What is Health Information?
Health Information isn’t just medical records anymore. When the transition from paper records to electronic medical records took place many additional roles were discovered. Health Information Specialists and Technicians were already subject matter experts with patient records and soon became the “go to” for all innovation relative to the new EMRs. Physicians, Administrators and Clinical staff were all searching for solutions to navigate the complex EMR systems, and quickly discovered that HI professionals were more than able to assist. Medical Records was no longer an office that stored paper medical records, instead is a leading innovator for information governance, patient advocacy and healthcare literacy. Today there are Health Information professionals working in many companies that are outside of the traditional hospital setting. Health Information professionals have become highly sought after to fill the increasing need in HIT/HIM positions over the last several years.
The former department name of “Medical Records” used to accurately depict this department for decades however, as patient records transitioned to either hybrid or fully electronic medical records this was no longer accurate. Health Information departments became a “hub” for all matters relating to patient records, information governance and security. Health Information professionals were involved in various committees to ensure their input and expertise was heard and utilized during and after the transition. They provided their expertise to create standards for the contents of the patient medical record that translated to the electronic record as well as standards for the integrity, reliability, and quality of the electronic medical record. Health Information professionals are the “guardians” of protected patient information that is created ,obtained and stored in every form.
Health Information professionals and their expertise became “invaluable” during this transition from paper medical records to electronic and continue to increase with each year. Health Information professionals led the way during and after the transition to provide continuous education for patients as well as clinical and non-clinical staff. The integrity of the medical record, whether paper or electronic, has been a foundation for Health Information professionals to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the records. This focus did not change with the transition to electronic medical records. In fact, the focus on the integrity of patient information as well as privacy and security became even more evident after the transition due to the increased complexity of maintaining the electronic medical record. The electronic medical record has also opened additional career paths for the Health Information professional. Here are just a few possible Health Information career paths:
HIM Technician
Release of Information Specialist
Medical Coder
HIM Director
Revenue Cycle Manager
Privacy Officer
Cancer Registrar
Clinical Data Analyst
DRG Validator
Compliance Officer
Mapping Specialist
Director/Manager of Coding
Project Manager
Credentialing Specialist
Whether you are a high school graduate looking for an exciting major to pursue in college or if you are a seasoned professional looking to make a career change, Health Information could be your next career path. There are many certifications that can be obtained to increase your marketability and may not require a degree. Check out the link below for more information on various workshops and courses to help you get started.
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