30 Mar 7 Things You Need to Know About Health Information

Quality healthcare does not depend only on the doctors and nurses who attend to your medical concerns every time you visit a hospital. Aside from these personnel and professionals that you meet during your health checkup, there is an entire workforce making sure that proper healthcare information is provided for the correct treatment and manages medical data and patient records for accurate filing. This is known as the health information management (HIM). You need to understand why the HIM is just as important as the cardiology department or the neonatal unit in the hospitals. We have listed seven things you need to know about what precisely this department is all about:

HIM Combines Management, Clinical & IT Skills

HIM is responsible for managing health data systems and making sure that they meet the standards of regulatory organizations. HIM professionals can efficiently encode, process, analyze and report healthcare data needed by the medical staff in performing their duties.

Busy diverse female pharmacists take different medication off of the pharmacy shelves. They are working on filling prescriptions.

HIM is a Growing Industry & Offers a Promising Career

The industry has increased substantially in the past two years showing great potential for career growth and business revenue. In September 2012, U.S. News and World Reported told in an article that HIM is among the top nine new college majors with assured job opportunities.

HIM Assures Accurate Documentation is Followed

As medical practitioners attend to the medical needs of the patient, HIM attends to the paperwork needed for every medical procedure done such as a timely report for patient care, certifications and billing. They make sure that all policies and procedures done for its active and discharged patients are accurately detailed, including medical history and necessary forms used during the therapeutic process. It also handles the proper evaluation and revision of these documentations, which is to be approved by the medical staff in charge.

HIM Educates the Hospital Staff About its Policies, Procedures & Expectations Regarding Medical Records

HIM upholds hospital policies and guidelines so that all hospital staff will adhere to rules applicable to their institution. This also includes other entities that work closely with the hospital, such as insurance providers. Without HIM supervising and managing this, quality healthcare might be compromised.

HIM Uses High-Tech Systems & Equipment

Any hospital must use advanced health information systems which include the latest computer gears and up-to-date software programs needed to perform HIM duties well. Therefore, HIM professionals generally work in comfortable and state-of-the-art surroundings.

HIM Ensures All Data & Information are Safe & Protected

Another vital function of HIM is to safe-keep all records without compromising private information of the patients. HIM professionals are responsible for the confidentiality and protection of any data handled within the course of the medical treatment.

HIM Works in Non-Hospital Settings as Well

HIM professionals are not only limited to medical institutions. They are also needed in consulting firms, government agencies, law firms, medical software companies, correctional facilities, insurance companies, extended care services, IT, and even pharmaceutical researches.