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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