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The most important steps to become a medical records technician are getting the proper education in billing and coding or HIM and becoming certified.

You’ll be in a great position to qualify for entry-level positions and begin your new career path.

You can make more than $190,000 at the highest positions in HIM medical and health services, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Medical and health service managers reportedly earn an average salary of $134,440 per year ($64.64 per hour).*

It all depends on your level of degree attained, certifications and experience in HIM. The ladder is tall and educated prospects are in high demand. Read more about the average salary for health information management jobs typically requiring an associate's or bachelor's degree in HIM.

Yes! You can earn your degree in health information management online with Herzing University. Studying health information management online is a great way to learn new skills on your own schedule.

The primary difference is:

• Healthcare management refers to the practices and procedures involved with operating and supervising hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
• Health information management involves the collection, analysis, maintenance and security of a healthcare facility’s billing, research, quality improvement and credentialing.

Both fields combine high-level business and day-to-day functions of a healthcare environment to support the delivery of excellent patient care.

Discover more details about the difference between healthcare management vs. health information management.

Given the increased demand in the industry, wide range of jobs you can pursue and the average salary you can earn, going back to school and earning your degree in HIM is definitely worth it. It’s a field with high growth potential and excellent career mobility.

Certification is not a requirement for all health information management professionals, but it will give you an advantage in finding the job of your choice.

Two credentials in particular – RHIA and RHIT – can help you get your first job or push your career in health information management to the next level. Read more about what health information management certification is right for you.

There are a few primary differences between medical billing and coding and health information management.

Those who work in medical billing and coding, who may be referred to as medical records specialists, play a key role in the healthcare revenue cycle, ensuring Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are assembled accurately and entered into health information systems properly. They communicate with healthcare staff, insurance companies, and patients to best represent services provided (coding) and secure payment for those services (billers).

Health Information Management professionals (sometimes referred to as Health Information Technology – HIT) are responsible for maintaining, analyzing, and optimizing these systems. Their role is more on the backend, emphasizing informatics and Information Technology (IT). These professionals create, manage, and analyze the systems billers and coders rely on to maintain the Electronic Health Record (EHR). They can also play a wider role in data analysis, management, protection, and administration of patient health information.

Registered Health Information Administration (RHIA)

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Administration (RHIA) exam through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

Graduates of the Associate of Science in Health Information Management are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Eligibility:

Only those who successfully:

1. Complete a bachelor's degree in a HIM program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) or are enrolled in their last term of study
   OR
2. Graduate from a HIM program that is approved by a foreign association with which AHIMA has a reciprocity agreement.

Finding your place and succeeding in your career depends on your strengths in relation to the skills needed in health information management, including:

• Analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Communication and teamwork
• Technical skills
• Leadership skills

Because of the increased need for data-driven decision making and growth of information technology in healthcare, health information managers must be adept on the execution or managerial side of day-do-day tasks. Those strong on both sides can find great career success in HIM.