration, health science and healthcare administration are well-suited for a career in health information management.

Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
This CAHIIM accredited Health Informatics BS Degree program combines concepts in healthcare, information technology, and leadership practice to provide students with the knowledge and skills to be a valuable designer, developer, and manager of health information systems. It is designed for healthcare and health information professionals seeking IT skills to move into health informatics as well as IT professionals seeking a career that combines healthcare, IT, and business. As part of the program, students can earn the two industry relevent certifications: CompTIA A+, CIW Database Design Specialist. The program proudly holds CAHIIM accreditation, which allows its graduates to become eligible for the AHIMA RHIA credentialing exam.

Tuition at WGU is charged at a flat rate every six months and covers all coursework attempted in that time. A full-time load for this degree program is at least 12 competency units (credit equivalents) per 6-month term. Whether you complete more or fewer units, you are charged the same flat rate. You have a significant advantage if you have extensive experience in the field and the time to take on a substantial course load. If you can shorten the time it takes for you to complete your degree, you pay less. So, if you earn this BS Degree in 4 years, your tuition is only $23,120.

Health Information Management
RHIT to RHIA Progression -
Bachelor of Science
This CAHIIM accredited program provides a unique path for RHITs to obtain their BS in HIM in just 2 ¼ years. This program has been tailor-made for working RHITs who don't want to be bogged down with countless electives in their efforts to obtain a Bachelor's degree. The accelerated curriculum-made possible by an advanced network of support-prepares students to truly excel in the field. This RHIT progression program builds on the knowledge and skills acquired through prior education and work experience. Graduates of this program are equipped with the knowledge to take AHIMA's RHIA certification exam.

• Health Administration - MHA

UC is ranked in the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report. UC is ranked in the Top 100 "Elite Values" in Higher Education List by Money Magazine.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Science
The CAHIIM accredited Health Information Technology associate degree program will prepare the student to perform information management services that directly impact the quality of patient care. These functions include organizing, analyzing and technically evaluating health information; compiling various administrative and health statistics; coding diseases, operations, procedures and therapies; maintaining and using health information indexes; creating disease data registries; facilitating storage and retrieval of health data; utilizing computerized health data; and controlling the use and release of health information. Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for AHIMA's RHIT certification exam.

• Health Administration - BS

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
If you are interested in health information data as it relates to patient care and the use of computers in this area, this program may be for you. The program blends online coursework with on-ground clinical experiences# and is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, technical skills, and work habits required to pursue entry-level positions in the competitive and growing health information management field. This program requires a clinical practicum and unpaid externship in your area.

IT / Information Systems / Health Informatics - Bachelor of Science
Students of the health informatics specialization will examine data modeling and management for the twenty-first century health care industry. They will review the wide variety of health care information available, focusing on quality, laws, regulations, and standards. Students will learn to design and develop health care IT application components, and gain foundational IT knowledge to support smarter decision making.

Kaplan University is pursuing Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accreditation for the online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program. Once the Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology is awarded initial accreditation from CAHIIM, graduates of the program may sit for the certification exam to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

• Healthcare Administration - BS (Advanced Start and BS to MHA Options Available)
• Healthcare Administration - MHA

Health Information Management - Master of Science in IT
This Health Information Management master’s specialization offers health care-focused course work on information systems, databases, system security, data analysis, decision support, and strategic management, along with overviews of important IT and business topics. The curriculum follows the model curriculum of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and was developed to align with the criteria of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management (CAHIIM). It is designed to help you use information management and security to support efficient, accurate health care delivery and management. People who choose this specialization are often IT professionals pursuing health information management or consulting positions in hospitals, clinics, and health care systems.

Health Administration / Health Information Systems - Bachelor of Science
The BSHA Program is designed to integrate a foundation of general education and applied sciences with the expertise that prepares the graduate for professional careers in a variety of health care or related health settings. The curriculum addresses the basic body of knowledge, understanding, and skills identified as relevant to health care services such as management, finance and accounting, legal and ethical parameters, health and disease factors, and human and information resources. In addition, majors provide the student with initial educational preparation for careers in long term care and health information systems.

For program disclosure information, click here

• Health Care Administration / Medical Records - AA
• Health Administration / Informatics - MHA

Health Information Management - Master of Science
The New England College Master of Science in Health Information is targeted to professionals with varying levels of experience who are working in health informatics in healthcare institutions. Most of these professionals come from an IT or other technical background and desire developing management skills in addition to their technical proficiency. However, there are also a significant number of individuals with clinical background (nurses and pharmacists, among others) that have become increasingly involved in managing the health informatics area. Since one of the major challenges that healthcare organizations face is connected to the selection, adoption, and implementation of health informatics programs and processes that will "speak to each other," NEC's Health Information Management program will prepare students to address and resolve these issues widely found in the healthcare industry today.

• Management / Healthcare Administration - MS
• Healthcare Administration - BS

Health Systems Management - Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management provides the student with the skills needed to analyze information needs, design solutions, and manage information storage, transfer and retrieval in healthcare environments. Graduates of this program will be able to utilize information systems tools, techniques, and methodologies applicable to healthcare systems, apply project management principles to information systems development efforts in healthcare institutions, and structure information collection and presentation to facilitate executive-level planning and decision-making in healthcare environments. They will also be able to apply fundamental systems analysis and design concepts and problem-solving strategies to information technology problems, develop reporting and support capabilities for healthcare decisions, and analyze, design, and implement solutions to healthcare information problems.

• Health Systems Management - MS