HIM Education and Careers

 

Careers in HIM  
The Value of an AHIMA Credential  
2012 FHIMA Scholarship Information  
FHIMA Resources for Bringing the HIM Profession to Middle and High Schools  
ARRA Funded HIM’s HITECH workforce Development Training Program  
FHIMA Mentorship Program  
FHIMA Announces New Toolkits for Hosting a Coding Roundtable Forum  
Health Information Technology Programs    
Health Information Administration Programs    
Coding Certificate Programs    
Student Toolkit    

The first step in your career planning process is to discover your interests and then match them to careers. If you have an interest in healthcare and information technology, health information management (HIM) may be the right career choice for you. As one of the fastest growing occupations in one of the fastest growing industries, a HIM career places you right where the expanding arena of healthcare meets the cutting edge of technology.

Learn more by visiting:

 
What is Health Information Management
 

HIM professionals play a critical role in maintaining, collecting and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers rely on to deliver quality healthcare. They are experts in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems and coding the diagnosis and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients. HIM professionals work in a multitude of settings throughout the healthcare industry including hospitals, physician offices and clinics, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, government agencies and home care providers.

 
Growth and Income
 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of HIM professionals is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2008. On top of strong job prospects, competitive salaries also await HIM graduates. More than half of new HIM graduates with a bachelor's degree start with salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. Five years out, many are earning $50,000 to $75,000. New HIM graduates with an associate's degree can earn $20,000 to $30,000 annually.

 
How to Get Started on Your HIM Career
 

Education:

You need to complete either an associate's or bachelor's degree in HIM from an accredited institution. The list below identifies the accredited HIT and HIA programs in Florida. These programs are accredited by the Commission of the Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).



Learn more about the AHIMA Foundation and apply for an AHIMA Foundation scholarship


ATTENTION HIM Program STUDENTS!

2012 FHIMA Scholarship Information

FHIMA is pleased to announce a continued support of individuals pursuing Health Information Management careers. FHIMA has again voted to provide scholarships this year to students enrolled in an CAHIIM approved program in both undergraduate and graduate studies related to the Health Information Management field. In addition, FHIMA will again award the Charlotte Stockton Memorial Scholarship.

As in years past, scholarships will be awarded to FHIMA members to defray the cost of a Health Information Management related education.

FHIMA announces that it will again award the Charlotte Stockton Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship honors the memory of Charlotte Stockton (Stat Solutions, Inc. and Professional Outsourcing Solutions, Inc.) who was committed to the HIM Profession. This scholarship will be offered to qualified applicants enrolled in AHIMA approved Coding Certificate programs. 

Click here for general FHIMA Scholarships Online Application. This year, applicants will apply online.

Click here for Charlotte Stockton Memorial Scholarship Online Application for Coding Certificate Program students.


FHIMA Resources for Bringing the HIM Profession to Middle and High Schools

Have you been asked to participate in a local “Teach In” or career fair event at a local middle or high school near you? Here is a ready-made, ready-to-go presentation that you can use or customize for your audience! We need to get the word out about our profession and participating in a “Teach In” or career fair event is the perfect opportunity. The “Teach In” event is a nation-wide event for schools is typically held in November, however you can use this anytime at any event to educate students about HIM careers!

FHIMA PowerPoint for bringing the HIM Profession to Middle and High Schools

Printable brochure about the HIM Profession and the Florida Health Information Management Association


FHIMA Mentorship Program

The FHIMA Mentorship Program promotes communication and professional relationships between students, who are currently in a CAHIIM approved HIA or HIT program in the state of Florida, and mentors who are experienced, energetic and committed HIM professionals willing to contribute to the future excellence of the HIM profession. Mentors share their experiences, offer advice and encouragement, answer questions and act as leaders/advisors to the student in which they are assigned.

Please note that this is not an internship program for students!

Learn more and apply online!


FHIMA Announces New Toolkits for hosting a
CODING ROUNDTABLE FORUM

The FHIMA Data Quality Committee is pleased to offer these tool kits to assist you in planning a “Coding Roundtable Forum.”

This forum will provide guidelines on how to implement a Regional Coding Roundtable and a Do-It-Yourself toolkit with topics and resources for research and discussion. The coding roundtable forum is an area for coders to learn, share and discuss issues related to coding, data quality and compliance.   

We hope all FHIMA members will find this useful and informative.  

Coding Roundtable Resource Planning and Guidelines

Toolkits:

Cardiovascular, Digestive, Musculoskeletal
Coding Productivity, Coding Management, etc.
Sepsis, Coding Compliance, and Coding Quality
Neoplasms and Pathological Fractures
POA, Excisional Debridement and Respiratory


NOTE:  This is a listing of ACCREDITED programs that have been accredited through AHIMA. Only those programs accredited through AHIMA are listed. We do not list schools/programs that are not accredited through AHIMA.

For Master's Level Programs in Health Information, see www.ahima.org under "Schools/Programs" for Accredited Programs.

For all AHIMA Accredited Programs for all levels, please go to www.ahima.org under "Schools/Programs."

Health Information Technology Programs

Broward Community College
Health Information Management Program
1000 Coconut Creek Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL  33066
(954) 201-2086
Charline Bumgardner, BA, RHIT
cbumgard@broward.edu

Central Florida Community College
Health Information Management Program
3001 SE College Road
Ocala, FL 34474
(352) 854-2322 Ext. 4-1
Suzanne B. Garrett, MSA, RHIA
garretts@cf.edu

Daytona State College
Health Information Management Program
1200 International Speedway Blvd West
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Nancy Thomas, EdD, RHIA
(386) 506-3748
thomasn@daytonastate.edu

Florida State College at Jacksonville
Health Information Management Program
North Campus-HIM Program
4501 Capper Road - North Campus
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Eudelia Thomas, MS, RHIA
(904) 766-6749
ethomas@fscj.edu

Hodges University
Health Information Management Program
4501 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33966
Martin Smith, MEd, RHIT, CCA
(239) 938-7797
Msmith5@hodges.edu
 
Indian River State College
Health Information Management Program
3209 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, FL 34981-5599
DeVonica Vaught, RHIA
(561) 462-7535
dvaught@irsc.edu

ITT Technical Institute – Fort Lauderdale
HIT Program
3401 S. University Drive
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328
Janet Stewart, RHIA, MPA
(954) 476-9300
jdstewart@itt-tech.edu

ITT Technical Institute – Lake Mary
HIT Program
1400 International Parkway South
Lake Mary, FL 32746
HIT Interim Program Director
(407) 660-2900
snowberry@itt-tech.edu

ITT Technical Institute – Miami
HIT Program
7955 NW 12th Street
Miami, FL 33126
Fatou Kouyate (Interim Director)
(305) 477-3080
fkouyate@itt-tech.edu

ITT Technical Institute – Tampa
4809 Memorial Highway
Tampa, FL 33634
Program Director: Lynnette Hessling, BS, RHIA
813-885-2244
Lhessling@itt-tech.edu

Lake Sumter Community College
Health Information Management Program
9501 U.S. Highway 441
Leesburg, FL  34788-9751
Brandy Ziesemer, MA, RHIA, CCS
(352) 365-3587
ziesemerb@lscc.edu

Miami Dade College

Health Information Management Program
Medical Center Campus
950 NW 20th Street, Room 2241
Miami, FL 33127-4693
Mary Worsley, MS, RHIA
(305) 237-4156
mworsley@mdc.edu

Pensacola Junior College
HIM Program - Warrington Campus
5555 W. Highway 98
Pensacola, FL 32507
Donna Shumway, M.Ed., RHIA
(850) 484-2213
dshumway@pensacolastate.edu

Polk Community College
Health Information Technology Program
999 Avenue H, NE, Station #10
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Kelli Lewis, BS, RHIA (Interim)
(863) 297-1010 ext.5370
klewis@polk.edu

Saint Johns River State College
Health Information Management Program - Associate Degree
2990 College Drive
St Augustine, Florida 32084
Virginia Delgado-Oakwood, MS, RHIA
Office:(904) 808-7454
Fax:(904)808-7470
virginiadelgadooakwood@sjrstate.edu 

Saint Petersburg College
Health Information Management Program
PO Box 13489
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
Sheila Newberry, RHIT, MED
(727) 341-3623
newberry.sheila@spcollege.edu

Santa Fe College
Health Information Management 
3000 Northwest 83rd St., Bldg C-Room 002
Gainesville, FL 32606
Julie Shay, RHIA
(352) 395-5024
julie.shay@sfcollege.edu  


Health Information Administration Programs

Florida A&M University
Division of Health Information Management
324 Lewis-Beck Allied Health Building
Tallahassee, FL 32307
Marjorie H. McNeill, PhD, RHIA, CCS
(850) 561-2021
marjorie.mcneill@famu.edu

University of Central Florida
Health Information Management Program
P.O. Box 162200
Orlando, FL 32816
Alice Noblin, PhD, RHIA, CCS
(407) 823-2359
anoblin@mail.ucf.edu


Coding Certificate Programs

Kaplan Continuing Education
6301 Kaplan University Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Diane Gordon,  Director of Admissions
(954) 515-4526
dgordon@kaplan.edu

Miami Dade College Medical Campus
950 NW 20th Street
Miami, FL 33127-4693
Christine Dundas, RHIT, CCS, MLIS
(305)237-4265
cdundas@mdc.edu

Palm Beach State College
4200 Congress Avenue
Lake Worth, FL 33461
Julie Sheff, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
(561) 868-3902
Steffj@palmbeachstate.edu

Santa Fe College
3000 NW 83rd Street
Building C, Room 102
Gainesville, FL 32606
Julie Shay, RHIA
(352) 395-5024
Julie.shay@sfcollege.edu

Seminole State College of Florida – Altamonte
850 South SR 434
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Christine Tufts-Maher, MS, RHIA
(407) 404-6053
tuftsmac@seminolestate.edu


Student Tool Kit

  Download Student Tool Kit