Careers and Colleges

A Career in Health Information Management

Several diverse employment opportunities exist for Health Information Management (HIM) Specialists in a variety of work settings. Traditionally, HIM Specialists are employed in hospitals or clinics, but an increasing number of jobs exist in settings such as health maintenance organizations, physician offices, consulting firms, and with information system vendors. Based on your skills, education, and interests, here are some positions available to you:

With a Bachelor's Degree:
· HIM Department Director
· HIM System Manager
· Data Quality Manager
· Information Security Officer
· HIM College Instructor
· Consultant

With an Associate's Degree:
· Health Data Analyst
· Insurance Claims Analyst
· Records Technician Specialist
· Clinical Coding Specialist
· Physician Practice Manager
· Patient Information Coordinator

Growth & Salary Expectations

HIM professionals can expect to be in high demand as the health sector expands into the next century. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites health information technology as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the US.

On top of strong job prospects, competitive salaries also await HIM graduates. More than half of new HIM graduates with a bachelor's degree start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. By five years out, one can earn upwards of $50,000 - $75,000 annually.

Most new HIM graduates with an associate's degree jump right in and earn $20,000 to $30,000 annually. And these figures are just averages-many HIM professionals report salaries upward from here. To see the results of AHIMA's latest member salary and profile survey, click here.

Colleges & Certification

Indiana has excellent accredited schools in which you can receive either an associate's or bachelor's degree program in health information management.

The American Health Information Management Association accredits HIT and HIA programs and approves Master's level and coding certificate programs. You can search for programs by program level, institution name, state, or distance learning programs by going to the AHIMA website at college search.

Bachelor's Degree - Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
IUPUI School of Informatics - HIA Program

Associate's Degree - Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
IU Northwest -HIT Program
Vincennes University - HIT Program

When you have finished your HIM training, the next step is to successfully complete a certification exam. Earning a credential validates your competence as an HIM professional to employers and the public. In addition to the RHIA and RHIT credentials, AHIMA offers numerous certifications:

· Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
· Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
· Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P)
· Certified in Healthcare Privacy (CHP)
· Certified in Healthcare Security (CHS)
· Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS)

Details of these certifications can be found in the Certification section of AHIMA's website

A special thank you to the Ohio HIMA for their assistance in the creation of this portion of the IHIMA website.


IU Northwest -HIT Program

IU NORTHWEST
Margaret Skurka, MS, RHIA, CCS
Health Information Technology
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408
(219) 980-6654
(219) 980-6649 fax

IUPUI School of Informatics - HIA Program

IUPUI
Danita Forgey, MIS, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
Health Information Administration
535 West Michigan St
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 278-7666 work
(317) 278-7669 fax

Vincennes University - HIT Program

VINCENNES UNIVERSITY
Sherry O'Neill, MS RHIA
Chairperson, Health Information Management Program
Vincennes University
Health Occupations Building
1002 North First St
Vincennes, IN 47591
(812) 888-4411 work
(812) 888-4550 fax

This program is offered on campus and via the internet.

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