Health Informatics & Information Management

Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) is the study of the principles and practices of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. It is the link to clinicians, technology designers, and information technology, and is the value-adding bridge between leadership and management of health information in all formats (paper, scanned, or computerized forms), and is a critical component of the electronic health record (EHR) work-force.

Health Informatics and Information Management also focuses on information systems, informatics principles, and information technology as it is applied to the continuum of healthcare delivery. In summary, Health Informatics and Information Management is a combination of business, science, and information technology.

HI professionals also work on the classification of diseases and treatments to ensure they are standardized for clinical, financial, and legal uses in healthcare. HI professionals care for patients by caring for their medical data and are responsible for the quality, integrity, security, and protection of patients’ health information.

Program Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education

The Health Information Management accreditor of Florida A&M University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for Baccalaureate degree in Health Informatics and Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2029. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601, by phone at (312) 235-3255, or by email at info@cahiim.org.

CAHIIM serves the public interest by establishing quality standards for the educational preparation of future health information management professionals. When a program is accredited by CAHIIM, it means that it has voluntarily undergone a rigorous review process and has been determined to meet or exceed the accreditation standards.

cahiim

Program and Student Outcomes

Update for the 2021-2022 academic year, the Division of Health Informatics and Information Management had a 100% graduation rate.

In the 2020-2021 academic year, the Division of Health Informatics and Information Management had an employment rate of 94% employment rate (within one year of graduation). In the 2021-2022 academic year, the Division of Health Informatics and Information Management had a 100% acceptance rate into a graduate program.

Mission & Vision

The primary mission of the Division of HIIM is to improve health care delivery by preparing graduates to apply their knowledge and critical thinking skills in the management of health informatics and information systems in the electronic age. Our mission encompasses preparing graduates to promote and manage quality clinical documentation, ensuring confidential and secure electronic exchange of health data, and conducting data analytics to improve individual and population health, research, and education. The Division of HIIM, as an exemplary health professions entity within the School of Allied Health Sciences at Florida A&M University, is a provider of the highest quality academic experience in the dynamic profession of health informatics and health information management at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Application and Admission Process

Admission to the Division of Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) is a two-stepprocess.

Program Curriculum

The health informatics and information management curriculum is made up of two parts: the pre-professional curriculum and the professional curriculum.

Certification Programs

Programs for certification specific careers in HIIM

Faculty

Health Informatics and Information Management faculty listing

Professional Practice Experience

Each student, upon acceptance into the HIIM program, is required to participate in supervised learning experiences known as Professional Practice Experiences in the technical and administrative aspects of health informatics and information management in the Tallahassee and surrounding area health care facilities. A student may also have additional opportunities to complete Professional Practice Experiences with other facilities located in other cities and states. The Health Informatics and Information Management student is also required to participate in a four-week management internship in a health care facility. The student's preferences of the choice of the facility are considered; however, the faculty reserves the right to select alternative internship sites which serve the best interests and needs of the student to complete the education requirements. Clearing a criminal background check is required prior to advancing to the clinical/professional practice experience component of the curriculum.

Health Information Management Profession Links

www.ahima.org “American Health Information Management Association"
www.fhima.org “Florida Health Information Management
www.my.ahima.org/careermap “American Health Information Management Career Map”
https://careerassist.ahima.org/ “American Health Information Management Job Board”

Articles and Resources Highlighting HIIM Career and Workforce Issues

Employment and Career Opportunities

Health Data Analyst
Revenue Cycle Manager
Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
Compliance & Risk Manager
Clinical Informatics Manager

Expand All

What is a health informatics and information management professional?

Health informatics and information management is the study of the principles and practices of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care.

HIIM is the link to clinicians, technology designers, and information technology, and is the value-adding bridge between patients’ health information and payors, government, and regulating agencies. HIIM practitioners demonstrate leadership and management of health information in all formats (paper, scanned, or computerized forms), and are a critical component of the electronic health record (EHR) workforce.

Where do health informatics and information management professionals work?

Hospitals
Physician practices
Rehabilitation clinics
Information system/computer software vendors
Pharmaceutical companies
Insurance companies
Medical research
Accounting firms
Consulting firms
Law practices
State/Federal health agencies

What job titles do health informatics and information management professional hold?

HIIM Department Director
HIIM System Application Designer
e-HIIM Project Manager
Coding Professional
Information Security Officer
Clinical Data Analyst
HIIM Faculty
Consultant
Healthcare Consumer Advocate

What kind of salary can I expect to earn as a health informatics and information management professional?

The salary for health informatics and information management professionals can vary depending upon the type and size of the facility, whether it is in private industry or health care organization, location, job responsibilities, experience, and education. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of HIIM professionals is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. On top of strong job prospects, competitive salaries also await HIIM graduates. The median annual wage for medical and health services managers was $94,500. According to a recent salary survey, the average annual full-time HIIM salary across all work settings is $83,734 and an average salary for an HIM Director is $100,620. New HIIM graduates with a bachelor’s degree and the RHIA credential start with an average salary of $50,000.

Are there jobs available in health informatics and information management?

YES! If you are willing to go where the jobs are, you will have no trouble finding a job. In fact, most students have jobs lined up before graduating because companies often come to the campus to recruit.

Are there any credentials related to health informatics and information management?

Yes. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to apply to take a national certification examination and successful completion allows one to become a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

What costs are associated with enrolling in the health informatics and information management program and is financial assistance available?

Costs to health informatics and information management students include, but are not limited to, the following: uniform and name tag; transportation to and from clinical sites; housing and meals during management affiliation; books and supplies; background check fees; professional association dues. Financial assistance is available to qualified students through campus employment, grants, loans, Florida Health Information Management Association scholarships, and the American Health Information Management Association FORE scholarships.

Who should I contact for further information?

You may call Dr. Lon'tejuana Cooper
P: (850) 599-3818
E: Lontejuana.cooper@famu.edu