About the Profession

Health Information Management (HIM) is the profession described as the practice of acquiring, analyzing and protecting, digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. It is a combination of business, law, science, and technology. HIM professionals are highly trained in the latest information technology applications and understand the workflow in any healthcare organization including but not limited to:

• Acute care hospital systems
• Veteran Health Administration
• Long term care facilities
• Specialty Clinics
• Private physician practice and much more.

Health Information Management professionals are essential to the daily operations management of health information, information governance, documentation improvement as well as the electronic health records (EHRs). Technological advances are expanding the field to include the management of information systems, privacy and security, data management, coding research and quality management. Health Information Management professionals assist with improving the quality of healthcare by ensuring that the best information is available to support decision-making in the healthcare sector.

Health Information Management professionals are key advocates for protecting confidential patient data. They serve as a critical link between providers, patients, auditors, the judicial system and insurance companies by managing health information in accordance with administrative, legal and ethical requirements.

In addition, as experts in the field of health information management, HIM professionals oversee:

1. Health care evaluation
2. Quality and Data Management
3. HIPAA Privacy and Security
4. Data Management
5. Electronic Health Record Management
6. Information Governance

The profession encompasses services in planning, collecting, aggregating, analyzing, and disseminating individual patient and aggregate clinical data. It serves all aspects of the healthcare industry to include patient care organizations, payers, research and policy agencies, and other healthcare-related industries.

Employment opportunities for HIM professionals are found in numerous settings that including private, acute and government owned hospitals, outpatient clinics, managed-care organizations, consulting firms, accounting facilities, correctional facilities, pharmaceutical companies, behavioral healthcare organizations, insurance companies, law firms, rehabilitation facilities, and state and federal healthcare agencies.