HIM Systems Analyst Career Guide
How to Become a HIM Systems Analyst
A health information management (HIM) systems analyst works to assess an organization’s healthcare needs. They regularly analyze healthcare metrics and provide reports to upper-level management on how workflows can be improved to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
After gathering necessary healthcare data, a HIM systems analyst is also responsible for interpreting collected information. They draw useful conclusions from the data sets, using data analysis techniques to contribute to the quality of life for all patients.
Individuals with a demonstrated passion for data collection and analysis — in addition to strong communication skills and a love for the healthcare industry — will find themselves in a rewarding career as a HIM systems analyst.
What Is a HIM Systems Analyst?
A HIM systems analyst first collects health data from a wide variety of potential sources — including electronic health records, financial reports, and patient surveys — to then identify ways their healthcare client can improve operations. Used appropriately, this data can help an organization decrease costs, improve the quality of patient care, and identify areas where additional funding or research might be beneficial.
HIM systems analyst is one of the preferred career options for anyone with a health information management degree. HIM systems analysts are responsible for more than the gathering of data. They must also set up user-friendly dashboards, distribute regular reports, or otherwise communicate with the administration to identify useful conclusions from their data. They will also work in tandem with other healthcare employees, including health information managers, to reach these conclusions.
In this way, a HIM systems analyst can benefit any hospital, outpatient facility, rehabilitation clinic, or other medical centers. They can improve daily workflows, and even influence massive, executive-level changes through the useful interpretation of healthcare data.
What Does a HIM Systems Analyst Do?
A HIM systems analyst might perform a wide range of tasks. In collecting, organizing, interpreting, and presenting healthcare data, their day-to-day duties are flexible. The exact responsibilities of a HIM systems analyst might include:
- Gathering data from a wide range of healthcare data touchpoints.
- Interpreting data once collected, to identify useful conclusions that inform more efficient business operations and patient care.
- Presenting data to executive-level management and any other necessary parties.
- Researching new methods for more efficient data collection.
- Teaching other healthcare employees how to more effectively collect data at the intake level.
- Automating reports to deliver timed data and analysis, at regular intervals, to interested organization representatives.
- Storing collected data in a safe manner that makes for easy reference, without the possibility of a security breach.
These and other responsibilities make for a productive HIM systems analyst — an individual continually responsible for all aspects of an organization’s healthcare data.
What Education Does a HIM Systems Analyst Need?
Before students can pursue careers as a HIM systems analyst they must complete the necessary schooling. This includes earning an undergraduate degree in health information management. This type of degree program combines healthcare knowledge, business understanding, and technical skills to create health information systems analysts who understand what they are doing. Data management, medical terminology, business best practices, and more are all crucial to success in this field.
What Certifications Does a HIM Systems Analyst Need?
In addition to any necessary education, some HIM systems analysts might be required to secure and maintain active information management certifications, depending on their employer and any local standards for the role. Commonly recognized certifications from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) include:
Best Degrees for a HIM Systems Analyst
The best degree for a HIM Systems Analyst is a bachelor of science in health information management. 92% of students who enroll in our program pass with their full accreditations, and are ready to enter the healthcare workforce immediately, with the majority finishing their program in just 36 months.
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM:...
A program designed for future leaders in HIM:...
A program designed for future leaders in HIM:
- Time: 60% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition and fees: $3,795 per 6-month term, plus a Health Professions Student Fee of $350.
Some careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Director of informatics
- HIMS chief
- Information systems auditor
- Outpatient coder
- Health records manager
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
College of Health Professions
Our online university degree programs start on the first of every month, all year long.
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
What Skills Does a HIM Systems Analyst Need?
The career of a HIM systems analyst is one defined by a series of skills, which analysts use daily to collect data and inform their assessments. These individual skills include:
- Interpersonal communication: The ability to correspond effectively with healthcare team members, technicians, and management.
- Staff instruction: The ability to efficiently teach staff members how to effectively collect healthcare data useful for analysis.;
- Data analysis: The ability to assess healthcare data, and draw useful conclusions that can inform future operations.
- Data reporting: The ability to report on findings from healthcare data sets, through user-friendly presentations or other methods to showcase conclusions.
- Attention to detail: The ability to comb through entire data sets and identify specific metrics that are useful in furthering your assessment processes.
- In-depth research: The ability to research more useful data collection, analysis, and presentation methods.
These skills and others allow a HIM systems analyst to effectively perform their job to the highest level, allowing medical organizations to make data-driven decisions that allow for future success.
How Much Does a HIM Systems Analyst Make?
$50,185
The exact income of a HIM systems analyst varies based on factors that include their employer and employer location, years of experience, and maintained accreditations.
On average, the salary of a HIM systems analyst was $50,185 as of April 2021. This average is characterized by a range of roughly $44,300 to $57,300. The lowest 10% of earners can make an estimated $38,975, and the top 10% of earners can take home roughly $63,764 each year.
What Is the Projected Job Growth for HIM Systems Analysts?
8%
Increased dependence on technology across the board makes the overall job outlook of a HIM systems analyst a positive one. In general, employment for medical records and health information specialists is expected to grow 8% by 2029, a growth rate much faster than the average across all occupations.
This growth rate could be driven in large part by aging populations, who will require more concentrated medical services, including treatment for chronic issues. An increased need in healthcare services is expected to mean a parallel need for effective HIM system analysts, who can effectively interpret new data and draw useful conclusions to improve patient care.
Where Do HIM Systems Analysts Work?
Hospitals
Working closely with a healthcare organization’s data, a HIM systems analyst will commonly work onsite at a hospital, doctor’s office, or other medical centers. In less common situations, they can also work for a healthcare electronic record or information technology agency, where they are still responsible for data collection and analysis.