The future of the Health Information Profession - Research Paper Example

The future of the Health Information Profession Affiliation: Changing of the environment of Health Information Management ProfessionThe market and job description of Health Information Managers has been a wheel in motion changing rapidly in collaboration with the change in technology. The changes being described include changes in careers, in remuneration, in job descriptions and specifications as well as changes in the education level. The level of education that was formerly required a few years back for such a profession was either a diploma or a bachelor’s degree which was considered highly and had fewer job seekers and qualified individuals.

In the recent times however the demands in that field have been on the increase and the lowest qualifications being required by most health care organizations is a Master’s degree due to the advancement of the technology as well as changes in the relevance of the field and the increase demand for such professionals (Green and Bowie, 2010). Due to the high demand and the low supply, the Health Information Managers salaries have increased with more than $25,000 per annum with the lowest paid Health Information Managers who is also a Bachelor’s degree holder is $75,000 and this is still on the increase as long as the demand still remains high.

The remunerations increase with the increase in educational level and job experience. The job roles and duties of the Health Information Managers have also been changing. Previously, their work majorly involved data entry in the hospitals but with time and currently, their duties has increased and become more complicated to include duties such as managing the patients’ records, administration of computer information systems and coding procedures to all the health care service providers’ not necessarily just hospitals as before.

They are also required to link data and information on health data electronically to the department of health and hospitals for more efficient and effective health care service delivery (Zeng, Reynolds and Sharp, 2009). Careers in the future of Health Information Management ProfessionAs mentioned above, Health Information Management is a very fast growing and most in demand career field due to its integration with technology. According to the Chicago Tribune, there are several more advanced and higher paying job opportunities lined up for now and in future for the Health Information Managers (Lee, 2013).

These prospective future careers include home health care services, nursing care facilities, the outpatient care centres (McWay, 2013). There are also jobs as compliance risk managers in other health care organizations and whose role is meant to alleviate the health care conditions for the betterment to the patients. There are also careers as educators. Those who started the field initially and have continued acquiring the education and accumulated much experience can be tutors and mentors to other upcoming Health Information Managers so that thy brace themselves for the future.

As educators, they can also act as researchers so as to advance this field more. There is a brighter future in informatics and as data analysts for the Health Information Managers and this is a maiden field that needs to be explored (Friedman and Kovner, 2012). Further, there are new developing careers as IT specialists and medical records administrators and operators (which is a higher level in the career). Management coding and billing is also a new and a field that is not ventured and opens up a new opportunity for the Health Information Managers for those prepared to go a mile further in the profession.

ReferencesFriedman, L. and Kovner, A. (2012). 101 Careers in Healthcare Management. New Jersey: Taylor & Francis. Green, M. and Bowie, M. (2010). Essentials of HIM: Principles and Practices. California: Stanford University Press. Lee, J. (January 1st, 2013). “Data driven: Health information management careers.” The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-01-01/classified/chi- health-information-management-careers-20130101_1_health-care-care-facilities-health- dataMcWay, D. (2013). Today’s Health Information Management: An Integrated Approach.

Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett. Zeng, X., Reynolds, R. and Sharp, M. (September 16th, 2009). “Redefining the Roles of Health Information Management Professionals in Health Information Technology.” Perspectives in Health Information Management, vol. 6. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781729/