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What is Health Information Management?
If you are seeking a career that is dynamic and combines the disciplines of health care, computer technology, and management, then this field may be for you! We offer an associate's degree in medical record technology that, when completed,
allows the graduate to take the national certification examination for the nationally recognized Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential. Health information specialists are those who specialize in medical coding (ICD-9 and CPT) for reimbursement and claims billing, ensure the data quality of medical information, interpret and use health care statistics, release confidential medical data, perform functions for accuracy, and utilize health care computer systems in their daily functions.
Salaries
Salaries are competitive with the various sub-specialty opportunities in the
health information management (HIM) field.  According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), more than 50
percent of new graduates start with annual salaries from $30,000 to $50,000. Within five years of graduation, depending upon work experience, and for those who hold a degree, salaries can be $50,000 to $75,000, especially for those interested in management, consulting, and hospital coding for those who hold a degree. Graduates who hold this associate's degree, have become HIM directors at facilities statewide in Arkansas, such as at the V.A.
Medical Center in Little Rock, Sparks Health System in Fort Smith, Select Specialty Hospitals in Little Rock, Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, The Bridgeway Hospital
in Little Rock, North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison, Arkansas Hospice in Little Rock, Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge, and St. Vincent General Hospital in Leadville,
Colorado.
 Do You Want Evening or Online Classes?
Most of our classes are online, except when we meet in the evening to hear a guest speaker, and the "hands-on" clinical rotations where students gain professional experience in the field. Because most classes are on the Internet students may schedule their "class time" with great flexibility during a semester! This is perfect for the working student, single parent, and the independent learner! Many of our students are career-minded and want to advance in their current positions by obtaining a degree or a coding certificate, or gain the credentials in HIM
that include three semesters of coding with us and additional studies later.
Employment Outlook
HIM professionals can expect to be in high demand as the health sector expands over the next few decades. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics cites health information technology as one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the U.S. There are 40 different work settings and 125 different job descriptions, so there is something for everyone with this career choice.
What kind of jobs can I get with this degree?
HIM professionals enjoy a broad selection of job opportunities and options for professional growth, unlike many professions where the breadth of options for the graduates is quite limited. Based on the graduates’ skills, education, and interests, job titles that RHIT professionals may hold include:
Director HIM |
Consultant |
Supervisor HIM |
Clinical coder |
Data quality manager |
Cancer registrar |
Data analyst |
Privacy officer |
Insurance claims analyst |
Data abstractor |
Case mix analyst |
Compliance coordinator |
Grants writer |
Clinic manager |
Vital records analyst |
Auditor |
Systems manager |
Utilization coordinator |
Quality analyst |
Data validation analyst |
Photocopy service manager |
Risk manager |
Educator/instructor |
Physician office manager |
Billing analyst |
Admissions officer |
Medical staff coordinator |
Claims specialist |
Optical analyst |
Transcriptionist |
HIPAA officer |
Security officer |
Patient information coordinator |
Trauma registrar |
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A host of other settings who hire RHITs include:
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Home health
- Hospice, rehab
- Mental health and public health facilities
- Pharmaceuticals
- Law & insurance firms
- HMOs
- Physician offices
- Clinics
- Ambulatory surgery centers
- Software & computer vendors
- Coding
and staffing companies
- Consulting services
- Private companies which need overseers of their own employee's health records
Our program is offered to local and distance students. (A distance student is one who lives in Arkansas or in a neighboring state and who can drive to an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in Arkansas as often as needed to take examinations as needed for classes. As much as possible, clinical sites located in or near each student's hometown area are used so that students can stay in or near their local areas to do their clinical rotations with guidance provided by the department using standards from our program and with the preceptors at the local facilities. ”Live" classes that have guest speakers are digitally recorded and sent to each distance student on CDs for viewing on his or her home computer. Thus, students view their classes on the Internet and on CDs whenever they like. To take an examination, a distance student simply goes to the nearest AHEC and reports to their proctor there to take the examination. The student can generally schedule a test with his or her AHEC proctor within two to three days so that testing can be arranged for the distance students who work and/or have family obligations. There are now eight (8) AHECs located around Arkansas.
The program is structured with the goal of making learning easy to acquire for the working adult, the single parent, and for those who need to hear a lecture more than once in a "live" classroom setting. Internet courses supplemented with CDs offer the student the capability of hearing any class lecture as many times as desired.
Distance students are required to come to our Little Rock campus three times per year for registration (fall, spring, and summer). This allows students to register for each semester, have their ID photographs taken, pay tuition, and get all the books and materials they need in one trip. Students also will be able to meet their classmates on these three days. This is important since they will not be able to see them again until the next day of registration, but they will talk to them and work on projects as teams and partners with them during the coming semester.
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