Health Information Manager Education and Career Pathways

This post provides all you need to know about the health information manager education and the various career pathways you can choose to exploit.

If you are interested in becoming a health information manager, then you need to have the right education and certification to advance your career.

Please, read on:

Why Choose Health Information Manager Career?

There are many reasons why someone would choose the health information manager career path, these include:

1. The first reason is because it can provide a great deal of satisfaction in your work life.
2. It also provides an opportunity for advancement as well as good compensation.

In addition, there are many different types of positions available within the field. There are positions such as Clinical Manager, Medical Records Coordinator, and Information Systems Specialist.

3. The third reason is because of the variety of tasks involved with the job. You may have to perform administrative duties, research, and even teach others about health care.

4. The fourth reason is because of the wide range of responsibilities that come with the job.

You could be responsible for managing the medical records of hundreds or thousands of people.

Health Information Manager Education Requirements

In order to become a health information manager, you must complete at least a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management.

However, if you already hold a Master’s degree in a related field, you may qualify for health information management certification.

Health Information Manager Continuing Education

Continuing education is important in any profession. The Health information manager has to update his/her knowledge every year by taking continuing education courses, including:

• Healthcare Administration
• Medical Terminology
• Nursing

Health Information Manager Certification/License

Certification is another way to show employers that you possess certain skills. If you want to advance your career, it is recommended that you obtain certifications.

Certifications help you stand out from the crowd and give you more opportunities for employment.

Certifications that are helpful include:

• Certified Health Information Management Professional (CHIMP)
• Certified Health Information Technology Specialist (CHIT)

Health Information Manager Career Pathways

There are a number of career pathways for those who wish to pursue a career in health information management. These are:

• HIM Senior Manager

The HIM Senior Manager is one of the most common careers in the field of health information management.

This type of position involves supervising staff members and performing administrative duties. 

• Population Health Analyst

A population health analyst is responsible for analyzing data regarding the population they serve.

He/she uses this data to make decisions about how to best meet the needs of the community.

A population health analyst works closely with physicians and nurses to ensure that the services provided are appropriate.

• Director of Clinical Informatics

The director of clinical informatics is responsible for ensuring that all patient-related information is organized, stored, and accessible.

He/she ensures that patients receive quality care through efficient use of technology.

• HIM Consultant

The HIM consultant is an expert in the field of health informatics. He/she provides advice on improving the efficiency of the organization he/she serves. 

• Project Manager of Health Information Exchange (HIE)

The project manager of Health Information Exchange (HIE) is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects involving electronic exchange of health information between organizations.

Other career pathways for the health information manager include:

• Senior Director/Chief Health Information Management and Exchange Officer
• Vice President of Data Management and Analytics
• Director of Health Information Exchange (HIE)
• Electronic Health Record (EHR) Director
• Privacy Officer
• Chief Compliance Officer
• Vice President of Coding
• Quality Data Abstraction Director
• Chief Technology Officer
• Quality Data Abstraction Director
• Vice President of Privacy and Security
• Chief Clinical Informatics Officer
• HIM Systems Director
• Vice President of Information Technology
• Director of Risk Management. 

How to Advance your Health Information Manager Career

The following tips may help you advance your health information manager career:

1. Networking

The first step in advancing your career is networking. Meet people in your industry and ask them questions.

Find out what their jobs entail and see if there is anything you could do better than them. Ask them where they got their experience or training.

If possible, attend conferences and seminars related to your profession. This way, you will get to know more people and build relationships with them.

2. Take Courses

If you want to advance your career, it is necessary that you take courses at the graduate level.

These courses will help prepare you for the next stage of your career. You can also find online classes which you can complete from home, courses like:

• Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration
• Masters in Healthcare Administration
• Doctorate in Health Care Administration
• MBA in Health Care Administration.

3. Join Professional Organizations

Joining professional associations is a great way to network and gain knowledge. There are many professional organizations available, but some of the most common ones are:

• American College of Medical Informatics
• American Society for Quality Improvement
• Association of Community Cancer Centers
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• National Center for Patient Safety.

More tips on How to Advance your Health Information Manager Career

4. Attend Conferences

Conferences provide a platform for professionals to meet and share ideas. They allow you to learn about new technologies and methods of working.

Attending conferences is another great way to network and make connections. Some of the most popular conferences are as follows:

• Annual Conference of the American College of Medical Information
• Annual Meeting of the American Society for Quality Improvement.

5. Work Experience

Work experience is one of the best ways to learn how to work in a specific field. It helps you understand what tasks need to be done on a daily basis.

By doing this, you will become familiar with the job responsibilities and learn how to perform those duties. 

How to Find a Good Health Information Manager School

Here are steps you can take to finding a good school for health information management:

1. Accreditation 

The first thing you should look into when choosing a school for health information management is whether or not it has an accredited program.

Accreditation ensures that a school meets certain standards set by accrediting agencies. Many schools have been accredited by multiple agencies. 

2. Coursework 

There are different types of coursework offered by schools. The type of coursework depends on the degree being pursued.

For example, a Bachelor’s degree requires a minimum number of credits while a Master’s degree requires a higher amount of credits.

A Doctorate degree usually requires even more credits.

3. Faculty 

When looking for a school, you should consider the faculty members who teach the students.

Look for professors who have published papers or articles in reputable journals. Also, look for professors who have won awards such as the Fulbright scholarship.

4. Location 

You should choose a location based on the city where your school is. Choose a location close to where you live so you don’t have to travel too far.

5. Tuition Fees 

You should compare tuition fees between various schools. This is important because it allows you to save money if you attend a cheaper school.

However, you may end up paying more if you go to a prestigious school.

6. Financial Aid 

Financial aid is very helpful since it can help pay for your education. Make sure to apply for financial aid early since there might be limited funds available. 

How to be Successful in your Health Information Manager Career

To be successful as a health information manager, you need to develop certain qualities:

1. Communication Skills 

Communication skills are essential in any profession. When communicating with patients, you must be able to listen carefully and respond quickly.

Your ability to communicate with other people will determine how much they trust you.

Therefore, you should make sure that you are able to communicate clearly and concisely.

2. Multitasking Ability 

It is important that you are able to multi-task since you will often be required to handle many projects at once.

You must also be able to manage time effectively. If you cannot multitask well, then you will find yourself overwhelmed and unable to complete all the necessary tasks.

3. Problem Solving Abilities 

As a health information manager, it is important that you are capable of solving problems. You will often be faced with situations where you will have to solve complex issues.

In order to solve these problems, you must be able to analyze them thoroughly and come up with solutions.

4. Critical Thinking Ability 

Critical thinking refers to analyzing data and coming up with new ideas. It is important that you use this skill to improve your work performance.

To develop critical thinking abilities, you should practice reading critically and evaluating arguments.

5. Researching Ability 

Researching is another skill that is needed to become a successful health information manager; research is one of the most important aspects of this job.

What Does a Health Information Manager Do?

A health information manager works closely with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care services.

Their main goal is to collect and organize medical records and other relevant documents about each patient.

They also ensure that the right kind of treatment is given to each patient.

Qualities of a Good Health Information Manager

The qualities of a good health information manager include being organized, detail oriented, and friendly, honest, trustworthy, and reliable.

These traits are important since they allow you to get along with others easily. A good health information manager should always keep their promises.

He/she should also be willing to learn from mistakes.

Health Information Manager Salary

According to PayScale.com, the average salary range for a health information manager is $56,000 – $80,000 per year.

The top 10% earn more than $75,000 per year while the bottom 10% earns less than $50,000 annually.

Health Information Manager Job Outlook

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of medical records and health information professionals is expected to expand at a rate of 9% between 2020 and 2030.

Conclusion

Becoming a health information manager requires extensive education and training. However, if you are committed to learning and want to succeed in this career path, then there is no reason why you can’t achieve great success.