Study Health Information Management

Majors & Minors
Health Information Management

Health Information Management

“I was interested in health information management since I knew I wanted to work in the healthcare setting, but clinical care wasn’t for me. I love learning how to handle patient data and working with files and EHRs (electronic health records). I feel like I am actually going to make a difference in the business side of the medical field.”

Meet Leigh Jolivette, health information management major

You should major in health information management if:

You want a wide range of potential career paths in the diverse and extensive healthcare job market.
You are interested in combining health care with business, management, and technology to help people.
You love exploring and analyzing data.
You want hands-on experiences in classrooms, labs, and healthcare facilities.

Health information management combines analyzing, acquiring, and protecting patients’ medical information to improve patient care. Learn how to ensure healthcare facilities run smoothly and use data for better health care.

Our curriculum combines coursework with professional practice in a range of health care settings. All health information management majors also earn a minor in health informatics, another designation that will set you apart in the field.

Health Information Management at �鶹AV

What's Health Information Management Like?

Lab work
Research
Internships
Presentations
Writing
Math

100%

job placement rate for 2019 graduates

Employment of health information professionals is projected to grow 13% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.

Life as a Health Information Management Major

Direct Connection with Professionals

Healthcare in Louisiana is an almost $7 billion industry, and our program directly links you to that world through internships, job shadowing, professional organizations, conferences, and events. Our program provides significantly more hands-on time than the national average, so you’ll be ready for jobs in health care, business, information, legal, and compliance management across the country.

Hands-On Labs

Learn to use state-of-the-art software — the same that professionals use — through our . Work in programs like the master patient index (MPI), EHR (Cerner/Athens), encoders, electronic document management systems, and more. Explore how to use health care data in our Population Health Analytics and Decision Support Lab.

Internships

As a health information management major, you will complete a four-week management internship program where you shadow leadership in health care facilities in Louisiana and other states. Our internships help you get insight, understanding, and specialized and advanced skills in health information management — and many of our students secure jobs directly from these internship experiences.

Student & Professional Organizations

Connect with professionals in the community through the Health Information Management Society and at the Louisiana Health Information Management Association’s meetings and annual conference. Many of our students also deliver poster presentations at the organization’s conference.

What Sets Us Apart

100%

Professional Exam Pass Rate

All of our graduates passed the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam in 2019.

Learn relevant skills

Our program and courses are directly influenced by local healthcare leaders through our Health Information Management Advisory Board.

Our Health Information Management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Health Information Management Courses According to Students

Freshman Year Sophomore Year Junior Year Senior Year

BIOL 220: Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology

Many of our classes involve knowing general anatomy terms, and how to apply them in a healthcare setting. Taking these anatomy classes has been very beneficial for my health information management classes. I think everyone who is going to work in healthcare should take at least one anatomy class to fully understand what they are working with.”

Camille Guilbeau, Health Information Management Major

LCHI 207: Health Data Management Tools

with Lisa Delhomme

We learned how to use advanced systems and audit charts for doctors. The instructor gave us chances to be creative with assignments that allowed us to design hospital layouts. This was the class that assured me that I was going to do something I loved. Lisa was so kind and guided us to make sure that we really understood the data we were working with. She even took the time to advise me with future career options when I felt unsure.”

Leigh Jolivette, Health Information Management Major

HIM 327: Procedural Coding in Healthcare

A few of my favorite classes since I’ve been in school would have to be my coding classes. In these classes, we acquire the knowledge needed to read health information and interpret it into a format of a code. We learn to do this in different settings and assign codes for diagnosis, procedures, and reimbursement.”

Ashley Jeffery, Health Information Management Major

HIM 411: Principles of Management and Leadership I

This senior year class is very interesting because it teaches us life lessons, communication skills, and how to work with a team. I love the structure of this class because it teaches us how to be professional and how to be a leader in any workplace.”

Camille Guilbeau, Health Information Management Major

Careers in Health Information Management

Elizabeth Delahoussaye

“Your coursework is a great foundation, but it’s also what the professors bring to it. It’s not just, ‘Here’s your book and you’re gonna learn.’ It’s, ‘Hey, let’s use a lot of real-world scenarios to learn,’ and that was extremely beneficial.”

Health Information Management '97

Chief Privacy Officer at Ciox Health

More about Elizabeth

Health Information Management Jobs

HIM Systems Manager
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Billing Inpatient Coding Manager
Revenue Cycle Manager
Chief Clinical Informatics Officer
HIM Auditor

Program Requirements

Admissions Requirements

To major in health information management, you must meet the University's admissions requirements.

See the full admission requirements.

Graduation Requirements

As a student in the health information management program, you will be required to maintain a grade of “C” or better in each major health information management course and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better to enter the junior year.

All students in the health information management program automatically earn a minor in health informatics through the coursework.

Students with another major can choose to minor in health informatics. The minor requires 20 credit hours.

After graduation, students are prepared to take the certification exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Upon successful completion of this exam, one earns the credential of Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

Resources

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