The Health Information Management Program consists of educational courses in the third and fourth year at upper division level that result in a Bachelor's of Science degree in Health Information Management. The Health Information Management Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for writing the national examination for certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).
Health information Management (HIM) is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. HIM professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications and understand the workflow in any healthcare provider organization from large hospital systems to the private physician practice. They are vital to the daily operations and management of health information and electronic health records.
Health information management professionals work in a variety of different settings and job titles. They often serve in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational, and administrative functions. These professionals affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touch point in the healthcare delivery cycle. Having skilled HIM professionals on staff ensures an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed while maintaining the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and security.
RHIA certified professionals provide the following services to healthcare:
- Expertise in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems, collecting and analyzing patient data, and using classification systems and medical terminologies.
- Possess comprehensive knowledge of medical, administrative, ethical and legal requirements and standards related to healthcare delivery and protecting patient information.
- Manage staff and operational units that provide health information services.
- Interact with all levels of a healthcare organization that utilize patient data in decision-making and operations -- clinical, financial, administrative and information systems.
To learn more about the Health Information profession go to the American Health Information Management Association’s website at www.ahima.org.
