Health Information Management

Health Information Management (HIM) is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. It is a combination of business, science, and information technology.

Pronunciation

Health Information Management is pronounced as /hɛlθ ɪnfərˈmeɪʃən ˈmænɪdʒmənt/.

Etymology

The term "Health Information Management" was first used in the late 20th century, when healthcare began to recognize the need for professionals trained to manage the increasing amount of patient information and health records.

Related Terms

• Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
• Health Informatics
• Medical Coding
• Medical Billing
• Healthcare Compliance
• Information Governance
• Data Analysis
• Patient Privacy

Overview

Health Information Management professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications. They understand the workflow process in healthcare provider organizations, from large hospital systems to private physician practices, and are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records (EHRs). They ensure a patient's health information is complete, accurate, and protected.

Roles and Responsibilities

HIM professionals often serve in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational, and administrative functions. These professionals affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touchpoint in the healthcare delivery cycle. They work on the classification of diseases and treatments to ensure they are standardized for clinical, financial, and legal uses in healthcare. Health Information Management professionals care for patients by caring for their medical data.

Education and Certification

HIM education is structured around data management, not hospital administration or general management. The profession is committed to health information integrity and the quality of the information required to support patient care. Many professionals who work in this field have a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification.

See Also

• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
• American Health Information Management Association

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