About the Health Information Profession

Who are HIM Professionals?

Health information management (HIM) professionals manage healthcare data and information resources. The profession encompasses planning, collecting, aggregating, analyzing, and disseminating individual patient and aggregate clinical data. Members are experts in securing, analyzing and integrating the information that steers the healthcare industry.

Where do HIM Professionals Work?

HIM professionals serve the healthcare industry wherever health information is collected, organized and analyzed. HIM professionals work in all kinds of healthcare settings, from hospitals and physician’s offices to nursing homes, mental health facilities, health maintenance organizations (HMO), and other insurance companies. Many HIM professionals have become independent consultants, who contract with healthcare providers, insurers, and other healthcare industry organizations. Some even work in payor organizations, research and policy agencies, and accounting and legal firms.

An increasing number of HIM professionals can also be found working in the information systems environment. In such capacities they develop, market, and implement software; see that comply with standards and regulations; and work to ensure the quality, privacy, and security of paper-based and electronic medical records.

What Skills Do HIM Professionals Possess?

HIM professionals bring unique skills to the healthcare industry. These skills include the ability to:

• Manage medical records and health information systems
• Enhance the quality and uses of data within the healthcare industry
• Summarize data into useful information
• Comply with standards and regulations regarding health information
• Protect the privacy and security of patient health information
• Ensure health information is complete and available to legitimate users
• Code health information for reimbursement and research

What Positions Do HIM Professionals Hold?

APC Coordinator Data Quality Manager Educator Medical Staff Coordinator Risk Manager Compliance Officer DRG Coordinator Information Security Manager Quality Improvement Director

Clinical Coding Specialist Decision Support Specialist HIM Compliance Specialist Privacy Officer Clinical Data Specialist Data Resource Administrator HIM Director Patient Information Coordinator Utilization Management Director

HIM Credentials

Individuals who possess the following HIM or medical coding credentials have been certified by AHIMA. Certification is a process in which individuals demonstrate a level of competence required to deliver health information.

Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)

A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) is someone who has successfully completed an approved baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate educational program and subsequently passes a national RHIA certification exam.

Typically, RHIAs assume managerial roles as directors of or consultants to HIM departments. RHIAs also assume managerial positions in clinical, financial, and other administrative areas-wherever patient data is used.

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

A Registered Health Information Technician is someone who has successfully completed an approved health information technology program and subsequently passed a national certification exam. As of 2002, eligibility for RHIT certification requires a minimum of an associate’s degree.

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)

A Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) is an individual who has successfully passed a national medical coding certification exam designed to measure his or her understand of:

• Medical terminology
• Disease processes
• Pharmacology
• Application of ICD-9-CM and CPT surgery coding systems

CCSs are usually employed to assign diagnosis and procedure codes to patient data in an inpatient setting. The CCS reviews documentation in patient medical records, and applies national and facility guidelines to select the proper diagnosis and procedure codes.

The accuracy of medical coding has always been important for administrative and research purposes, but has become even more important now that a facility’s reimbursement is often based on this information.

Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P)

A Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P) is an individual who has successfully passed a national medical coding certification exam designed to measure his or her understanding of:

• Medical terminology
• Disease processes
• Pharmacology
• The application of ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II coding systems

CCS-Ps are usually employed to assign diagnosis and procedure codes to patient data in physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, and specialty centers.

Certified Coding Associate (CCA)

A Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is an individual who has successfully passed a national medical coding certification exam designed to measure his or her understanding of entry-level coding applications, including:

• Medical terminology
• Disease processes
• Pharmacology
• ICD-9-CM and CPT medical record coding

Certified in Healthcare Privacy (CHP)

A Certified Healthcare Privacy (CHP) Officer is an individual who has successfully passed a national exam designed to measure his or her understanding the following as they relate to privacy:

• Regulatory, accreditation, and other standards
• Ethical standards
• Individual rights
• Business relationships and contracts
• Policies and procedures
• HIPAA compliance, program management, and public relations
• HIM
• Security technology

A CHP is often employed as the Chief Privacy Officer in a health related setting and is responsible for the development and implementation of privacy-related policies and procedures.