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CAREER GUIDE Bachelor of Science, Health Information Management
Start on your path today.
Career guide: health informatics.
Jump to: Career Opportunities Work Environment Salary Stats Go to: B.S. Health Information Management
The healthcare industry is booming, rapidly evolving to adapt to advancements in technology while addressing the needs of an aging Baby Boomer population. At the same time, electronic health records (EHRs) are changing the ways healthcare professionals interact with, plan and manage patient/client data. Massive amounts of patient information readily accessible via the web and multiple areas of the healthcare industry needing to be coordinated have created a multidisciplinary field called heath information management, requiring workers with knowledge and expertise in technology, research, and healthcare.
Health informatics jobs are opening up faster than they can be filled, and many current healthcare workers are taking the opportunity to add relevant credentials to their resumes by pursuing an industry current degree in this growing field. Online education presents an excellent option for many of these motivated professionals, because it allows them to maintain their current job-related and family responsibilities while enhancing their opportunities for professional advancement. If you have some technical or clinical knowledge in a healthcare environment and are ready to move to increased levels of expertise and knowledge in the health informatics field, now might be the perfect time to do something about your professional qualifications.
Job listing growth 2016–2026.
Career opportunities.
Health information management jobs are numerous and varied. If you have the desire to work in healthcare but prefer a role that does not involve direct contact with patients, the field is ripe with opportunities. Maybe you have an aptitude for science but would like to pursue an interest in management, law and computers. Perhaps you like the idea of working in a professional environment alongside physicians, nurses and administrators. Whatever direction your professional instincts are leading you, health information management careers are varied and diverse and include such positions as:
Positions in the field.
- HIM leadership
- HIM compliance officer
- Revenue cycle manager
- EHR implementation specialist
- Clinical improvement analyst
- Director of clinical informatics
- Health systems manager
- Clinical documentation specialist
- Chief medical information officer
- Clinical data analysts
- Clinical informatics manager
"I can't think of any other school that has made self learning so much fun and almost addictive. I am actually considering going for another degree—I just don't know which one yet." Amaechi Ozor
M.S. Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN to MSN)
Job market forecast.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, health information management careers are in high demand. Employment of medical records and health information technicians is projected to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, while the market for medical and health services managers is projected to grow 20 percent during the same period, much faster than the 7 percent average for all occupations. In fact, demand is on the rise at all levels of education and credentialing, with approximately almost 70,000 new jobs anticipated by 2026.
Job growth 2016–2026.
Online. Nonprofit. Surprisingly affordable.
Discover why WGU is an ideal university to pursue your unique career goals.
Work environment.
Consumer health information management professionals work in a broad range of environments, from hospitals and physicians' offices to nursing and residential care facilities and government agencies. Most are full-time employees, and some work at facilities that are open 24/7, which can require evening, weekend or overnight hours.
Professional organizations.
The field of healthcare information management is expanding rapidly, and there are lots of places to learn more about whether it's the right career move for you:
Job search resources.
Find out how far education and training can take you in the field of health informatics. These links can help you discover what it's like to be at the forefront of a growing industry:
Salary stats.
In addition to being a dynamic career field, health information management salaries are also on the rise. More than half of new health information graduates with bachelor's degrees start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range, but after just five years, it's possible to earn upwards of $75,000 annually. These figures are just averages, and many professionals report higher salaries.
By adding management-level skills to your credentials, the future is even brighter. According to indeed.com, the average salary for a health information manager is $71,929.
Average salary of jobs with related titles.
Summary.
Health informatics workers play key roles in today's healthcare environments, functioning as conduits between clinicians, administrators, technology designers and information technology professionals. Many acquire the knowledge they need to advance their careers by earning an industry-current degree in health information management from an accredited institution.
Your career’s next step: Earn a degree.
Ready to jump-start your career in health information management? The next step could be earning your B.S. Health Information Management. Accredited, competency-based WGU offers this degree online for at a surprisingly affordable flat-rate tuition. Flexible enough for a working adult’s schedule with the option to accelerate, your degree may be closer than you think!