Health Information Management Summary
The book describes health information management as the practice of safeguarding patient records within in compliance of regulatory, accrediting, quality, legal and ethical standards. In addition to these standards the health information manager must strive for the goal of interoperability, due to the diverse nature of the health care environment. However, before a health information manager begins their duties, they must meet certain education requirements and obtain certain certifications due to the sensitive nature of their work. The educational requirement to enter the field of health information management ranges widely from a high school diploma to graduate level degrees. Accompanying these degrees are a number of certifications,
which are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIM) and governed by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). These Certifications prove the information manager can successfully and proficiently complete their designated task. At the high school level, the health information manager is able to acquire a certificate as a Certified Coding Associate (CCA), a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or a Certified Coding Specialist-Physician (CCS-P). The CCA is an entry level position that can be obtained after six months of on-the-job experience or successful completion of an examination and allows the manager to perform basic coding functions. After three years of on-the-job experience and successful completion of a certification exam, the information manager can move into patient record management. Similar to the CCS, the CCS-P allows information managers to more document related positions. At the collegiate level, the health information manager can obtain three levels of certification, the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) with a baccalaureate degree, and the Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA). Obtaining the RHIT requires an associate’s degree in the health information management field, accredited by the CAHIM or a foreign association with which the AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement. The RHIA certification requires a bachelorette or master’s degree in the field of health information management that is accredited by the CAHIM or a foreign association with which the AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement. Finally, to gain access into the FAHIM, an individual must be working in the field of health information management for at least 10 continuous years, hold membership with the AHIMA for at least 10 years, have been awarded a master’s degree and show evidence of substantial professional achievement.
which are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIM) and governed by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). These Certifications prove the information manager can successfully and proficiently complete their designated task. At the high school level, the health information manager is able to acquire a certificate as a Certified Coding Associate (CCA), a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or a Certified Coding Specialist-Physician (CCS-P). The CCA is an entry level position that can be obtained after six months of on-the-job experience or successful completion of an examination and allows the manager to perform basic coding functions. After three years of on-the-job experience and successful completion of a certification exam, the information manager can move into patient record management. Similar to the CCS, the CCS-P allows information managers to more document related positions. At the collegiate level, the health information manager can obtain three levels of certification, the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) with a baccalaureate degree, and the Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association (FAHIMA). Obtaining the RHIT requires an associate’s degree in the health information management field, accredited by the CAHIM or a foreign association with which the AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement. The RHIA certification requires a bachelorette or master’s degree in the field of health information management that is accredited by the CAHIM or a foreign association with which the AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement. Finally, to gain access into the FAHIM, an individual must be working in the field of health information management for at least 10 continuous years, hold membership with the AHIMA for at least 10 years, have been awarded a master’s degree and show evidence of substantial professional achievement.