How Do I Become a Health Information Manager?
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Health information management (HIM) careers combine business, information technology, and science knowledge. The HIM profession exists to help protect patient records, particularly in a day and age when that information is at risk of external or internal hacks.
Due to regulations established as part of HIPAA and the implementation of electronic health records, HIM has become a high-growth career in the past 20 years. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) predicts that medical and health services manager jobs will grow by 29 percent between 2023 and 2033, which is more than seven times faster than the national average for all occupations (4 percent). This translates to 160,600 new medical and health services manager positions, earning a median annual salary of $110,680.
So what do health information managers (HIMs) do? Along with their more senior colleagues (e.g., health information directors), HIMs use various computer and IT applications to ensure data accuracy. In addition, HIMs may design, upgrade, or modify the systems used by a particular healthcare facility or organization. Above all, health information managers see that electronic health records are protected, accurate, and complete to comply with federal and state regulations.
However, their skills will not keep them tied to one position or type of work setting. According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the leading certification and professional organization for HIMs, professionals can find unique health information management opportunities in various skill areas: coding, compliance, patient admissions, tumor registries, and risk management. The BLS reports that while most HIMs work in hospitals (30 percent), others are employed in physician’s offices (12 percent), nursing and residential care facilities (9 percent), government offices (7 percent), and outpatient care centers (7 percent).
To ensure educational quality and be eligible for professional certification, aspiring HIMs are advised to attend educational programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Attending a CAHIIM-accredited program ensures students and future employers that an HIM program curriculum meets high peer-reviewed standards for program quality and instruction. CAHIIM programs are available on-campus and online in certificate and degree programs.
What’s more, to be eligible for the professional HIM certification exams offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), students must complete a CAHIIM-accredited program. Having HIM certification can mean higher earning potential, opportunities for career advancement, and greater chances for career mobility.
To learn more about becoming a health information manager, read on to learn about the educational pathways, skills, and responsibilities required for HIM careers.
Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Health Information Manager
The pathway to becoming a health information manager includes various options, ranging from college graduates fresh from an HIM degree program to experienced clinical providers who want to pivot into healthcare management. Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a health information manager.
Step One: Complete a CAHIIM-Accredited Associate’s Degree or Certificate Program (One to Two Years)
While most health information management careers require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, it’s worth mentioning that CAHIIM also accredits associate’s degree and certificate programs.
Weber State University in Ogden, Utah offers two aspiring online health information managers programs. A healthcare coding certificate program and an associate of applied science degree in health information technology.
The four-semester online healthcare coding certificate program is offered entirely online and does not require any previous college or professional experience for admission. This 27-credit certificate program prepares graduates for a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential through AHIMA. Courses include ambulatory & physician office coding; classification systems topics & reimbursement; ICD-10-pcs coding; professional practice experience in coding; diagnosis coding; pathophysiology; and introduction to pharmacology, among others.
The two-year associate of applied science degree in health information technology is accredited by CAHIIM and is available in-person or online. In addition, this program prepares students for the RHIT certification exam offered by AHIMA (see below for more information). This program is a great stepping stone between a healthcare coding certificate and a bachelor’s degree in health information management.
Courses in the AAS degree include an introduction to quality improvement in healthcare, healthcare database management and security, ICD-10-PCS coding, classification systems topics and reimbursement, ambulatory and physician office coding, diagnosis coding, healthcare privacy and security, and an introduction to health information.
- Location: Ogden, UT
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Expected Time to Completion: AAS (two years); certificate (four semesters)
Having a two-year degree or certificate credentials can distinguish students as having met core competencies in healthcare information, leading to rewarding entry-level opportunities in health information management.
Step Two: Complete a CAHIIM-Accredited Bachelor’s Degree (Two to Four Years)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024), a bachelor’s degree in health information management is a minimal entry-level requirement for medical and health services managers. Full-time students can complete a bachelor’s degree in health information management in four years or longer if attending part-time. Those who have completed an associate degree in a related field generally only require two additional years of full-time study.
Typical courses in a four-year HIM program may include:
- Health services management
- Accounting and budgeting
- Human resources administration
- Health information management
Indiana University’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering offers a bachelor’s degree program in health information management. Students in this CAHIIM-accredited program learn how to lead healthcare organizations through complex business dilemmas and emphasize the security of electronic health records (EHRs). This program can be completed online, on-campus, or a hybrid of the two.
This 120-credit program includes courses such as introduction to health information management; computer concepts for health information; biostatistics for health information management; healthcare informatics for decision support; cultural competence in healthcare communication; pathophysiology and pharmacology for HIM; ICD-10-CM/PCS coding; quantitative analysis of health information; healthcare quality improvement; and health information project management.
In addition, Indiana University offers an accelerated bachelor’s in health information management (HIM) and a master’s in health informatics program, which can be completed in five years.
- Location: Indianapolis, IN
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Four to five years
Weber State University offers an online post-bachelor’s certificate program. This program is designed for students with an accredited bachelor’s degree in any discipline and prepares students to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam.
Courses in this 30-credit program include clinical foundations; clinical data management for quality care and revenue cycle integrity; health information management issues; and human resources development in healthcare.
- Location: Ogden, UT
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Expected Time to Completion: 30 months
Purdue’s CAHIIM-accredited bachelor’s in health information management program helps graduates grow specialized skills in collecting, analyzing, and protecting vital patient information. Focusing on designing, planning, evaluating, and managing electronic health information and data systems, the program’s curriculum combines medicine, finance, management, law, and information technology preparing students for a wide range of career opportunities across many health-related settings.
Notably, students who have already earned a CAHIIM-approved associate’s degree in health information technology can use it to fast-track this bachelor’s. The program blends online coursework and onsite experience. Completing an 80-hour professional practical experience at a local hospital or healthcare facility is required to complete this online program.
This 180-credit program includes courses such as health information automation, information systems for healthcare, quality assurance and statistics in health information, research methods for health sciences, and strategic planning and change management for healthcare.
- Location: West Lafayette, IN
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Four years
Having a bachelor’s degree or higher gives job-seekers in the health information management field a competitive edge.
Step Three: Earn AHIMA Certification (Less Than One Year)
Although it is not required for all positions, the next step in preparing for an HIM career is to obtain certification. Two types of HIM certifications available through AHIMA include:
- Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT): Applicants must have an associate degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program. Those certified as RHITs understand coding, electronic health records (EHRs), and computer applications to compile and access data. An example of a RHIT career could be a career related to cancer registries.
- Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA): This certification is available to those who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program. Those with RHIA certification usually have a deep understanding of medical records and patient health information and may choose careers in healthcare administration, clinical, financial, and even information systems.
Obtaining these certifications involves submitting an application with AHIMA and applying for examination through PearsonVUE, which has centers across the U.S. At the testing site, applicants must have two valid identification forms. After the test, applicants can report to staff to determine their test scores. Results will also be sent to AHIMA, and newly certified professionals are listed on their website.
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HISMSS) also offers certification. This includes CPHIMS certification, which requires a bachelor’s degree in the field, plus five years of experience, including at least three years in a healthcare setting. Alternatively, candidates with a master’s degree must have at least three years of information and management systems experience, two years of which must be in healthcare.
As with certification through AHIMA, there also is an examination with HISMSS, offered through Applied Management Professionals (AMP), which requires a fee and other steps. Again, HISMSS offers exam fee reimbursement for eligible military veterans.
Step Four: Gain Professional Experience (Timeline Varies)
Most employers require previous administrative or clinical work experience in healthcare to prepare for management positions. Therefore, professionals who enter HIM careers with previous experience as registered nurses, medical health technicians, or administrative assistants may be able to enter management positions after completing a CAHIIM-accredited program and earning AHIMA certification.
To find opportunities, job seekers are encouraged to join a professional organization such as AHIMA, which offers career fairs, networking opportunities, and job postings to its members.
Step Five: Earn a Master’s Degree (Optional, Two to Three Years)
Some employers prefer candidates with master’s degrees, which is ideal for those with a bachelor’s degree in a related field or previous experience in healthcare. In addition, some degrees at the master’s level are offered online and combine various aspects of the field, such as health information management and health informatics. Classes in a master’s level HIM degree program include:
- Healthcare data analytics
- Reimbursement methodologies in healthcare
- Legal issues in health information technology and systems
- IT management ethics
Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, offers a CAHIIM-accredited master’s degree program in health informatics and information management (MSHIIM).
Students can complete this 33-credit program entirely online and are prepared with theoretical and practical knowledge of healthcare information technology. A final research project and a comprehensive exam are required to fulfill this master’s degree program requirements.
The program’s curriculum includes courses in healthcare informatics, information systems, and technology, data analytics in healthcare, legal and ethical aspects of health informatics, health information lifecycle governance, leadership and management for health informatics, and workflow and usability optimization in health informatics.
- Location: Madison, SD
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Expected Time to Completion: Two years
Skills and Traits of the Successful Health Information Manager
As the career title suggests, health information managers are skilled in managing healthcare services, business operations, and technology. Due to the highly-communicative nature of this profession, a successful health information manager should possess the following skills or traits:
- Communication: Because a health information manager can be a conduit between many different people, departments, and types of information, they should be skilled in talking to people and providing information through various methods, including email, face-to-face, presentations, and more.
- Health knowledge: Health information managers should be familiar with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), knowledge critical in medical coding, as well as understand medical terminology, diagnostic methods, processes for disease and injuries, and more. Having CPR and basic first aid training is also an asset.
- Technical skills: Numerous applications will be essential to the job, but HIM employees should be proficient in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet programs and have some understanding of medical transcription and coding.
- Attention to detail: Details comprise the world of a health information manager or director, whether that means knowing how to comply with specific policies or understanding how something needs to be coded within a particular program.
Health Information Management Requirements and Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a health information manager vary by qualification, experience, and workplace.
First, it’s essential to understand that HIMs play a bridge role, linking communication and processes between different departments and people. Examples of these types of personnel include clinicians, patients, physicians, consumers, and various technical personnel, according to CAHIIM.
AHIMA adds to this description by saying HIM personnel help to connect functions between administration, clinical, and operations, among other general umbrella-type responsibilities, and also list electronic health records (EHRs) management as an essential job skill.
To specialize, HIMs could become involved in health information technology (HIT) or health informatics, both of which are described in greater detail below:
- Health information technology: Managers involved in this aspect of HIM look at the technical, infrastructure, and framework side of managing health information. They may have backgrounds that are more focused on information technology, according to the AHIMA, and provide support for EHRs and EHR programs.
- Health informatics: Employees in this field look at the quality and quantity of data and how it can be used, whether for extracting key points about care and services or figuring out how to use it to improve healthcare delivery. AHIMA reports four major research areas in health informatics: applied informatics; medical/bioinformatics; nursing informatics; and public health informatics.
