Health Information

As the demands on the health care system grow, qualified, well trained and dedicated individuals are in high demand. A Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from the University of Cincinnati can help you not only address this need but give your career a giant push. This online degree program will allow you to fulfill the requirements of a Bachelor’s degree and prepare for the certification to become a Registered Health Information Management Administrator (RHIMA)

What was once considered to be merely a data management element in the health care industry, Health Information Management is steadily becoming one of the quickest growing sections of health care. In fact, the United States Department of Labor had predicted that as the wide spread need for health information managers grows, the field will see a 23 percent growth in the need for qualified persons by the year 2014. This dramatic increase in demand is resulting in roughly 6,000 new job openings every year, according to a study conducted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The same work force study also predicted that there would be a serious shortage of Health Information Managers to fill this void. A Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management from the University of Cincinnati can put you in a position to fulfill this demand in just over two years.

And getting your Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management does not only give you great employment opportunities, it can also mean a lot more pay. According to another study conducted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), someone in the health information management field with a Registered Health Information Management Administrator certification will earn around $15,000 more each year than will someone with only the RHIT certification. The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management will not only prepare you for the Registered Health Information Management Administrator certification exam, but it could put you in a career where you could be making more than $50,000 a year by helping to insure the accuracy and privacy of patients’ medical records. A health information manager is not only responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting health information but as an invaluable member of the health network you will be an advocate for insuring that the quality of information is upheld and that the privacy of the patients is guarded.

The University of Cincinnati’s online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program, which is accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission of North Central Association of Schools and Colleges (NCA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), is a convenient and affordable way of moving your career in the health information management industry to the next level. And, since the entire program is offered online, you do not have to worry about sacrificing your current job. You can work around your own schedule and get the degree you need right from the comfort of your own home.

The health technician field is not only one that is expected to see above average growth in the next several years, but is also one that will continue to see changes in job responsibilities.Working in this field usually means the business environment will be a pleasant and comfortable office setting. This is one of the few medical fields that does not include direct, hand-on contact with patients. The typical work week is 40 hours, though there may be some overtime. In facilities that are open 24 hours a day, technicians may work day, evening or night shifts.

Medical information and record technicians usually have at least an associate’s degree. Course work in the field will include medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, data requirements and standards, data analysis, clinical classification and codifying systems, data base security and management, insurance reimbursement and quality improvement methods. Taking math, biology, chemistry, health and computer science courses in high school can improves an applicant’s standing when applying to a post-secondary school.

Many employers will prefer to hire credentialed technicians. Credentialing programs often will require re-credentialing and continuing education. Obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or an advanced specialty certification, can help with career advancement for someone experienced in the health information technology field. Those with a bachelor’s or master’s degree can often become an information manager.

The U.S. Department of Labor projects employment for medical records and information technicians to increase by 20 percent through 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations through that time. As the population continues to age, more medical tests, treatment and procedures will be required. Those technicians that can demonstrate a strong understanding of technology and computer software likely will be particularly in demand.

As the use of electronic medical records continues to increase, more technicians will also be needed. In fact, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department recently announced it would be awarding $267 million to several non-profit organizations to establish Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers, which will help grow this emerging field. These centers will provide support to medical practitioners as they transition to electronic records.In 2008, the most recent numbers available, the median wage was $30,618. The middle 50 percent of workers in the field earned between $25,000 and $40,000. The upper 10 percent earned $50,000.

The health information technology field is one that will continue to have very good job prospects due to constant changes in computer and medical technology combined with an aging population.

Do you want to become a health information manager? If yes, you are in the right place. This article is an overview to let you know all you need to know in order to become an information manager in the health sector.There are many ways to become an information manager in the health sector. To start with, we need to know what your job responsibilities will be.

The job responsibilities include:-Collecting, storing and providing security to patients’ personal data.- Managing the information systems.- Checking and organizing patients’ records according to the diseases, treatments and tests that they might have taken.- Directing the information department.- Translating medical terms into standardized terms in order that the billing process is simplified.- Analyzing a system to be used in the healthcare unit and managing it.

This career may not only let you work in a healthcare setup but also in other areas like the computer industry, both private and public industries.

Now in order to qualify for this training you will need to have taken classes in subjects like Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Health education and Computing in high school or college. After high school, you will then enroll for a 2-year degree program where you will study the medical terms, data and system analyzing, database management and many other subjects.

As you know, the job world is so competitive so you ought to know that having the training alone might not lead you to get the opportunity that you want. In this case, you will need to have some extra skills so that you are competitive. Some of the skills that are needed and you may need to acquire include good leadership skills. Companies are always looking for people who have leadership skills, because a person with good leadership skills has the ability to work with people from different backgrounds and can make effective decisions. Secondly, excellent communication skills are also much needed. You may also need to be flexible in a way that you can do other responsibilities added on top of your job description. All in all, like any other job, it is always a good idea to constantly add papers to your CV.

If you are interested in this career then this is the way to go because the need for health information managers is constantly growing, and with an average salary of $40,000 annually, it is definitely a good paying job.

The knowledge gained through a degree program in health information technology directly applies to career work as a technician. Students learn the entire industry through coursework that breaks down each area of the field. Degree programs can be entered through many colleges that are dedicated to training highly proficient students.

Courses teach the main objectives of career work, which is ultimately the management of health records. This can include medical history, billing information, medical information, and more. Helping to increase productivity and minimize error inside the workplace is one educational focus. Students learn how to prevent errors and reduce the cost of health care by working to secure documents and handle them correctly. Schooling follows a comprehensive curriculum that covers how to process, manage, gather, and report all relevant and needed medical information into a specific format. Students can work through courses in an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree program. Each level is designed to prepare students for work related duties. Courses usually teach students everything from terminology to coding.

Within a degree program students can expect courses to be focused on teaching general knowledge and focused skills. Courses can include the following:

*Medical Terminology

This type of course looks at medical terms in regards to their prefixes, suffixes, and word roots. Students learn how to analyze and reconstruct terms in order to properly use them. Spelling, definition, and pronunciation are focused on. Areas of study include operative, therapeutic, and diagnostic meanings for surgery and body system terminology.

*Healthcare Systems

Students learn about the different areas of the health care field. Courses typically center on the financing, regulation, distribution, and organization of all health care systems. Students learn how to do their job in regards to career parameters. This can include learning about software applications and how to work with the implementation of new systems.

*Coding

A medical coding course looks at medical documentation formats and how to use them proficiently. Through learning about work guidelines students will know how to assign different codes for different medical charts and billing procedures.

*Reimbursement

Students work to compare health care providers to understand the payment cycle according to regulation standards. The goal is to teach students how to navigate through any abuse or fraud. Skills are taught by learning about computerized encoding and software.

Other courses involve subjects on statistics and legal applications. Students can expect to complete an all-inclusive education when they enter a program. The general requirement for work is an associate’s degree. Entry-level technician jobs are available to students that hold an associate’s degree. Completing a bachelor’s degree prepares students to enter the field as managers. Additional courses may include information management, health insurance information, and medicine. Graduate study can be entered at the master’s degree level from some colleges. Students that desire to enter upper-level management to oversee all areas of health information gain a master’s degree.

By completing these courses and more students are able to fully grasp all work related duties. Enter an accredited program and learn about every area of the industry through a health information technician degree. Agencies like the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) are approved to fully accredit the best quality educational training programs.

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Are you a Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) who is ready to take your career to the next level? The The University of Cincinnati offers an online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management degree program that can prepare you for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam in just a little over two years. The Health Information Management program at the University of Cincinnati, which has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), aims to give busy working professionals a flexible and affordable means to advance their careers and achieve their educational goals.

As a University of Cincinnati student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program, you will have access to top rated professional instructors in the field as well as facilitators and fellow students. Through chat rooms, message boards, and email you are insured of having all of the support that you need to confidently make progress towards your degree. The program will include a total of 90 credit hours which are divided into two five-week periods for each term. This allows you to take the courses at a comfortable pace and to focus on one aspect at a time. The pace is designed with busy, working students in mind so that you are given an outline for your progression at a rate that you can work into your schedule. To further enhance your educational experience, and to provide further support, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management online program are divided into small groups that are lead by professional facilitators. This way you can get the most out of class interaction. And the courses are designed so that you can enroll in whichever quarter is the most convenient for you without worry about getting off track and you should still be able to finish your degree program at the University of Cincinnati in only two and a quarter years.

Not only will the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management’s online degree program prepare you to take the RHIA Certification Exam but it will also help you to build the needed skills and important professional knowledge essential to the health information management profession and to improve upon your communication skills, critical thinking ability, and problem solving skills. Graduates of the University of Cincinnati’s program in Health Information Management will have the confidence they need to succeed in their careers and offer authoritative and dedicated care.

Admission requirements to the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management online degree program are standard including a resume, minimum GPA of 2.6, and proof of professional certification. Be sure to check with the University of Cincinnati’s Admissions Department for full requirements and the most up to date application procedure. With tuition as low as only $262 per credit our for instate students ($272 for out of state) the University of Cincinnati provides an excellent avenue for furthering your career.