Bachelor’s in Health Information Management (HIM) Degree
Bachelor’s in Health Information Management (HIM) Degree
journey today.
A BS in Health Information Management (HIM) can provide you with the knowledge, resources and tools needed to advance professional standards in healthcare and support delivery across many settings. The health information management degree program at Grand Canyon University can prepare you to understand the importance of information accuracy, information confidentiality and up to date analytics in providing first-rate healthcare.
In this degree program, you will be taught to adapt new methods of capturing and storing healthcare information and accessing it electronically. Health information professionals connect clinical, operational and administrative functions in healthcare settings. This is an important and expanding role in healthcare, especially as new technologies and systems are developed.
The work that health information professionals do is vital for patient care, as it provides a foundation for collaboration among clinicians, healthcare technology designers and other professionals involved with healthcare technology. By serving as custodians of critical and sensitive patient information, health information professionals fulfill a necessary support role in the care of patients. The function of health information management is ultimately to serve the patients’ best interests.1
As a student of this health information management degree, you will be taught to examine and embrace a Christian worldview. This can help you further your professional commitment to quality healthcare. This Christian perspective provides additional reason for moral and ethical standards of care to be preserved.
Earn Your Health Information Management Degree Online
GCU’s HIM bachelor’s degree is available through online or on-campus classes. If you choose to earn your degree online, you can look forward to the same quality of education that our on-campus students receive. You can benefit from our interactive online learning platform, which provides you with the opportunity to engage in academically stimulating discussions with your instructors and peers. Working toward your HIM degree online provides flexibility and convenience, as you can work through the course materials from anywhere with an internet connection.
This Degree Is Offered Online
Vision and Mission Statements
The vision and mission of our bachelor’s in health information management program is derived from the overall mission of GCU. Our learning community strives to graduate lifelong learners who are committed to making a positive difference through their knowledge and skills.
The vision for the bachelor’s in health information management program is to empower healthcare communities in transforming healthcare through the application of health information management and information systems, and to incorporate collaborative initiatives led by program students, faculty and alumni.
GCU’s BS in Health Information Management program can prepare you to promote quality health information for the benefit of the public, patients, providers and other users of clinical data. This mission is accomplished through a program that focuses on integrating Christian values and servant leadership.
GCU offers a Christian outlook as well as lessons, proficient professors and relevant classwork. This includes utilizing technology for data collection, performing quality assessments and making organizational structures to support confidential and accurate data. You will be taught to maintain ethical and effective standards in data management.
The HIM bachelor’s degree focuses on five key functions of health information management in the field:
Information Governance
Gaining awareness of the policies, procedures and processes for managing information, evaluating health information systems and determining accuracy of diagnostic and procedural coding
Information Protection
Protecting health information and preserving its confidentiality, implementing security measures and performing data quality monitoring
Informatics, Analytics and Data Use
Designing, implementing and testing health information technologies, overseeing data quality and recommending organizational action
Compliance
Becoming equipped to apply ethical, legal and regulatory standards for all data storage, form policies and procedures to monitor for the potential abuse of data
Healthcare Business and Leadership
Becoming proficient in healthcare reimbursement, capital and project budgets and fostering an environment of growth and diversity
As a graduate of this HIM degree program, you will have been taught to ensure healthcare data is stored, accessed and utilized correctly to facilitate information exchange and support organizational decision-making by healthcare professionals. This level of technology support ensures accurate clinical documentation and quality patient care.1
Although it’s not possible for any degree program to guarantee any particular career outcome, the bachelor’s in health information management degree program at GCU, along with the right experience, can prepare you to pursue careers such as:
Medical and health services manager
Medical records specialist
Health information technologist and medical registrar
The Health Information Management accreditor of GCU is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the baccalaureate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2030-2031. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
Definitions & Parameters: Graduation Rate is calculated based on qualified starts who began the program within a specified timeframe and graduated within 150% of the published time for the program. The published time for the BS-HIM program is 48 months/4 years, and 150% of the published time for the program is 72 months/6 years. A student is considered a qualified start if they attempted at least 3 courses in their program of study. Students who began in 2019 would be expected to graduate by 2024 (i.e., 150% of the published time for the program - 72 months/6 years from when they started). 16 of the 64 qualified starts who began the BS-HIM program in 2019 graduated by the end of 2024 (16/64=.25 or 25%).
Definitions & Parameters: Employment Rate is calculated based on all BS-HIM students who graduated through 2024, since the program began in 2018 (regardless of when they started), and answered the question on GCU’s End of Program Survey related to Employment (i.e., “Which of the following best describes your career status upon degree completion?”). 27 of 29 graduates responded to the survey question related to Employment. 20 of 27 respondents indicated they were Employed (20/27=.741 or 74.1%).
Definitions & Parameters: Satisfaction Rate is calculated based on all BS-HIM students who graduated through 2024, since the program began in 2018 (regardless of when they started), and answered the question on GCU’s End of Program Survey related to Program Satisfaction (i.e., “My educational program met my expectations”). 26 of 29 graduates responded to the survey question related to Program Satisfaction. Only 1 of 26 respondents indicated they were Dissatisfied (25/26=.962 or 96.2% were Satisfied).
Frequently Asked Questions
Before making the decision to pursue a BS in Health Information Management, it’s a good idea to learn more about the degree program and about working in the health information management field. Explore the following frequently asked questions and answers to get started.
The function of health information management is to manage and secure patient medical data and records. Accurate and confidential patient records are vital for enabling clinicians to care for their patients.1 In contrast, the healthcare administration subfield concentrates on overseeing and optimizing healthcare facilities and operations.
Healthcare administrators manage health departments and supervise aspects of healthcare delivery including operations, services, ancillary support, billing and reconciliation and human resources. If you’re interested in a management and supervisory role, GCU offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration and a Master of Science in Health Administration.
Health information managers work with data management systems (such as patient health records) and perform data analytics functions to ensure effective and efficient healthcare services delivery.
Health information management professionals also manage health data and clinical record integrity, healthcare reimbursement and electronic health record (EHR) operations at all levels of leadership in healthcare organizations. They manage healthcare reimbursement, coding and billing operations, and they ensure the privacy and security of clinical information to comply with HIPAA and other government regulations.
Prior experience in the healthcare industry is not required to apply to the health information management degree program. In addition, you can apply for enrollment in a bachelor’s in health information management degree without having prior college education. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree, you may be qualified to apply for enrollment in a related graduate degree program, if you wish to further your education.
These two subfields are closely related and overlap in certain areas. Both health information management and health informatics focus on healthcare data and technology. Similarly, HIM and health informatics professionals both need certain healthcare knowledge and technology skills. However, HIM professionals are more focused on the organization and management of healthcare data. They also work to ensure accuracy, appropriate access and confidentiality. In contrast, health informatics professionals focus on creating and maintaining the software systems that allow for the safe storage of the information.2
It is possible to earn a health information management degree online. If you decide to complete coursework online, you’ll work on an e-learning platform that provides access to lectures from your instructors and other course materials. You may find that online education programs provide the flexibility you need to earn your degree while meeting other obligations. However, it’s essential to practice good time management as well as hold yourself accountable for attending online classes and completing your assignments.
Health information management can be a meaningful and rewarding career path if you’re the type of person who enjoys working with computers and with data. It may also be a good choice for you if you’re passionate about healthcare but don’t think that a clinician position is the right choice for you.
Health information management is a growing career field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth for health information technologists and medical registrars to be 17% from 2021 through 2031, much faster than average.3 As of May 2021, these professionals had a median annual salary of $55,560, according to the BLS.4
Start Your Journey Today!
You can prepare to make a worthwhile contribution to the healthcare information field by supporting the work of clinicians and other patient care specialists. Apply today for enrollment in GCU’s HIM degree online or on campus.
1 The American Health Information Management Association. (n.d.). What Is Health Information? The American Health Information Management Association. Retrieved Aug. 10, 2023.
2 Das, B. (2023, July 17). Health Information Management vs. Health Informatics. Indeed. Retrieved Aug. 10, 2023.
3 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2022, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars, retrieved on Aug. 10, 2023.
4 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars as of May 2021, retrieved on Aug. 10, 2023. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 and 2021 may be atypical compared to prior years. The pandemic may also impact the predicted future workforce outcomes indicated by the BLS. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers from across the country with varying levels of education and experience and does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as Health Information Technologists or Medical Registrars. It does not reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country. It also does not reflect a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. You may also wish to compare median salaries if you are considering more than one career path. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, and accept employment from, determines salary not only based on education, but also individual characteristics and skills and fit to that organization (among other categories) against a pool of candidates.