Health Information Management

The Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management (HIM), which is offered through the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, includes study in medical science, health informatics, electronic health record, privacy and security, and health care data management.  This mix of disciplines is important for the preparation of managers who will work in every sector of the health care industry - wherever information is collected, utilized or maintained. 

Job opportunities in Health Information Management are increasing as more paperwork, generated by the medical and business sides of health care, is converted to computerized form and used to improve the quality of patient care and the efficiency of delivery systems.  HIM professionals are responsible for gathering, analyzing, integrating and managing the information that steers America’s health-care industry.

Salaries are excellent too.  According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), more than 50% of new graduates start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range.  In five years, salaries can be $50,000 to $75,000.  HIM professionals work in healthcare settings like hospitals and physician offices, attorney offices, information system vendors, government agencies, and other settings - anywhere that healthcare data is managed. There is a wide range of career opportunities in areas such as reimbursement, privacy, security, management, electronic health record, patient advocacy, and more. There is something for everyone with this variety.

The HIM program is designed with the working student in mind.  Ways of demonstrating this are many. We offer online courses, lecture classes that typically meet one day a week and classes that are scheduled during the day or evening.

Accreditation
The Macon State College Health Information Management Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (www.CAHIIM.org).