Bachelor of Applied Science

Health Information Management

Overview

The Health Information Management (HIM) concentration equips students with integrated knowledge of technology, management, and medical science. Students acquire skills that provide them with a strong foundation for managing health information and information systems, medical reimbursement processes, and other administrative health data functions. Students are prepared to collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare professionals in compliance and quality improvement efforts as they relate to the gathering, storing, and analysis of health-related data. Students also develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that are integral to the management of health data and information. Further, students acquire vital leadership skills in health informatics, revenue cycle management, data analytics, and information governance.

Conferral of a Bachelor of Applied Sciences degree with a concentration in Health Information Management does not result in professional certification or licensure.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates with a concentration in Health Information Management from UH West O‘ahu will be able to:

  • Exhibit ethical behavior and cultural competency skills that correspond to Health Information Management professional practice standards.
  • Present oral and written communication that corresponds to Health Information Management professional practice standards.
  • Build and work effectively within teams designated to perform Health Information Management-related tasks and functions.
  • Employ critical and creative thinking skills in decision-making and problem-solving processes related to the management of health information.
  • Apply anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology concepts in the management of health information.
  • Analyze and interpret health data in accordance with public health research methodologies, healthcare statistics, and economic principles.
  • Administer and evaluate health information in accordance with legal and ethical principles and regulatory guidelines.
  • Plan, analyze, and use health informatics, health information technologies, and health information systems in accordance with federal, regional, and industry standards.
  • Apply clinical nomenclatures, vocabularies, classification systems, and reimbursement methodologies according to federal, regional, and industry standards.
  • Administer health information services in accordance with strategic, financial, human resource, and project management principles and practices.

Internships / Practicums

Students practicum opportunities are available in traditional settings such as hospitals and outpatient facilities,, government agencies, and other healthcare service organizations. Additionally, increased demand for interns is rising in non-traditional settings such as organizations that generate mobile technology and software companies that provide health-related data gathering devices. HIM students can also provide great insight in the public health environment. All of this is per the national and global focus on data quality, patient health outcomes, and privacy & security standards linked to the healthcare workforce skill set.

Careers and Earning Potential

Advances in healthcare technologies, a steadily growing aging population in America, , increased emphasis on outpatient care, and a national focus on patient health outcomes have resulted in a high demand for health information management professionals. Current and emerging roles for professionals include directors and executive officer-level positions, electronic health record implementation managers, population health analysts, patient advocacy roles, health informatics project managers, privacy and compliance officers, risk management directors, data & quality improvement analysts, information governance directors, and revenue cycle analysts and managers.

For more information on careers and earning potential, visit the Hawaiʻi Career Explorer website.