Bachelor’s in Health Information Management (HIM) Degree

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Overview

Examine How Data Accuracy and Confidentiality Impacts Patient Care

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. 

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Health Information Management Bachelor’s Degree at GCU
Why GCU

Find Your Place in Healthcare

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.

Vision

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.

Mission

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.
 

Coursework

Courses and Topics

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

Careers

Career Opportunities in Health Information Management

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

Accreditation

Health Information Management Accreditation

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.

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FAQ

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.

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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.

Apply Now

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.

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