Careers

Career Outlook

Driven in part by a transition to electronic health record systems, health information management is one of the fastest-growing career fields today. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for health services managers, which includes health information professionals, will grow by 32 percent between 2020 and 2030, making this one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the nation. Those with health information certification, such as the RHIA, face the best job prospects.

High Job Placement for HIHIM Grads

Among 2017 graduates, 91 percent found employment within a year of completing the program. Our graduates enter the job market with a versatile skill set that allows them to work in many different capacities, including positions as:

• Health information specialists and managers
• Electronic health records implementation specialists
• Release of information specialists
• Health care privacy analysts
• Data and integrity analysts
• Business analysts

A Variety of Employers and Settings

Program graduates work for a variety of employers, including public and private organizations, such as small clinics, large hospitals, electronic health records vendors, health care software development and implementation firms, public health agencies, government agencies, academic institutions, health plans and insurance companies, consulting firms, health care compliance and regulatory programs, and international informatics research and biotechnology firms.

Below is a sampling of recent job titles of HIHIM graduates:

• EHR Applications Trainer, Acute Care Hospital, Seattle, WA
• Data and Information Management Intern, Ambulatory Care Provider, Portland, OR
• Utilization Management Specialist, Specialty Hospital, Seattle, WA
• Health Information Technology Analyst, Behavioral Health Services Organization, Seattle, WA
• Business Analyst, Ambulatory Service Provider, Renton, WA
• Health Data Analyst, Health Benefit Insurer, Seattle, WA
• Electronic Health Record Implementation Analyst, Academic Medical Center, Seattle, WA
• Medical Coder Biller, Behavioral Health Center, Centralia, WA
• Release of Information Specialist, Acute Care and Specialty Care Organization, Seattle-Tacoma area

Strong Earning Potential

Health information professionals have strong earning potential. The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that one can earn upward of $50,000 to $75,000 annually.

More Information

For more information about career options in health informatics and health information management, see AHIMA's Career & Student Center and this career map, which illustrates roles along with possible paths for lifelong learning and career progression.