Online Health Information Management Degree Bachelor’s in HIM Program

This specialized healthcare degree prepares students for a career in health information management (HIM), often described as the intersection of business, technology and health. Bachelor’s programs in HIM focus on the management of electronic health records and foster creative problem-solving using innovative technology and the guiding principles of managing patient health data.

HIM degree candidates learn to lead initiatives involving electronic health records, including accuracy, completion, security and governance. Such initiatives are critical to the healthcare system, since the accuracy of an electronic health record is reflected in billing, which impacts reimbursement and, in turn, affects healthcare costs for all stakeholders. Information contained in electronic health records is also used to track health trends to ensure proper treatment and coordinated care for both the individual and populations at large.

Graduates of the program can then enter the workforce with a unique combination of technical expertise and critical soft skills.

"The most important part is the HIM professional's relationship to the patient," said Cheryl Martin, HIM strategic advisor at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). "The people who enter the field generally have the natural ability to feel empathy. This informs the awareness that behind every piece of data, is a connection to a 'somebody.' It's a very human focus on the data."

In addition to coursework that emphasizes specialized training and patient-centered care, Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) online bachelor's in HIM exposes students to a professional practice experience. Students learn the technology, terminology and professional skills required for a career in HIM and receive valuable exposure to a professional healthcare setting.

SNHU's HIM degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM), the seal of approval for high-caliber HIM academic programs. It also provides the educational requirements to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam, a nationally recognized certification in the field.

According to AHIMA, those who pass the RHIA exam:

• Have a comprehensive knowledge of “medical, administrative, ethical and legal” standards related to healthcare delivery and privacy of patient records.
• Can manage people and teams and prepare budgets.
• Coordinate with all parts of a healthcare organization that use patient information and documents, including clinicians, administrators, IT providers and more.

"At SNHU, we prepare our students to sit for the RHIA credential,” said Catina Flagg, clinical faculty of health professions. “It’s a critical link between care providers, payers and patients. Holding the RHIA credential tells employers that you are a content expert in your field."

According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), earning a bachelor’s or master’s in health information management (HIM) can lead to a long-lasting career in one of the nation’s fastest-growing industries.4 HIM students gain clinical, information technology (IT), leadership and management skills. In the professional arena, they’ll use those skills to serve as a bridge between clinicians, administrators, technology designers and IT professionals.

Cheryl Martin, AHIMA’s health information management strategic advisor, calls HIM a “hidden jewel of job opportunities.” She says health information management professionals need a unique combination of industry expertise, people skills and analytical skills.

Martin points out the ability to pull meaning from data can impact not only health outcomes, but a hospital’s balance sheet. She says employers look for people who can make data “available for those who need access but protected from those who don’t.” A HIM degree provides the foundation to develop that prized skill set.

With its emphasis on the human interaction that weaves through data, the curriculum tends to forge strong bonds between students and educators, said Martin.  Students learn early on that they need to uphold the profession’s high standards and often turn to educators for counsel long after they graduate as a result.

A HIM degree could also provide a perfect pathway for someone already in a health science field to advance their career.

"I have over a decade of direct patient and clinical workflow experience," said John Mann '21. "I have worked during most of the HIM program with subjects like HIPAA, Meaningful Use Stages and CMS moving from a volume care to value care models. This degree seemed to be the right next step in combining my body of experience with the direction I’d like to take my career."

Beyond the practical knowledge you'll gain, a HIM degree from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) comes with an extra level of support along the way.

"I feel that my experience attending SNHU was better than any of earlier experiences in a traditional college setting," Mann said. "One huge reason for this was that my advisor was a constant support. When I attended college in the traditional setting, I felt like I was just another number in the student body. My SNHU advisor was a huge asset, and I have so much gratitude that she supported me through my journey."

Overall, Melissa Smith '21 says the program exceeded her expectations.

"The HIM degree program went above and beyond what I was expecting to learn, the real-life experiences truly open your eyes and show you what you can expect to see and how it will all play together in the overall success of your career," she said. "You truly have the freedom and abilities to complete all your work at your own pace and still feel challenged by the education."

Classes in health information management (HIM) include medical terminology, coding and classification systems, ethics and legal considerations, and pathophysiology and pharmacology concepts. Students may also need to take general education courses depending on how many transfer credits they can apply to their program.

It's worth noting that, with Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) generous transfer policy (up to 90 credits for bachelor's degree programs), you may already have the credits you need to satisfy some of your courses. This could mean earning your degree much faster than you think.

"Unlike some other institutions, SNHU doesn’t waste students’ time and really gives you credit for everything in your academic history," said John Mann '21. "In fact, for me, my years worked in healthcare counted as some elective credits. I transferred in and only had to take 2 electives outside of my core HIM requirements."

While both disciplines involve a blend of business and healthcare, health information management (HIM) and healthcare administration are two very different fields. HIM mostly focuses on the competencies needed to manage electronic health records. The role primarily affects internal stakeholders needing access to data, but it can also directly affect patients.

Healthcare administration, on the other hand, centers around organizational management and encompasses everything from quality improvement to marketing, strategy and human resource management.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical and health service managers earned a median salary of $110,680 in 2023.¹ The BLS projects the field could grow 28% through 2032.¹

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) notes the growing prevalence of health information technology (HIT) makes health information one of the most critical components of the electronic health record (EHR) workforce.⁴

According to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), health information management (HIM) professionals affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touchpoint in the healthcare delivery cycle.3 They help classify diseases and treatments to ensure standardization for clinical, financial and legal uses within the healthcare industry. And they’re responsible for the quality, integrity and protection of a patient’s health information, including patient histories, lab results and radiology procedures.

As a professional in HIM, your work can help save lives. Take, for example, a young father of 3 who comes into the ER at 2 am, panicked because 1 of his children is suffering from shortness of breath. This particular child has a history of medical issues, including a 3-week stay in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, reeling with exhaustion and stress, the father misses key details regarding past treatment.

In this case – when a parent or patient is understandably overwhelmed – accessible, accurate medical records give the nurse what they need to deliver care. Without a HIM professional behind the scenes, that wouldn't be possible.

A Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Information Management can help you hone the skills you need to succeed in a number of different healthcare roles. For Stacie Sullivan '19, earning an online HIM degree at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) meant setting the course for a career she was passionate about.

“It’s my dream job – working in the oncology field, being able to give back to fellow survivors in some small way and working from home (with my cats!),” Sullivan said. “Attending SNHU was the best decision I ever made.”

Now, she urges professionals, like herself, to make their move. “Do it now,” she said. “I hesitated too, thinking I’ll be almost 50 when I graduate. But then I realized that I'll be almost 50 anyway – might as well have a degree to show for it.”

To accomplish quality care, a HIM professional will need to:

• Work to ensure health information is documented accurately, timely and securely.
• Collaborate with all healthcare providers and departments, including physicians, nurses, lab, radiology and pharmacy staff to ensure patient information that promotes patient safety through documentation practices.
• Oversee documentation practices and manage many other key aspects of health information including collecting, reporting, analyzing and protecting health data.

Beyond technical capabilities, a HIM degree can help you build skills you need to navigate a fast-paced healthcare environment. "[You'll be working in] a place where human interaction is extremely important — the ability to deal with change, handle conflict, the ability to listen, actually excelling in all forms of communication," said Cheryl Martin, AHIMA’s HIM strategic advisor.

AHIMA cites academic institutions, consulting agencies, government agencies and healthcare software companies as the types of employers with an increased demand for educated HIM practitioners.

As the profession continues to grow, so do HIM career opportunities. Here’s a partial listing of the job roles on the AHIMA website:

• Medical coding
• Clinical documentation improvement
• Privacy officer
• Security officer

According to the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA), healthcare informatics is a multidisciplinary and integrative field focused on health information technologies (HIT) that involves the computer, cognitive and social sciences. Healthcare informatics applies principles of computer and information science to the advancement of life sciences research, health professions education, public health and patient care.⁴

Health information technicians (or health informaticists) use data, information and knowledge to improve human health and the delivery of healthcare services. An integral part of any healthcare team, they help incorporate advanced technology into patient care and facility operations, reducing errors and maximizing efficiencies. As technology continues to evolve, the healthcare industry will need trained professionals to help implement these changes.