The Differences Between RHIA & RHIT

Registered health information administrators and registered health information technologists are certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), an organization that governs and advocates on behalf of health information professionals. You need to complete relevant degrees in health information management and also pass an exam held by the AHIMA for the desired certification. If you are aspiring to be a medical coder you could choose either of the two courses depending on your aims and interests and also on the kind of job opportunities you are looking for.

Basic Differences

• The RHIA is equipped with administrative training and is experienced whereas, the RHIT is well equipped and fully trained to carry out actual coding activities minus the burden of administrative responsibilities. To register and qualify for the RHIT exam an associate degree in HIT or HIM is sufficient while it is necessary to have a bachelor's degree to appear for RHIA exam. The RHIT program is a two-year course which equips you for jobs relating to coding, reimbursement, risk management, utilization management and performance enhancement. The RHIA coursework involves a four-year time span and emphasizes medical informatics, computer systems and senior management.

Wider Scope of Work for RHIA

• The RHIA looks after and interacts with administrative, financial, clinical and information systems using patient data in day-to-day operations. The RHIA has a higher level of expertise and is able to manage patient medical records and health-related information, administer computer information systems, and gather and analyze patient information and relevant data. He uses medical terminologies and classification systems. He has an all-round knowledge of medical, legal, administrative as well as ethical contingencies and expected standards of healthcare services. The RHIA is entrusted with the job of managing people and looking after the functional units. He prepares the budget and also takes part in administrative committees.

Smaller Scope of Work for RHIT

• The RHIT may be supervised by an RHIA. He is responsible for keeping track of individual health care records unlike an RHIA who looks after a much broader perspective and keeps track of all aspects of health care. The RHIT is expected to verify whether all medical records are complete and accurate and she makes sure that the patient data is entered properly into computer systems. RHIT often makes use of computer applications for proper collection and analysis of all data relating to the patient. This way the RHIT helps in bringing about an improvement in patient care and in cutting down costs. RHITs are entrusted with the task of maintaining registrars of cancer patients.

Interaction and Experience

• RHIA interacts with health care providers, vendors, employees taking care of health information activities and insurance companies as well. He has the authority to appoint and terminate the services of any health information worker. RHITs interact with nurses, doctors and health care personnel. A winning formula of further studies and work experience may help a RHIT progress towards the superior position of a RHIA.