OVERVIEW
What is an HIM Educator?
Data collection protocols change with time as analytics platforms evolve and the needs of each organization deepen. HIM educators train and retrain working professionals to collect and understand their healthcare-related data, in light of any new advancements in HIT.
Because the role of an HIM educator requires experience in healthcare, business, and analytics fields, it is often considered a specialized position. In one survey, more than 50% of HIM educators held a master’s degree. However, many individuals can also hold this position with only an undergraduate degree, compounded by years of experience in the healthcare industry.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does an HIM Educator Do?
A health information management educator fulfills a variety of different responsibilities daily. Whether providing direct training or communicating with a healthcare organization’s professionals, HIM educators focus their attention on training employees to implement effective HIM policies. The responsibilities of a HIM educator can include:
- Training a healthcare organization’s staff to correctly implement a variety of HIM protocols
- Educating a health organization’s staff about any recent changes or updates to HIT devices, processes, or legal parameters
- Researching improved methods for data collection and management
- Collaborating with healthcare employees, especially doctors and nurses, to improve the quality and spectrum of collected data
- Demonstrating how data can be best organized after it has been collected and safely stored
- Regulating HIT databases and platforms to address any potential cybersecurity threats before they occur
- Auditing a healthcare organization’s current data collection processes to identify areas for improvement where HIM protocols can lead to long-term success
- Helping healthcare organizations derive helpful conclusions from their data
These and other responsibilities keep an HIM educator busy as they work to help a variety of healthcare companies and providers improve the quality, quantity, and usefulness of their data.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become an HIM Educator?
As you prepare for an HIM job, you’ll need to satisfy a few educational requirements. Your pathway to a career in health information management starts with a bachelor’s degree in health information management, or a closely-related field. As you work to complete this program, you’ll learn skills in healthcare IT and compliance that will benefit your eventual role as an HIM educator.
A degree in health information management can contribute directly to a variety of career options. In an emerging industry, health information management jobs represent the opportunity for career advancement and satisfaction. Whether you become an HIM educator or a health information manager, you’ll work to define an evolving, data-informed healthcare landscape.
Best Degrees for an HIM Educator
Health & Nursing
Health Information Management – B.S.
A program designed for future leaders in HIM....
A program designed for future leaders in HIM.
- Time: 61% of grads earned this degree in 36 months or less.
- Tuition: $4,210 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Medical Terminology
- Healthcare System Applications
- Health Information Law and Regulations
- Healthcare Project Management
- Data Analytics and Information Governance
This CAHIIM-accredited program makes you eligible for the RHIA exam.
Health & Nursing
Master of Healthcare Administration
A master's focused on managing comprehensive, value-based care, directly...
A master's focused on managing comprehensive, value-based care, directly in line with innovations in health and healthcare.
- Time: 60% of grads finish within 21 months.
- Tuition: $4,995 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 12 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Collaborative Leadership
- Healthcare Models and Systems
- Healthcare Financial Management
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Healthcare Information Technology
Your rich experience in a health-related field can mean more when you bring a master's level of understanding to the problems that organizations need to solve.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
How Much Does an HIM Educator Make?
$65,280
The exact salary of an HIM educator can vary based on several factors, including your employer, employer’s location, employer’s public or private funding, years of experience, schooling, and attained certifications. As of May 2022, the national median average was $65,280 annually.
What is the Projected Job Growth?
16%
Among other reasons to obtain a healthcare management degree, the job outlook for HIM educators is projected to remain positive for years to come. Employment for Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars is expected to grow 16% from 2022 to 2032, a growth rate well above the average across all occupations.
SKILLS
What Skills Does an HIM Educator Need?
HIM educators put developed skill sets to use regularly. Whether you’re providing instruction or researching new data analysis methods, your role as an HIM educator is focused on the correct use of healthcare data.
The skills an HIM educator needs to develop can include:
- Instruction. The ability to teach groups of healthcare professionals about all optimal ways to collect, store, and use healthcare information to benefit patient outcomes.
- Interpersonal communication. The ability to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals and fellow HIM staff.
- Healthcare management. The ability to successfully manage all aspects of a healthcare organization and to understand how data implementation can improve operations.
- Public speaking. The ability to confidently address groups of individuals in an educational setting.
- Data analysis. The ability to assess collected data sets, identify patterns and draw conclusions that can be passed along to healthcare professionals.
- Project management. The ability to organize tasks according to priority, and keep workflows clean and consistent.
- Technological proficiency. The ability to safely use all technology required for an HIM position, including any computers, tablets, phones, medical devices, and online platforms.
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