Health Information Management

The health information management (HIM) field deals with the information in patients' medical records which may include office and hospital notes, x-rays and other diagnostic data. HIM professionals are responsible for organizing records and keeping them up-to-date.

Significance

• As the Internet age has advanced medical record technology, the need to stay current with patient privacy rules as well as have an organizational system for medical records is paramount.

Careers

• Jobs within the HIM field include clerks, medical transcription, medical coding, health information technicians, office managers and medical secretaries.

Skills Needed

• Health information specialists need to be proficient with computers. You may also need to be knowledgeable of anatomy and physiology.

Training and Qualification

• Training for the HIM field consists of anything from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree. An associate's degree is the norm.

Field Prospects

• According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the outlook is good for careers in HIM as the need for qualified personnel is expected surpass the number of those entering the field.