HEALTH INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS WORK AT THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTHCARE, TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS
The Master of Science degree in Health Information Management (HIM) at Lewis University prepares graduates with the knowledge, skills and abilities to pursue leadership positions in the field of health information management, health administration, education, and research. The HIM program focuses on the strategic and operational relevance and robust power of clinical information, resources, workflow, and connectivity within the healthcare industry and public health sectors.
HIM professionals manage medical information vital to providing quality patient care, sound fiscal management of medical resources, and data governance supporting confidentiality of patient records. Management of the data includes acquisition, analysis, and protection of digital and traditional types of information. Their work connects clinical, operational, and administrative functions in healthcare. Certified professionals work on the classification of disease and interventions to ensure their standardization for use in clinical, financial, and legal purposes. The profession has seen significant expansion in non-patient care settings, with careers in managed care and insurance companies, software vendors, consulting services, government agencies, education, and pharmaceutical companies.
The M.S. in Health Information Management program at Lewis University is a 36-credit hour program offered in a flexible online and face to face formats. The curriculum is designed with an accelerated 8-week course format. Graduates can complete the entire program in 16-18 months if enrolled full-time. Rolling admission allows students to enter the program at any 8-week session throughout the academic year. The culminating experience for students of the Lewis Health Information Management program provides an option of a research project approved and supervised by the faculty or a healthcare professional practicum experience. Students must complete the M.S. HIM program within five years of admission into the program.
An advanced education serves as a gateway to opportunities. Through course experience under instructor guidance, you will gain important skills in critical thinking, decision formulating and leadership making you a frontrunner in the health data and information management arena.
Graduates of the M.S. in Health Information Management program will:
- Uphold industry and government standards for data content and structure by adhering to information government policy and practice.
- Preserve and protect health information through policy initiatives governing access, disclosure, archival, privacy and security.
- Recommend health information systems and technologies to ensure accurate data collection and reporting using health data analytics.
- Support revenue cycle management though strategic and operational planning.
- Evaluate compliance with rules and regulations governing coding, fraud surveillance and clinical documentation improvement.
- Determine organizational needs of the enterprise including human resources, financial management, information asset management using sound fiscal responsibility and compliance with ethical standards of practice.
Sample Course Topics
- Healthcare Informatics
- Healthcare Data, Privacy and Confidentiality
- Healthcare Law and Ethics
- Health Information Technologies
- Statistical Analysis and Research
- Finance and Revenue Management
Admission Requirements
To be accepted for admission in the M.S. in Health Information Management program, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally-accredited institution of higher education; common majors include health information administration, nursing, healthcare leadership, health sciences, psychology, exercise science, and biology.
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- Prerequisite coursework with grade “C” or above completed in the following subjects: human anatomy & human physiology I & II, medical terminology, pharmacology, information systems, and statistics.
- Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a supervisor in a work, internship, or volunteer setting; the other should be from a professional and/or academic source).
- Current Resume
- Application for graduate admission.
A balance of applicant experiences, attributes, and academic performance will be evaluated. Other areas evaluated include, but are not limited to: life experience, leadership experience, community service, written communication, work experience, commitment to the Lewis University mission, research and scholarship experience, participation in extracurricular activities, awards, and recognitions.
Disclosure Statement for CAHIIM Candidate programs
The Masters Degree Health Information Management Program is in Candidacy Status, pending accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).