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A career in health information management (HIM) draws individuals from a variety of non-healthcare-related industries. Those who are not currently working within the healthcare arena can leverage their experience to begin a HIM career. HIM capitalizes on universal core skillsets in communication, attention to detail, and organization.
Although there are many paths to a career in health information management (HIM), this article explores ten jobs that make for a particularly smooth transition when combined with the right education and/or HIM certifications. You can also reference a step-by-step guide to becoming a health information manager.
1. Customer Service Representative
With a flair for professionalism, customer service representatives in a variety of industries are ideal candidates for a career in HIM. Customer service specialists understand the importance of respectful and sensitive communication. These individuals also often possess critical troubleshooting skills and the ability to work well under pressure. Both of these skills are essential in HIM, especially in positions such as patient registrar, insurance claims clerk, or collections clerk.
Services such as a patient registrar are usually a patient’s initial contact with the health provider. The representative often sets the tone for the patient’s experience, making empathy an essential skill. Patients are often highly stressed, and a calm and understanding demeanor helps the representative obtain the necessary information.
Patience is also a key skill for insurance claims clerks and collections clerks. In addition to the core skills noted above, they must be able to analyze data and accurately determine amounts due. Additionally, they must be firm in regarding payments due to the health provider.
2. Legal Assistant
The ability to thrive in a deadline-driven, detail-oriented environment is important for both legal assistants and HIM professionals, such as credentialing specialists and medical coders/billers. In the legal world, details can mean the difference between winning and losing a court case. In the HIM world, details can make or break an insurance claim payment or even directly affect patient care.
A credentialing specialist is responsible for ensuring the health provider meets all regulatory, training, and accreditation requirements. A health organization that falls out of compliance may not be paid amounts due from insurance providers, and individuals may lose their right to practice medicine. Those interested in this career path may find that joining the National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS) and becoming a Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist (CPCS).
Virtually all health procedures require a code that determines the amount the provider will be paid. A medical coder/biller must be very detail-oriented and able to keep up with changing codes. They have to know medical terminology and be able to translate diagnoses and procedures into the correct codes to allow payment to the provider. They also have to be skilled in submitting claims and managing payments.
3. Teacher
Those who can translate complex information into something others can easily understand can be a great asset to any HIM department. In particular, teachers are excellent communicators who enjoy imparting knowledge to others. The same is true for HIM professionals striving to provide patient education. Regardless of the specific role they serve, many HIM professionals find themselves educating patients on insurance coverage, patient portals, coded data, and more.
A HIM teacher must have many of the same skills as a customer service specialist. While they may not have the initial contact with the patient, they must be patient and understanding when explaining payment terms, insurance claims, and the role of technology in paying for services.
They also have an educational role in keeping staff informed on technology and HIM regulatory updates. They also ensure that documentation is complete and kept up-to-date, and may be responsible for auditing patient records for compliance.
4. Military Veteran
Many military veterans are accustomed to working in a regulatory and compliance-driven environment and possess technical skill sets useful in a variety of HIM positions, particularly medical coder/biller, auditor, or compliance officer.
Veterans know how to maintain security and protect data, and they do well in any function that requires patient confidentiality. They are also familiar with the importance of rules and regulations, so they understand HIPAA compliance. Veterans are also comfortable working as part of a team and often have leadership skills.
In addition to the skills noted above, many are technology-literate in complex systems. HIM software can be difficult to navigate for individuals with less experience. The military experience often gives them additional empathy in face-to-face interactions with patients. Finally, veterans are service-oriented.
5. Personal Caretaker
Those who serve as caretakers already possess the interpersonal skills necessary to thrive in HIM positions such as patient advocate or patient registrar, both of which require strong communication skills.
Personal caretakers are skilled at obtaining important information from patients and transmitting it to health providers. They are also experts in data management and the role of HIPAA in ensuring patient privacy.
They often are the ones who communicate a patient’s needs to the health provider, especially when the patient has a chronic condition. Those patients may not always see a provider personally. Both the patient and the provider rely on the caretaker to keep the provider updated so that informed decisions can be made when necessary.
6. Data Entry Clerk
Attention to detail is at the core of data entry, and the same is true for those working in HIM as medical coders/billers or cancer registrars. Data integrity is paramount in HIM—particularly as big data and data analytics continue to take center stage.
Because data entry accuracy is crucial to both patient care and payments to health providers, attention to detail is one of the most important skills a data entry clerk needs. They must also understand medical terminology. Their job also requires protecting patient privacy while entering full and accurate data.
As well as technological skills, they should be good communicators. They often have to speak with the healthcare provider to ensure they have complete and accurate data. They also know how to verify the accuracy of the information they are given.
7. Sales Representative
Communication skills are important for those working in both sales and HIM—particularly in positions that require direct patient contact, such as patient registrar, collections clerk, insurance claims clerk, or medical billing representative.
As so much of HIM relies on obtaining accurate information in a timely manner, a sales representative’s communication skills translate well in HIM positions. They also have extensive knowledge of products and technologies useful to healthcare providers. Negotiation is another common skill for former sales representatives.
Their familiarity with products is additionally useful in analyzing workflow and can help increase the efficiency of functions such as filing insurance or collection claims. They are also used to working independently with a minimum of supervision.
8. Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistants are often viewed as “jacks of all trades,” and the same is true for HIM clerks and medical office administrators. These individuals are all highly organized and multitask regularly. The ability to adapt quickly is important in HIM because the healthcare industry is constantly changing and evolving.
Their skills in office management and organization can help a health provider’s office operate more efficiently. They also understand the need for extensive documentation and security measures to maintain confidentiality.
Assistants usually have good communication skills and can serve as a bridge between patients and providers, or between providers and other staff members in obtaining needed information. They know how to prevent conflicts and keep an office running smoothly.
9. Clinical Care Provider
With their vast clinical expertise, providers such as nurses, phlebotomists, radiology technicians, and others are a natural fit for a variety of positions within a HIM department—particularly clinical documentation improvement specialist, DRG validator, or physician advisor. Individuals who make the transition from direct patient care into HIM may enjoy the administrative side of medicine and healthcare more than the clinical side.
A former clinical care provider will usually have substantial knowledge of medical terminology, enabling them to communicate effectively with healthcare providers. They can also enter accurate information in patient records or insurance documentation.
They are experienced in face-to-face interactions with patients, which can enable them to implement improved workflow procedures in the provider’s office. They can also have a role in patient safety because they often recognize potential medical errors. Care providers are also skilled in face-to-face interactions and know how to get to the heart of a problem before it escalates.
10. Computer Technician
As electronic health records (EHR) have become more mainstream, computer skills are a must-have in HIM. Not only are claims submitted electronically, but clinical data is increasingly captured and analyzed electronically as well. The ability to run reports, analyze data, and integrate systems is particularly helpful in positions such as EHR implementation specialist, health information technician, data mapping specialist, or data architect.
Computer technicians often have the expertise to troubleshoot systems when technical issues bring things to a halt. They know the importance of maintenance and keeping the software updated. They can install protective software that protects the integrity of patient information.
Technicians also help providers ensure that electronic documentation meets compliance requirements, HIPAA regulations, and accurate billing. Their data analytic skills may help providers with quality improvement and research.
The Future of Working in HIM
The jobs listed above are not the only launching points for a career in HIM. In fact, for those with current careers that require the skills listed below, the transition into HIM may be relatively easy. These are the ten most important skills required of HIM professionals, according to the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Workforce Study:
- Medical coding
- Privacy and security information management
- Analytical thinking
- Ability to ensure data integrity
- Critical thinking
- Clinical documentation improvement
- EHR management
- Written, spoken, and verbal communication
- Problem-solving
- Developing and promoting HIM standards
To learn more about career paths in HIM, check out this guide to online HIM programs and what you can do with a HIM degree.
