Health Information Management Degree: Do I Really Need One?
Has the thought of pursuing your degree in HIM (Health Information Management) crossed your mind? If so, you aren’t alone. Pursuing a HIM degree is a great way to get your foot in the door of the healthcare industry.
The good news is that you can enter this industry by pursuing a HIM degree, regardless of your background. A health information management degree should prepare you to handle health information services, health data management, and health information management. This is a perfect degree for people who want to assist others by working in the healthcare industry but don't feel drawn to direct patient care.
After graduating, you can seek employment in doctor's offices, medical facilities, and wherever health information is handled. There is usually room for advancement with further certifications, formal education, and experience. Being a lifelong learner is a must if you want to see where this dynamic field can take you.
Reasons Why You Should Pursue a Health Information Management Degree
The healthcare field can be very rewarding: For some, there is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that your professional expertise can benefit others. There are numerous healthcare roles that span from running a hospital to working in a physician’s office.
You have the qualities needed to do the job: Are you organized, analytical, methodical, with an eye for detail, and a passion for seeing everything in the right place? You might be just what a HIM worker is made of. It can be very rewarding, emotionally and intellectually, to work at a job that makes use of your skills and abilities.
What Does Having a Degree in Health Information Management Entail?
When pursuing a degree in health information management, you will most likely learn how to develop critical programs that will improve both the medical infrastructures and healthcare systems. After graduating, you should be able to evaluate methods and enforce policies to help in the promotion of community health. You should also become proficient in using computer programs and be effective in gathering and examining data. As you progress in your studies, your program will help you to explore the basics of hiring, training, and managing other employees.
A degree in health information management could prepare you for different paths in the healthcare industry. A typical curriculum includes the interpretation of healthcare data that is used in hiring, budgeting, and training. Other course topics may include:
- Reimbursement
- Privacy management
- Ethical issues
- Quality control
- Electronic health records
Why is a Degree in HIM Important?
According to Lynne Thomas the AHIMA CEO, there are several opportunities in the health information management field such as data analytics, information governance, informatics, entrepreneurship, patient advocacy, and project management among others. These fields could give you the opportunity to not only collect and process data, but also to analyze and apply it.
How is a HIM degree an asset in the field?
Although HIM is a relatively new profession, it exists to protect patient records at a time when information is at risk of internal and external hacks. To join this industry, a degree could equip you with important skills including:
- Health knowledge
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Technical Know-how
These skills and qualities are important as a health information manager.
Are you interested in the HIM field? If you want to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Health Science Degree with a Concentration in Health Information Management, consider ECPI University for the education you'll need. For more information, connect with a helpful admissions representative today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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