Who HIM Professionals Are:
A select group of trained professionals who specialize in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems, and coding the diagnosis and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients. Committed to the timely and accurate collection of health information and its maintenance, storage, retention, and disclosure, HIM professionals ensure such information is kept private, secure, and in accordance with federal and state laws.
HIM Professionals:
Collect, aggregate, analyze, and disseminate patient health information for doctors' offices, hospitals, managed care organizations, insurance companies, research and policy agencies, and other healthcare facilities and related industries.
Provide accurate coding of diagnosis and procedures from patient visits with healthcare providers, ensuring accurate patient billing and proper reimbursement to healthcare providers.
Compile and analyze healthcare data from patients, assist with identifying ways to better
utilize healthcare resources, uncover public health patterns, and improve patient care,
providing critical information for healthcare research which, in turn, leads to new medical treatments and procedures.
Develop policies to support the delivery of high-quality healthcare by ensuring the availability of quality information for accurate healthcare decision making.
Where HIM Professionals Work
Throughout the healthcare industry, in settings that span the continuum of care, including:
Hospitals
Ambulatory care facilities
Physician practices
Managed care organizations
Long-term care facilities
Home care providers
Behavioral health facilities
Consulting firms
Information systems vendors
Rehabilitation centers
Colleges and universities
Government agencies
Pharmaceutical companies
Insurance providers
Internet-based healthcare companies
Accreditation organizations
Healthcare research organizations
What Positions HIM Professionals Hold:
HIM department director
HIM system manager
Information security officer
Chief privacy officer
Consultant
Health data analyst
Record technician specialist
Clinical coding specialist
Patient information coordinator
Physician practice manager
Patient information coordinator
Health information administrator
Financial specialist
Director of quality management
Health information manager
Health information technologist/technician
HIM system manager
HIM Education and Formal Certification:
HIM professionals possess associate's, bachelor's, or postgraduate degrees in HIM, and are
certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the national association of HIM professionals. HIM professionals earn credentials through a combination of education, experience, and performance on national certification exams. Certifications include:
Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA): RHIAs hold a bachelor's or postgraduate degree, and are skilled in the collection, interpretation, and analysis of patient data. In addition, they often serve in managerial positions related to these functions.
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT): RHITs hold a minimum of an associate's degree, and are health information technicians who ensure the quality of medical records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems.
The following specialty certifications are also offered by AHIMA:
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS): The CCS is skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in the hospital setting.
Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P): The CCS-P is a coding practitioner with expertise in physician-based settings, such as physician offices, group practices, multispecialty clinics, or specialty centers.
Certified Coding Associate (CCA): The CCA is a coding practitioner with an understanding of entry-level coding applications, including medical terminology, disease processes, pharmacology, and ICD-9-CM and CPT medical coding.
Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS): The CHPS denotes advanced competency in desigining, implementing, and administering comprehensive privacy and security protection programs in ally types of healthcare organizations.
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