Health Information Management

HIM Program

Temple University offers an accredited program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management.  Graduates are eligible to take a national certification examination, offered by the American Health Information Management Association. Successful completion of this examination will allow the graduate to use the credentials Registered Health Information Management Administrator (RHIA). The combination of the degree and the credential opens many doors to an exciting and financially rewarding career with potential for personal growth and professional advancement.

Health Information Management (HIM) professionals are responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance, and administration of systems for the storage, retrieval, access, and release of health information. HIM professionals have expertise in health informatics which requires knowledge of clinical medicine, the computer-based patient record, healthcare database administration, computerized clinical information systems, coding and classification systems, quality and human resource management, the ethical and legal aspects of health information systems and legal, regulatory, and accrediting agency requirements which affect the health information system.

The faculty is committed to educating students who will manage the health information requirements for the multifaceted health care system.  The graduate must be able to accept roles as a member of the health care team in a variety of settings--as administrator, planner, consultant, educator, researcher and practitioner and the educational program is designed to develop the expertise and professional qualities needed to fulfill these roles. 

The courses taken for the degree include core requirements and prerequisites and professional courses. Successful completion of the professional learning objectives help the students develop expertise and professional behaviors. (course descriptions)

The baccalaureate program in Health Information Management at Temple University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Additional information may be obtained from:

American Health Information Management Association
Education and Accreditation Division
919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60611-1683
Phone:  312-233-1100
Fax:  312-233-1090
Internet:  http://www.cahiim.org/

The accreditation standards for the curriculum require inclusion of the following content:  

Anatomy and physiology, language of medicine, pharmacology and clinical medicine

Information technology

Healthcare delivery systems

Organization and management

Quantitative methods and research

Healthcare information requirement and standards

Health information systems, including coding and classification systems

Health data content and structure

Clinical quality assessment and performance improvement

Biomedical research support

• Health information services management