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The Importance of Health Information Management

Amanda Hall

University of Cincinnati, Clermont College

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THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

The Importance of Health Information Management

Health Information Management is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital or

traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care (Nearterm Blog, 2018). The

continuing education needed for the registered technicians in the HIM field is overseen by The American

Health Information Management Association known as AHIMA. The Health insurance Probability and

Accountability Act known as HIPAA as well as other laws regarding patient privacy and record security

were created to support this field. HIPPA-covered entities and healthcare providers need Health

Information Management to ensure patient privacy and the security of patient records.

Healthcare Information Managers oversee the collection and storing of patient records and

ensure privacy , analysis, security, implementations, coding, billing, and compliance. It is the Health

Information Manager’s duty to collect and store medical records and Protected Health Information. This

role is necessary to ensure a healthcare company meets compliance to avoid penalties and to receive

certain incentives. According to Nearterm Blog:

This field also involves medical records retention and transition to electronic formats, as well as

the analysis of health care trends and the implementation of improvements. Because

healthcare information overlaps many different areas in any healthcare cycle, it became

necessary for many organizations to create HIM departments to oversee these important

requirements are adhered to as well as managing training and education of staff. (para. 9)

Health Care Information Management is constantly changing and evolving to better manage

patient information and keep it secure. “Cyber attacks are on the rise in the healthcare industry. In fact,

2016 data breaches resulted in nearly 16.5 million patient records being exposed…Nearly 90 percent of

healthcare facilities and organizations have been impacted by data breaches in the last two years, with

an average cost of $2.2 million per hack.” (The College of St. Scholastica, 2017). Due to facilities
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switching from paper charts to electronic health records there is an increase need in Health Care

Management professionals to ensure patient information is kept protected and accurately updated in

compliance with privacy rules and laws.

I am interested in the Health Information Management profession because it is a career that is

constantly changing and that makes it an exciting field to join. I am interested in continuing my

education throughout the rest of my life and becoming a valuable multi-disciplined asset to the

healthcare field. Another reason I am interested in the HIM field is the job security. HIM is in high

demand because of the rapid growth in healthcare. A perk of working in HIM is that I will be able to

work from home and stay close to my family, but I will also be able to be involved in the business side of

a hospital. There is also a lot you can do with a degree in HIM and I will have a lot to choose from for

employment upon graduation.

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THE IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

References

Nearterm (2018, October 4) What is Health Information Management & Why Is It Important.

Retrieved from: https://nearterm.com/what-is-health-information-management-why-is-it-important/

The College of St. Scholastica (2017, September 11) Why Heath Information Management Roles

Are Crucial to Healthcare Cybersecurity. Retrieved from: http://www.css.edu/the-sentinel-blog/why-

health-information-management-roles-are-crucial-to-healthcare-cybersecurity.html