Health information is an exciting and growing field. Events such as Hurricane Katrina emphasized the need for secure electronic medical records that can be accessed by professionals all across the country — and possibly around the world. Health information administrators plan, develop, and supervise the systems that will make this possible. This is just part of the administrator's responsibilities.

Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice

Health records keep track of the medical history of a patient and can and should eventually span from birth to death and include all information gathered from every medical contact and experience. Hospitals and medical facilities use the data in medical records to facilitate planning and evaluate performance. Public health officials use the data to study health trends. Researchers use the information to help support and develop new methods for treating and diagnosing illnesses.

Processing, organizing, and maintaining medical records come under the supervision of the health information administrator. They devise systems to assist medical professionals to access and analyze the information from medical records for these purposes. They design methods to ensure confidentiality is maintained while allowing access to the information. They may also assist in the collection and analysis of the data.

Health information administrators also review the information in the records to help medical staff analyze the quality of care being delivered. Administrators also develop policies and procedures for processing information for insurance companies, legal issues, and patient requests for copies of their medical documents.

Education and Training

A bachelor's degree in medical record administration or health information management is the minimal requirement in this field, and a master's degree is recommended for those who wish to advance to executive levels. Programs should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

The curriculum includes liberal arts, biology, statistics, fundamentals of medical science, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, classification of diseases, medical ethics and law, computer science, health information administration, and methods of research. Programs also include supervised practice in an accredited health care setting.

Licensure/Certification

Health information administrators are required to be registered. The registration examination is given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This is a one-day written examination. Those who pass become registered health information administrators and use the initials RHIA. Continuing education is required for renewal every two years.

Work Settings and Salaries

Health information administrators work primarily in hospitals and other ambulatory care settings such as clinics and urgent-care facilities. Others work in physicians' offices, long-term care centers, and mental health facilities. Some work for insurance companies, and others teach or work as consultants.

Salaries depend upon responsibilities and geographic location, but in general range from $30,000 to $50,000. Managers typically earn more, as do consultants. Executives can earn upwards of $100,000 per year.

Career Potential and Additional Information

This is a growing field that will face many changes as technology advances and electronic medical records become the norm. The field is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations over the next decade. The growing and aging population will require more medical care, which is expected to create enormous quantities of records to be managed.

For more information about careers in health information management contact the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Their Web site is www.ahima.org. Their address is 233 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60601-5800.