For more information about Health Information Management at Lakeland, please visit lakelandcc.edu/healthinfo and lakelandcc.edu/Request
Health information management is a combination of business, science and information technology. A health information technician reviews, organizes and stores health care-related documents. There are many diverse career opportunities within the HIM field including applying medical codes for payment, ensuring compliance with privacy laws and analyzing data for research and reporting. These jobs suit people who thrive in a busy, multitasking environment. They’re ideal for someone who would like to work in the health care field but does not want to provide direct patient care and for medical professionals looking to transition out of patient care.
Lakeland offers both a degree program in Health Information Management Technology and a medical coding certificate program. The degree path is a two-year, 65-credit program and when finished you’ll earn an Associate of Applied Studies in Health Information Management Technology. Graduates of the degree program are eligible to sit for the RHIT exam given by the American Health Information Management Association.
As part of the program, you’ll take classes in basic anatomy, IT, and business, but the core of your experience are courses that pertain to the field such as coding for payment and understanding health care data. To round out your degree, you can select electives that help you become a better communicator and understand patient needs.
The degree program includes clinical education, where you get your first chance to work in the field. Our students make connections with prospective employers and many of our graduates receive their first job offers from the organizations where they complete their clinical education.
Our certificate program is 25 credits, but it’s designed to be completed as a part-time student over two-years. Courses in the certificate focus on the knowledge and skills necessary for a career in medical coding.
Health Information Management is a great option for people looking for a career in health care but don’t want to provide medical care to patients. Not only is there no patient care but there are opportunities to work from home. Most HIM professionals work Monday through Friday, with no nights, weekends, or holidays. HIM students at Lakeland receive the knowledge and skills to code patients records, protect patient information, and watch over the company’s bottom line. As a result, our graduates excel in this high-demand field.