What is Health Information Technology?
Health Information Technology is a rapidly growing and promising field in the medical and healthcare industry that requires minimal interaction with patients. The federal government is focused on advancing the use of health information technology, thus enhancing the tremendous growth potential of this industry. >> Read Title IV - HITECH Act

Health Information professionals gather, code, manage, and maintain patient health information. They should be detail-oriented and often function as detectives. Proper coding and information management is necessary for healthcare providers to get reimbursed accurately and in a timely manner. In addition to saving money, the health information industry can improve the safety and efficiency of patient care by making accurate updated patient information readily accessible to healthcare providers.

Health Information Technology Career Options
Health Information Technology and Health Information Management professionals work in numerous settings, such as hospitals, physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, ambulatory care centers, specialty clinics, long term care, and public health agencies -- basically anywhere that collects, maintains, analyzes and uses medical records and data.

• Medical Coders (CCS, CCA) are the data entry experts.
• Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) compile, maintain, and analyze health data.
• Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) manage and supervise everyday operations and make decisions based on health data.
• Health Informatics Specialists develop and enhance the tools involved in health data collection and analysis.

Health Information Technology Career Outlook and Salary
Health Information career outlook and salary potential are excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in health information is expected to grow by 20% between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average of all occupations. According to The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the median annual salary for entry level medical records and health information management specialists was $48,000 in 2008. With professional experience, the middle 50 percent earned $60,000 to $86,000 in 2008. The lowest 10 percent earned under $32,000 while the top 10 percent earned over $200,000. As in all fields, salaries can differ based on education, experience, location, and employer.

Health Information Technology Education
Health information technicians generally enter the field after earning an associate's degree in Health Information Technology. In addition to general education, coursework includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health information, health data standards, coding and abstraction of data, statistics, database management, quality improvement methods, and computer science.

Health information professionals who plan to advance their careers to the mid-management level or higher will benefit from earning a CAHIIM accredited bachelor's degree in health information management. In addition to mastering technical aspects of health information, the baccalaureate degree graduate gains expertise in the planning, analysis, design, and management of healthcare information resources and services.

Health Information Technology Certification
Most employers require technicians to have the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification. Health information technicians will typically advance by specializing or by moving into a management position. In addition to industry experience, many employers require health information managers and administrators to have the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification. In order to sit for the RHIT or RHIA certification exams, candidates must complete CAHIIM accredited HIT or HIM degree programs. >> Read more about credentials

To be eligible for the RHIT exam, candidates must have earned an associate degree in health information management or technology accredited by CAHIIM.

To be eligible for the RHIA exam, candidates must have completed a bachelor degree level health information management program accredited by CAHIIM.

Health Information Technology - Applied Associate of Science
Rasmussen's Health Information Technology AAS Degree program is accredited by CAHIIM and will prepare students to take the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

The program includes topics such as:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced ICD-9-CM Coding
• Ambulatory Care Coding
• Intro to Health Information Management
• Medical Insurance and Billing
• Quality Analysis and Management
• Pathology
• Medical Law and Ethics
• Medical Coding Practicum
• Healthcare Information Technologies

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
DeVry's CAHIIM accredited Health Information Technology program prepares graduates to work with applications systems and manage electronic health information databases. Graduates of this program will be prepared to take the RHIT certification exam. The Health Information Technology AAS Degree program
is available online and at select DeVry campus locations. >>click for campus listing

Technical Management / Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
This CAHIIM accredited online degree program in Technical Management with a technical specialty in Health Information Management (HIM) provides the experience and knowledge students need to progress in their profession. Positions abound in hospitals, physician offices, clinics, and even in government agencies, software and IT vendor firms, insurance companies, and consulting firms. Some of the positions available with a bachelor's degree include HIM department director, health information system manager, chief privacy officer, clinical data specialist, information security manager, and product marketing specialist. CAHIIM accreditation has been granted only to the online program for this Health Information Management BS Degree.

Health Information - Post Bachelor's Certificate
This CAHIIM accredited online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management allows experienced health care, business, and IT professionals to become eligible for the highly-valued Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) Certification. This online program can be completed in as few as 11 courses. Graduates are eligible to register for the national Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) credential examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Over 90 percent of our graduates pass the exam, consistently scoring above the national mean in both overall and subject-specific areas.

• Health Informatics - Master of Science
• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Bachelor's)
• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Master's)

Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
Graduates of Herzing Online’s CAHIIM Accredited Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program will not only master the core coding, health sciences and general education requirements, they will also posses a solid understanding of business and management principles and how those are applied to the health care field, specifically in the area of medical records and health information documentation.

The Herzing University Health Information Management online programs further prepare students through the inclusion of an internship opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. In addition, the Program Review and Career Development courses guide students through the different certifications available to Health Information Management and Medical Billing and Insurance Coding professionals (and how to get them) as well as the creation of a coding skills portfolio to share with prospective employers. It is the combination of Herzing’s quality education, Student Support and Career Services that allow Herzing Online to boast that 97% of our available graduates started careers in the field they studied in 2008.

• Medical Assisting - AS
• Medical Assisting - Diploma
• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - AS
• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Diploma
• Medical Office Administration - AS
• Medical Office Administration - Diploma

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
Kaplan University's Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program blends online coursework with on-ground clinical experiences and is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, technical skills, and work habits required to pursue entry-level positions in the competitive and growing health information management field.

Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program is designed to act as the next step for individuals who already possess an Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology degree. Students matriculating into this program must have successfully completed Kaplan University's Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program or a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)-approved AAS in Health Information Technology program prior to admission. The objective of the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is to help prepare graduates to pursue career advancement within the growing field of health information. Students are taught the skills needed to be innovative and adaptable thinkers and problem solvers who can leverage available services and technologies to support operations, management, and strategic initiatives within the health information field.

Health Information Management - Master of Science in IT
This Health Information Management master’s specialization offers health care-focused course work on information systems, databases, system security, data analysis, decision support, and strategic management, along with overviews of important IT and business topics. The curriculum follows the model curriculum of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and was developed to align with the criteria of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management (CAHIIM). It is designed to help you use information management and security to support efficient, accurate health care delivery and management. People who choose this specialization are often IT professionals pursuing health information management or consulting positions in hospitals, clinics, and health care systems.

Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
This CAHIIM accredited program provides a unique path for RHITs to obtain their BS in HIM in just 2 ¼ years. This program has been tailor-made for working RHITs who don't want to be bogged down with countless electives in their efforts to obtain a Bachelor's degree. The accelerated curriculum-made possible by an advanced network of support-prepares students to truly excel in the field. This RHIT progression program builds on the knowledge and skills acquired through prior education and work experience. Graduates of this program are equipped with the knowledge to take AHIMA's RHIA certification exam.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
In as little as 16 months students can earn the AAS in Health Information Technology. The program prepares students to work for hospitals, medical offices, nursing homes, home healthcare services, clinics and insurance companies. Students will become proficient in advanced coding and billing, data analysis, database management, medical records management and much more.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
NAU's Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) is an excellent career choice if you see yourself working in the in-demand health care field, but not directly with patients. As a graduate of this program, it may be your job to verify the completeness and accuracy of medical records and data entry into computer systems to ensure medical record quality; to use technology to analyze for quality and efficiency of patient care; to code patient diagnoses and procedures for research or reimbursement purposes; or to work in specialized registries that maintain data for medical research. NAU is currently pursuing program accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) to allow graduates of the HIT program to be eligible to take the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).