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Degrees and Schools

Associate's degree programs in health information management are available through community colleges and vocational schools, and some universities and colleges. Programs should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Coursework

Students in health information management programs typically take coursework in:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Medical terminology
• Health data requirements and standards
• Data analysis
• Clinical classification and coding systems
• Healthcare reimbursement methods
• Quality improvement methods
• Database security and management

Online Classes and Programs

Associate's degree programs in health information management are well-suited for online learning. Programs should be accredited through CAHIIM, so are usually offered as part of a campus-based school's standard curricula. Online courses should be part of an institution with accreditation from agencies approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education (USDE).

Employment Requirements

Employers often prefer candidates who are Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) certified through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Certification requirements include graduation from a 2-year CAHIIM-accredited associate's degree program and a passing score on an AHIMA-administered written exam.

Additional certification in specialty areas can be obtained from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC), the Professional Association of Health Care Coding Specialists (PAHCS), and the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA).

How to Evaluate Schools

As they compare associate's degree programs, aspiring medical records technicians should consider asking these questions:

• Program focus - How much focus does the program put on preparing graduates for RHIT certification? Does it emphasize a particular specialty, such as medical coding?
• Accreditation - Is the program accredited by the CAHIIM?
• Practical experience - Are computer labs equipped with industry-standard software? Are a variety of internships available with local businesses?
• Financial aid - Does the school present financial aid options such as grants, scholarships and students loans clearly and comprehensively?
• Career search - What kind of job placement services does the school provide? How many graduates were able to become RHIT-certified?

Medical Records Technician Job Description

Doctors' offices, hospitals and insurance companies rely on medical records and health information technicians to manage patients' health information. Also known as medical billing and coding recorders, their responsibilities typically include:

• Assembling and organizing documentation of examination and test results, treatment methods, symptoms, medical history, health insurance claims, etc.
• Ensuring that data is secure, accurate and accessible
• Communicating with doctors and other healthcare professionals to clarify or obtain information
• Using Electronic Health Record management software to maintain, protect and analyze patient information

Medical records and health information technicians may specialize in:

• Medical coding -- Using software to assign pre-established codes to diagnoses. Codifying this information helps doctors submit expenses to insurance and government agencies for reimbursementCancer registry -- Using databases to update registries of cancer / tumor patients in a facility, region or country with information about diagnoses, treatment, survival and recovery