Health Information Management, B.S.

Health information management (HIM) is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. It is a combination of business, science, and information technology.

HIM professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications and understand the workflow in any healthcare provider organization from large hospital systems to the private physician practice. They are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records (EHRs). They ensure a patient’s health information, and records are complete, accurate, and protected. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites medical records and health information technicians as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the US. 

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the ability to correctly and accurately manage the use and integrity of clinical data required by various payment and reimbursement systems and established guidelines.

2. Map terminologies, vocabularies, and classification systems. Construct and maintain the standardization of data dictionaries to meet the needs of the enterprise.

3. Determine processes for compliance with current laws and standards related to health information initiatives and revenue cycles.

4. Take part in the planning, design, selection, implementation, integration, testing, evaluation and support of health information technologies.

5. Analyze HIM legal concepts and principles to create policies and procedures to manage access and disclosure of personal health information, including audits and data quality monitoring.

6. Analyze clinical data to identify trends that demonstrate quality, safety and effectiveness of health care. 

7. Recommend organizational action based on knowledge obtained from data exploration and mining.

8. Evaluate data from various sources to create meaningful presentations. Take part in effective communication through project reports, business reports and professional communications.

9. Manage information as a key strategic resource and mission tool.