By Leslie Doyle | 04/07/2025
Collecting and managing patients’ records is an essential part of healthcare administration. Every time we visit the doctor, get vaccinations, or undergo a medical procedure, records are produced to document those interactions. Ensuring that this medical data is accurate is paramount – not only for individual patient care and clinical documentation but also for broader healthcare operations.
The field of health information management (HIM) informs how this data is used and managed throughout the healthcare ecosystem. However, it’s important to note that HIM is often confused with healthcare administration.
Healthcare administration is aligned with managing operations, finances, and organizational leadership within a healthcare system. Alternatively, HIM focuses specifically on the management, accuracy, privacy, and use of health data.
A degree in health information management prepares professionals to take on this crucial responsibility. There are many ways healthcare data is used to support critical decision-making.
A degree in health information management (HIM) prepares professionals to take on this crucial responsibility. There are many ways healthcare data is used to support critical decision-making.
Everyone from public health officials to hospital administrators relies on data to:
- Understand how healthcare resources are being used
- Identify opportunities to improve healthcare safety and efficiency
- Track and resolve public health concerns
- Support clinical trials and medical research
- Ensure patients receive accurate healthcare services bills
Fostering Safe Patient Outcomes
Ensuring the accuracy of health records helps improve patient safety by reducing medical errors and enhancing clinical workflows. “HIM professionals play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes by ensuring accurate health data and supporting informed decision-making,” says Dr. Keechia Ross, EdD, RHIA, the Department Chair and Practicum Coordinator of Health Information Management Programs at American Military University. One key example of their impact is their role in clinical documentation improvement programs.
“By collaborating with physicians, coders, and compliance teams, HIM professionals help ensure medical records accurately reflect patient conditions and treatment plans. Their work leads to better patient care and treatment planning, improved reimbursement, and financial sustainability, as well as more accurate data for medical research and public health initiatives,” observes Dr. Ross.
The Impact of HIM
Federal regulations grant patients the right to obtain their medical records and privacy protections over who can see that information. Having access to accurate medical histories helps people to make more informed healthcare decisions. Consequently, patients and their doctors can better understand individual health and well-being.
Healthcare organizations house vast amounts of medical data, which is essential to advancing public health. Public health practitioners can sift through this data to gain early warnings about public health concerns, such as mental health crises and pandemics.
Health information management is also important for clinical research. For retrospective studies, researchers analyze large volumes of clinical data to identify trends, such as disease trajectory, treatment patterns, and patient outcomes.
For example, a researcher may study the records of cancer patients who received two different treatments to compare how they responded over time. These insights can help future cancer care to be improved.
Health Information Management Career Paths
There are a wide array of health information management jobs from which to choose in the health information management field. Job opportunities exist for HIM professionals who are detail-oriented and have a keen interest in the role data plays in quality patient care.
Entry-Level Roles
Entry-level roles in HIM focus on maintaining accurate medical records, ensuring proper coding for billing, and facilitating patient-provider communication. These positions require attention to detail and a solid understanding of medical documentation.
Patient Care Coordinators and Patient Information Coordinators
Patient care coordinators facilitate communication between patients and healthcare providers. They manage patient records, including clinical data and test results. Patient care coordinators usually have an associate or a bachelor's degree.
Medical Coders
Medical coders perform administrative functions, such as reviewing patient visits, identifying the appropriate medical codes for each diagnosis and treatment involved in the visit, and processing medical claims. By assigning specific codes, medical coders ensure that there is uniform documentation for each type of medical treatment. Medical coders may have an associate degree or have completed a certificate program.
Medical Records Technicians and Health Information Technicians
Medical records technicians or health information technicians keep patient records accurate, up to date, and confidential. Essential duties involve organizing and protecting health information and managing the systems that house this information. Typically, an associate or bachelor's degree in health information technology is required for this type of job.
Mid-Level Opportunities in HIM
Mid-level HIM professionals take on more analytical and leadership responsibilities, using data to improve healthcare operations and patient care. They often oversee compliance, technology integration, and information security within healthcare organizations.
Health Information Managers
Health information managers focus on managing health data to drive informed business decisions and process improvements. Health information managers work to manage and protect patients’ health records. As healthcare has become more driven by data, there is a growing need for professionals who understand how to gather and manage accurate patient information.
Usually, health information managers have an associate or bachelor’s degree. A study of health information management found that more HIM professionals are strengthening their analytical skills and knowledge of the healthcare industry through higher-level education.
Health Informatics Professionals
Health informatics professionals develop and manage the technology that supports health information management. Health informatics professionals bring a thorough knowledge of computer science and network security. These experts help create complex technical infrastructure that supports healthcare decision-making.
The American Medical Informatics Association describes health informatics as “the science of how to use data, information, and knowledge to improve human health and the delivery of healthcare service.” To that end, informatics professionals play an integral role in discovering health insights.
Most health informatics professionals have an educational background in information technology and experience working in a healthcare setting. They may pursue a graduate degree for professional growth opportunities.
Management-Level Career Paths
At the management level, HIM professionals shape policies, oversee teams, and ensure the integrity of health information systems. Their work directly impacts regulatory compliance, patient privacy, and the strategic use of medical data.
Chief Privacy Officers and Compliance Officers
Compliance officers and chief privacy officers develop and execute policies related to patient privacy. Their work involves identifying procedures to secure electronic medical records.
Chief privacy officers also develop and disseminate best practices throughout an organization and conduct periodic audits to help ensure all parties keep patient data private. A large part of their role is to mitigate risk, so they regularly oversee risk management functions.
A bachelor's degree is a standard requirement for a healthcare compliance officer. However, many employers prefer healthcare compliance officers to have a master's degree in healthcare administration, law, or a similar field.
Data Quality Analysts and Data Quality Managers
Data quality managers design and manage databases that store and interpret electronic health records. Their role is essential in identifying trends and ensuring data accuracy. Typically, data quality analysts have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information management, or a related field.
Health Data Analysts
Health data analysts evaluate healthcare data to improve operations, enhance patient care, and optimize cost efficiency. Health data analysts usually have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, healthcare administration, or a similar field.
Health Information Management Job Settings
“There’s a misconception that HIM roles are only in hospitals,” says Dr. Ross. HIM professionals may have many different job titles and work in various settings, such as:
- Hospitals and other large healthcare centers
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Nursing homes and other care facilities
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation centers
- Substance abuse clinics
- Health insurance companies
- Health information management consulting firms
- Government agencies
“Health information management is a great people person's job," says Dr. Douglas Sloan, an associate professor of health in the School of Health Sciences at American Military University. “It’s a high-touch people job. I always loved that aspect of it. As a HIM professional, you get to understand the entire workings of the facility and interact with so many medical professionals.”
The Future of Health Information Management
As more healthcare organizations embrace electronic health records, the HIM discipline is shifting. Access to large amounts of data presents opportunities and challenges, driving the need for more technical-focused careers built around big data.
Healthcare organizations are grappling with issues such as incomplete clinical records and shortfalls in health information technology. They're seeking HIM professionals who can bring structure to vast amounts of medical information.
“The demand for HIM professionals continues to grow, particularly as healthcare organizations increasingly rely on technology-driven decision-making and regulatory compliance,” says Dr. Ross. “The field also offers flexible career paths, remote work opportunities, and leadership roles across a variety of healthcare settings.”
Excelling in health information management requires a multidisciplinary understanding of topics such as data analytics, data management, information policies, and privacy issues. “HIM professionals in health informatics have implemented AI-driven predictive analytics tools to identify high-risk patients before complications arise, leading to proactive interventions and better health outcomes," says Dr. Ross.
“Health information management is a rapidly evolving field, driven by advancements in AI, interoperability, and telehealth. Professionals need to keep up with industry trends and obtain certifications, such as the Registered Health Information Administrator or Certified Health Data Analyst to stay competitive.”
Health Information Management Degrees at American Military University
For adult learners who are interested in pursuing job opportunities in healthcare information management, American Military University (AMU) offers two degrees:
- An online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
- An online Master of Science in Health Information Management
Courses in these programs are taught by expert faculty members with a deep knowledge of the healthcare field and include topics such as medical terminology, the legal aspects of healthcare management, and classification systems. Other courses cover healthcare vocabulary and clinical technologies, technology applications in health information management, and information security management.
The bachelor's degree in health information management has received specialty accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM®). Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).
For more information, visit AMU’s health sciences degree program page.
CAHIIM is a registered trademark of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.