Career Options in Health Information Management

The health information management (HIM) profession is continually evolving, opening the door for expanding roles. 

As you transition from HIM student to HIM professional, here are six career options and resources to explore. 

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
The Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist is responsible for competency in coordinating and performing day-to-day operations, providing concurrent and/or retrospective review, and improving documentation of all conditions, treatments, and care plans to ensure highest quality of care is provided to the patient.

• Download Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist Career Fact Sheet (PDF)

• Meet Professional Clinical Documentation (CDI) Specialist: Telena (Cleveland Clinic)

Privacy and Security Officer
Oversees all ongoing activities related to the development, implementation, maintenance of, and adherence to the organization’s policies and procedures covering the privacy of, and access to, patient health information in compliance with federal and state laws and the healthcare organization’s information privacy practices.

• Download Privacy and Security Officer Career Fact Sheet (PDF) 

Medical Coder/Biller

Use coding conventions and guidelines to abstract, analyze and accurately assign ICD diagnosis codes and CPT principal and secondary procedural codes to ambulatory, clinic, provider and outpatient services.

• Download Medical Coder/Biller Career Fact Sheet (PDF)

Hospital Coder/Coding Professional
Use coding conventions and guidelines to abstract, analyze and accurately assign ICD and CPT principal and secondary and procedural codes to inpatient, ambulatory and outpatient medical records.

• Download Hospital Coder/Coding Professional Career Fact Sheet (PDF)

Professional Fee Coder
Use coding conventions and guidelines to abstract, analyze and accurately assign ICD diagnosis codes and CPT principal and secondary procedural codes to ambulatory, clinic, provider and outpatient services.

• Download Professional Fee Coder Career Fact Sheet (PDF)

Inpatient Coding Auditor
The Health Information Management Inpatient Coding Auditor identifies areas of under or over coding to avoid fraudulent coding and billing. Accurate coding is key to reimbursement and organizational compliance.

• Download Inpatient Coding Auditor Career Fact Sheet (PDF) 

Additional Information: 

• Salary Survey (AHIMA.org) - See the results of our survey of more than 3,000 health information professionals for a snapshot of compensation by job level, job setting, credential, and experience.

• Meet Health Information Management Project Manager: Sandy (Cleveland Clinic)
• Meet Document Integrity Specialist (DIS): Bruna (Cleveland Clinic)
• Meet Electronic Health Records (EHR) Analyst: Marquita (Cleveland Clinic)