Health information management is the analysis of the collection, storage, and quality control of patient health information. This information may be in paper form, a combination of paper and digital (hybrid) formats, or, more commonly, in a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR).
HIM professionals use advanced technology to perform most HIM-related tasks. An HIM professional must have extensive knowledge, including HIPAA laws that defend patient privacy, data analysis, and how to use computer systems that collect data.
The role of a health information manager (HIM) professional is more important than you might think. They are essential to ensuring that your healthcare experience—from your doctor’s appointment or hospital visit to your insurance claim—goes smoothly.
Patient care is not for me!
If you enjoy working in healthcare but don’t need to provide clinical care, consider this career path.
While HIM professionals may interact with physicians, patients, and insurance companies, they will focus on ensuring that health information collected during patient care is properly protected in accordance with established standards, legal requirements, and healthcare organization policies and procedures.
Health Information Management Skills – Must-Have
A career in health information management requires several key skills, including analytical skills, attention to detail, clear communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, technical skills, and leadership.
With their skills and growing demand in the industry, HIM professionals are a valuable benefit to healthcare organizations.
Healthcare Jobs Needed
Affording to the U.S. Department of Labor, healthcare is the fastest-growing employment sector.
In fact, healthcare service is projected to grow exponentially from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
Healthcare offers a wide range of career opportunities and is never dull or stagnant—it is constantly evolving.
The expansion of medical technology makes HIM an exciting career choice.
How much can you earn with an HIM degree?
According to the Unit of Labor Statistics, health information technologists earn an average of $61,410 per year ($29.53 per hour)*
If you gain experience and get a management-level job, you can potentially earn a higher salary. Healthcare and medical services managers earn an average of $119,840 per year ($57.61 per hour).
Where do HIM specialists work?
HIM offers a variety of career paths to choose from, from technical work to overseeing an entire HIM department in a variety of fields. HIM professionals work in hospitals, physician offices, surgery centers, long-term care facilities, consulting firms, government agencies, and even insurance companies. With an HIM degree, career options can include data analysis, HIPAA privacy, medical coding, compliance, medical documentation, and HIM organization.
Medical billing and enciphering can be the first step toward a career in HIM. Learn more about the key differences between health information management, billing, and coding.
In fact, HIM professionals can earn professional certifications such as Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIAs), who often hold management positions such as HIM directors or managers, and Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs), who often perform technical tasks, specializing in medical applications, cancer/disease registries, and oversight positions.
Moreover, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers specialized certifications in data analytics, document management, medical coding, and privacy.
What Is A Health Information System?
Learn what a health information system (HIS) is and how it plays a key role in managing health data, as well as the benefits of an HIS, best practices, and more.
A health information system (HIS) is a system designed to manage health information. It includes systems that collect, store, manage, and transmit patient electronic medical records (EMRs), a hospital operational management system, or a system that supports health policy decisions.
Health information systems also include systems that manage data related to the activities of healthcare providers and organizations. In a comprehensive effort, they can be used to improve clinical outcomes, inform research, and influence policy and decision-making. Because health information systems typically access, process, or store large amounts of penetrating data, security is a top priority.
Health information technology (HIT) refers to the development of health information systems.
Components of Health Information Systems
Health information systems can be rummage-sale by anyone involved in providing health care to patients, from physicians to public health officials. They collect data and synthesize it into a method that can be used to make health care decisions. In general, because health information systems must be interacted with by different roles, each with different needs and goals, technology content is necessary to deliver and improve health care.
Mechanisms of health info systems contain:
(EMR) & (EHR)
These two terms are almost interchangeable. An electronic health record (EHR) changes the paper variety of a patient’s medical history — think of it as a digital version of the paper charts in a doctor’s office.
Electronic health records (EHRs) can provide a detailed record of a patient’s health history. An EHR contains a lot of medical information, test results, and treatments. It is also designed to communicate with other EHRs so that other healthcare providers can access a patient’s medical information.
Practice Management Software
Practice management software helps healthcare providers manage day-to-day tasks like scheduling and billing. From small practices to hospitals, healthcare providers use practice management systems to streamline many administrative tasks.
Master Patient Index (MPI)
An advanced clinical index links the various clinical records in a database. The index has a record for each patient listed with a healthcare organization that links to all other documents for that patient. MPIs are used to reduce matching patient records and erroneous patient information that can lead to claims being denied.
Patient-Portals
Patient portals encourage patients to connect their personal health information, such as appointment information, medications, and test results, through an Internet connection. Some patient portals allow for active communication with their doctors, prescription refill requests, and the ability to schedule appointments.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
Remote patient monitoring, commonly used in telemedicine settings, allows medical devices to send patient data to healthcare professionals. While it is primarily designed to monitor biometric data such as heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen points, it can be used to continuously monitor any symptoms or conditions of patients with chronic conditions. The data is used to identify health events that require intervention and can be part of a more extensive public health study.
Clinical Decision Support (CDS)
Clinical decision support systems examine data from various clinical and organizational systems to help healthcare providers make clinical decisions. This data can help make diagnoses or predict medical trials, such as drug exchanges. These tools filter data and information to help physicians personalize patient care.
Benefits of Health Information Systems
Health information systems are generally focused on efficiency and data management. The primary motorists of health information systems are:
- Data Analysis: The healthcare industry is constantly generating data. Health information systems help collect, organize, and analyze health data, which helps manage population health and reduce healthcare costs. Then, health data analysis can improve patient care.
- Collaborative Care: Patients often require treatment from multiple healthcare providers. Health info systems, such as health information exchanges (HIEs), allow healthcare organizations to access public health records, which can help improve the speed, quality, safety, and cost of patient care.
- Cost Control: Using digital networks to transform health data increases efficiency and saves money. When provincial markets use health information exchanges to share data, healthcare providers see cost savings. On a smaller scale, hospitals are seeking the same efficiencies as electronic health records.
- Public Health Management: Health information systems can collect patient data, analyze it, and identify demographic trends—in some cases, they can even be used to predict or prevent outbreaks or identify people at risk. The technology works in reverse, too. Clinical verdict sustenance associations can use big data to diagnose and treat individual patients.
- Basic Health Information Skills: In many healthcare organizations, the mission of HIS is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality care through basic health information skills.
Best Practices for Health Information Systems
Security is a primary concern for the healthcare information system. All networks are vulnerable, but over the past 10 years, we have seen that healthcare providers are particularly vulnerable to cybercriminals. An April 2024 study found that ransomware attacks on healthcare organizations affected highly sensitive data—20%—compared to attacks in other industries, which affected only 6% of all data.
The Health Insurance Transferability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulates the protection of personal health information. To protect your corporate security systems, you should:
- Train employees
- Encrypt data
- Back up data
- Monitor usage
- Buy insurance
- Access vendor vulnerability
- Utilize multi-factor authentication
Beyond safety, it is helpful to focus on the patient. Some organizations use health information systems to improve convenience and accessibility for patients while reducing costs. They can also promote health care, awareness of health education, health screening, and disease prevention, giving people more control over their health.
Remember that healthcare professionals are likely the best source of health information system decisions. Top-down decision-making often does not lead to technology integration. Involve physicians in decisions about the best use of health information and technology.
FAQ
What Is An Example Of A Health Information System?
Examples of health information systems include patient portals that many hospitals and healthcare facilities provide to their patients. Through these portals, people can view information, schedule appointments, and interact with healthcare providers. Patients save time and money by using health care resources such as getting test results, technical advice, and treatment without leaving home.
What Is The Purpose Of Health Information Systems?
The primary objective of health information systems is to facilitate the use and exchange of health-related information so that decision-makers can identify problems, make informed health policy choices, and optimize resource allocation. Health information systems are designed and implemented to improve patient outcomes and ensure the efficient use of limited resources.
What is the alteration between a health info system and an EHR?
An electronic health record (EHR) is a component that may be part of a more extensive health info system. Any health info system that uses computers and digital data processes EHRs in some form. EHRs typically contain a large amount of sensitive information about an individual and must be protected by the security measures implemented by the health information system that uses them. The ability of different health information systems to work together to use compatible EHRs can help provide better care and improve patient conclusions.
What Are The Assistances Of Health Information Systems In Healthcare?
Many health benefits can be achieved through effectively implemented health information systems:
- Improving patient outcomes by providing people with more health-related information.
- Ensuring that limited resources are used in the best possible way to address public health issues.
- Control costs by sharing data and improving efficiency
- Ensuring collaboration across multiple healthcare settings and teams to deliver optimal patient care.
- Helping health care providers understand patients’ needs and change processes and practices to meet them better.