Are you eager to contribute to the medical field through the use of technology? If yes, a health information management degree is the perfect idea for you! Health information management is where the world of medicine and technology collide to serve a big purpose; safeguarding the data and privacy of patients in every medical setting.
A career in the health information and management field will allow you to apply your skills and knowledge to ensure that the data in a medical setting runs smoothly, is successfully managed, and protected from any potential hazard.
Stay tuned, as this guide will help you understand more about this interesting collision of two important worlds and answer the question, “What is health information management”?
What Is Health Information Management?
Health information management (HIM) applies to health and health care information management. It is also the activity of evaluating and safeguarding digital and traditional medical information, essential for providing high-quality patient care. Traditional (paper-based) records are being replaced by electronic health records as health records become more computerized (EHRs). Therefore, the need for health information management professionals is constantly increasing.
Professionals in this field plan information systems, establish health policy, and evaluate existing and future information needs. Furthermore, they use their knowledge and skills in informatics science to collect, store, analyze, use, and transfer information to safeguard sensitive information.
Investing in your degree in HIM
Thanks to an advanced degree and enough years of expertise, health care workers in the information management industry can earn a good living. They can advance in the field of health information and potentially gain greater benefits. Therefore, investing in your degree in HIM will definitely pay off.
An associate degree in health information is the first step toward a bachelor’s degree in health information. People holding an associate degree in HIM can work as medical coders, health information analysts, reimbursement specialists, health information supervisors, and other entry-level positions.
However, if you want to work in management and administration, a bachelor’s degree in health information would be better. Bachelor’s degree holders work as health information directors, privacy officers, compliance officers, coding managers, and other mid-level positions.
The next step leading to a health information leadership position would be to pursue a master’s degree. Master’s degree holders serve as chief compliance officers, vice presidents of privacy and security, HIM systems directors, privacy officers, HIM consultants, and other senior leadership positions.
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Healthcare and Health Information Management
At this point, you are probably asking, “What does health information management do for me?” And we are here to tell you that after obtaining a degree in HIM, you will be able to take on more advanced roles and with more advanced functions come greater responsibilities. While working as a health information manager, you will be responsible for protecting data in the healthcare system, which is one of the main challenges in this profession.
Health information manager: role & responsibility
Health information managers, shortly known as HIMs, organize, supervise, and preserve patient health information data, including symptoms, diagnoses, medical histories, test findings, and procedures. These administrative professionals ensure that traditional and digital medical data are of high quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security.
HIMs are educated in information technology programs and serve as a solid link between clinical, operational, and administrative responsibilities. These experts can work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmaceutical, and insurance companies, software firms, home health agencies, nursing homes, and consulting firms.
Healthcare data security
Data security is critical in the healthcare field for preserving personal patient information. Previously, it was relatively simple to protect and secure patient data because it was recorded on paper and stored in filing cabinets.
Due to technological improvements and the digital age, patient records are now saved electronically on computers, servers, and storage devices. However, electronic records are accompanied by increased dangers of data breaches, malware, viruses, and other harmful attacks. This is the case when health information managers use their skills and knowledge to protect such sensitive information and make sure that it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
Health Information Management & Technology: Implementation
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Health Information Management and Technology solutions are constantly increasing in order to improve the efficiency of information management in the health care sector. HIM is commonly implemented through hospital information systems and Human Resource for Health Information Systems (HRHISs).
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Hospital information system
A hospital information system (HIS) is a subset of health information management technology that focuses on hospital administration. A HIS is a complete, integrated information system meant to manage all hospital business areas, including medical, administrative, financial, and legal issues.
Hospital information systems are ab advanced source of information about a patient’s medical history, and doctors use them to plan appointments. These systems improve health care workers’ ability to coordinate care by delivering a patient’s health information and visit history when and when needed. The system must keep data secure and control who has access to the data under specified conditions.
Human Resource for Health Information Systems (HRHISs)
Another aspect where health information management and technology can be implemented is the human resource for health information systems (HRHISs). A human resources information is a software solution that keeps, manages, and processes detailed personnel information as well as human resources regulations and procedures. The HRIS, as an interactive information management system, standardizes human resources (HR) duties and processes while allowing for reliable record-keeping and reporting.
An HRIS is essentially a “two-way street” in which information about employees is provided to the company and, conversely, information about employees is delivered back out to employees. An HRIS eliminates paper-based and manual HR-related activities, allowing for more seamless, streamlined, and efficient interactions between employees and the firms for which they work while also freeing up HR professionals to pursue more strategic and high-value work.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, suppose you have always been interested in pursuing a career where you can put your passion for the medical and technology field to use together. In that case, you should probably get a degree in health information management. Due to the increased use of technology systems in the healthcare setting, the demand for HIM professionals is constantly increasing; therefore, earning a degree in this field will also give you a secure job and excellent earning potential.
