Health Information Management

Overview

The profession addresses the nature, structure, and translation of data into usable forms of information including the electronic health record for the advancement of health and health care of individuals and populations.

Health Information Management professionals collect, integrate, and analyze primary and secondary healthcare data, disseminate information, and manage information resources related to the research, planning, provision, and evaluation of healthcare services. HIM professionals are an integral part of the planning, implementing and utilization of electronic health record systems.

The Health Information Management major at Texas State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. Upon completion of the degree, graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association.

Careers

Health Information Management professionals work in multiple settings throughout the healthcare industry. These include the continuum of care delivery organizations; hospitals, multispecialty clinics and physician practices, long-term care, mental health, and other ambulatory care settings. The profession has recently seen significant expansion in nonpatient care settings, with careers in managed care and insurance companies, electronic health record vendors, consulting services, government agencies, education, and pharmaceutical companies.