What Is Health Information Management?

To better understand health information management, we must first understand health information. The term health information can apply to many different types of information and includes any protected health information that your doctor or healthcare provider creates before or after a patient visit or encounter. What used to be done with paper charts and medical records that needed to be physically protected, secured and manually analyzed, have been almost entirely replaced by the electronic health record (EHR).

The adoption of EHRs has vastly improved the amount and type of data that can be stored and collected and the ability to analyze the data to make better-informed healthcare decisions. With this vast increase in digital data collection using EHR, hospitals and all involved in healthcare must have a way to manage, store and analyze it while protecting and promoting patient well-being. This is where health information management comes into play.

You still may be wondering, What do you do in health information management? Health information management is the activities and security measures in place to manage and protect this information. This information can be used for various health-related activities from health screenings to insurance reimbursement, to resource utilization.

HIM is an emerging industry and the importance of health information management is seen in how modern healthcare is delivered, and the data we can gather, analyze and learn from health information is growing every year.^{(See disclaimer 1)} When answering the question, What do you do in health information management? the work falls into three important areas:

1. Managing Patient Medical Records

The basic function of a HIM professional team is to manage the patient record. The EHR is the first point of contact for collecting and storing patient information, at any time — from an emergency room visit to a planned surgery. The patient medical record is used to document every stage of the patient visit and their healthcare journey, and HIM professionals are responsible for the deployment and maintenance of electronic medical record platforms, controlling proper usage and relevant access and supporting staff end-users.

2. Accuracy and Security of Health Information

Periodic audits of healthcare data are required to ensure that clinicians have the most up-to-date and accurate information available. It is almost impossible to review every record in real-time; although, with artificial intelligence and predictive analytics, it’s getting faster.^{(See disclaimer 4)} Health information managers can perform periodic audits to reassure patients and clinicians that the data is good and that safe healthcare decisions can be made.

3. Compliance With Healthcare Regulations

Compliance is one of the most important parts of HIM. Regulation makes the other areas of HIM matter. Regulatory compliance is an established set of minimal requirements to keep patient data safe, accurate and reliable. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requires that certain patient information remains private.^{(See disclaimer 2)} Insurance companies as well as Medicare and state Medicaid programs have lawful access to certain patient medical records as it relates to care and billing, HIM professionals ensure that only those who lawfully need to have access to patient information do so. HIM professionals must also stay up to date as laws surrounding patient privacy and data security can change frequently.

Health information managers indirectly contribute to improving patient care and healthcare operations through effective data management and analysis, but the results can also be lifesaving.

Do you love science, computers and technology, but also want to give back to your community and take care of people? Are you interested in a healthcare career, but unsure about the hands-on nature of a medical or nursing career? You may be wondering, What is health information management? (HIM) and may want to consider a career in the field.

If you are interested in healthcare but don’t have a healthcare background, then a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from Grand Canyon University may be your ticket to a healthcare career. Read on to learn more about different health information management definitions, educational requirements, job opportunities and the importance of health information management to our healthcare system. 

Employment of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow 16% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS).^{(See disclaimer 1)} Many different types of healthcare and related industries rely on HIM professionals to organize, oversee and protect patient health information data which includes symptoms, diagnoses, medical histories, test results and procedures.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

HIM professionals work in a variety of health, medical and technological settings. Here are a few of the places you can work and examples of the type of work:^{(See disclaimer 5)}

• Hospitals: patient admission data and health history, laboratory and radiographic records, health trends
• Doctors' offices: vaccination records, health screenings, medication records
• Home health agencies: annual health checks, patient services
• Nursing homes: health checks, medication management, patient monitoring, billing services
• Pharmaceutical companies: reporting adverse medication reactions, patient safety, proper administration and billing of products or services
• Insurance companies: managing care, and avoiding duplication of tests or services
• Software companies: data analytics, infectious disease tracking, predictive analytics
• Consulting firms: staffing safety, materials utilization.

The potential careers in each of these industries include medical and health services manager, medical records specialist, health information technologist or medical registrar. The median annual wage for health information technologists and medical registrars was $62,990 in May 2023, according to the BLS.^{(See disclaimer 6)} Each of these provides a vital role in collecting and maintaining health information and providing accurate and timely information for patients and their care teams to make good decisions about their health.

The first step to becoming a qualified HIM professional is through completing your Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited program. The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) has approved GCU Health Information Management degree as a fully accredited program.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Admission into the HIM program at GCU is based on your prior academic achievements, and there are no prerequisites for health or technology-related experience to apply for the bachelor’s degree in HIM. Once you successfully pass your HIM coursework, you will be prepared to enter the field of HIM. 

Health information managers plays an important role in a successful healthcare system, as they are entrusted to collect, organize, store, protect and analyze patient and health system data for better patient safety and to inform medical decisions using quality data.

Now that you can answer the question, What is health information management? you can analyze your interests and talents in technology, computers and science. Regardless if you prefer online or in-person learning, Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management has the right path for you.