A career in health information management combines the disciplines of medicine, information management, computer technology, finance, and law within the health care industry.

HIM professionals bring unique skills to the healthcare industry. These skills include the ability to:

• Manage medical records and health information systems
• Enhance the quality and uses of data within the healthcare industry
• Summarize data into useful information
• Comply with standards and regulations regarding health information
• Protect the privacy and security of patient health information
• Ensure health information is complete and available to legitimate users
• Code health information for reimbursement and research.

Within the Department of Health Information Management, interested students can obtain an Associate of Science Degree in Health Information Technology or a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Administration. The registered health information technician (RHIT) performs a variety of technical health information functions, including the following: analyzing and technically evaluating health information for accuracy; compiling administrative and health statistics; coding diagnoses as well as procedures for reimbursement and databases; and creating disease registries for researchers. The registered health information administrator (RHIA) manages a variety of health information management functions, including the following: managing electronic health records, managing clinical workflow, improving the quality and uses of data, protecting the privacy and security of patient health information, and analyzing information for reimbursement and research.

Programs’ Mission and Goals

The HIM programs are designed to prepare graduates for professional careers in the healthcare field. The programs have set forth the following goals for our students:

1. To prepare competent entry-level health information management profssional in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
2. To provide educational experiences designed to prepare students to achieve the Domains, Subdomains, and Tasks for Registered Health Information Technicians and Registered Health Information Administrators as described by the American Health Information Management Association and for entering a career as a health information manager.
3. To provide concentrated professional practice experiences by a rotation schedule through the hospitals and other health care related institutions in the community.
4.  To provide the healthcare community with individuals qualified to effectively carry out the functions of the health information management discipline.
5. To prepare the student to successfully write the national certification examination of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).
6. To involve the student in professional continuing education activities in an effort to instill the lifelong learning that is required in this profession.