What is a Health Information Specialist?

Health information specialist is a blanket term that applies to a variety of technical health information positions. When a healthcare provider or other healthcare personnel treat a patient, that information must be documented. This information is part of a person’s health history and includes things like X-Ray reports, lab results, diagnoses, and other clinical information that is both important and protected.

Most health information specialists work as an information specialist with jobs that involve patient data, health information technology, electronic patient records, electronic health records, data entry and health information management systems. A health information specialist works carefully with protected health information to keep compliant with laws in this area. The health information specialist provides informational support to healthcare providers related to health records, medication, and other information. As a health information specialist, you can expect to review documentation of records and check medical codes and patient identification to ensure accuracy. A health information specialist can expect to organize information, perform data analysis, distribute patient records and reports and health information to patients who need it. They may work in a number of environments, including doctor’s offices or even one of the health related government agencies.

The important role of a health information specialist is keeping patient information accurate and safe in compliance with health information protection laws and regulations.

Health Information Specialist

A health information specialist provides clerical support for assigned departments. Wherever an information specialist works, they scan paper records, sort and distribute medical reports and records to avoid processing delays and meet established requirements. The information specialist job duties may include analyzing medical documentation to ensure the accuracy and completeness of key information, such as patient identification and procedure medical coding. The health information specialist may use document imaging software in their work.

Many health information specialists perform chart corrections to maintain the integrity of the master patient list and patient medical information. The health information specialist may send back incomplete physician records and complete requests for releases of health information from outside organizations or other healthcare facilities. The health information specialist needs to have strong time management skills that allow them to manage multiple priorities and heavy workloads in high-stress environments.

Health Information Technicians

A health information specialist may start their career as a health information technician. Health information technicians may have job duties that include performing electronic health records keeping duties in accordance with their healthcare organization’s program policies. This means that they prepare, update and maintain accurate medical records and health information for all patients. They answer incoming emails, internal requests and telephone calls for medical records. When it comes to incomplete records, they must send out requests to health care providers to obtain the missing information and make the records accurate and complete.

Medical records technicians need at least one years’ experience in a health care office setting. Knowledge of standard medical record methods, procedures and compliance requirements is expected by employers. In addition to this, job candidates must have knowledge of the sequential operations, documentation requirements and workflow functions to process medical records. Perfect attention to detail and knowledge of medical terminology are a must.

Medical Chronologist

A medical chronologist is an information specialist that examines and analyzes medical and billing records to produce a visual chronology that helps medical experts and health care professionals review legal matters that deal with personal injury and malpractice cases. They analyze and extract important medical data from all pertinent records in order to create an organized chronology that highlights the medical care that was provided to an injured claimant before and after the date of injury. Medical chronologists examine billing records and summarize the costs in reports for medical experts and other health care professionals.

These health information specialists evaluate medical information and records to verify the continuity of health care and find gaps or omissions in treatment. Medical chronologists prepare detailed summaries of all records and verify if the chronology objectives are clearly achieved and in accordance with all applicable policies and procedures. Medical chronologists must be able to comply with established deadlines and legal time frames to complete record reviews. They must be HIPAA certified with training as a legal nurse consultant, clinical research associate or health information specialist.

Medical Records Clerk

Another common entry-level job for future health information specialists is a medical records clerk. Every day, these healthcare industry clerical professionals pull and file medical information as needed for health care providers. They must understand basic medical terminology, type health information correspondence, respond to messages and assist health information specialists perform their duties. An associate’s degree from an accredited associate’s degree program may help enter this field.

Job Outlook and Payscale for a Health Information Specialist

A health information specialist and health information management healthcare professional can expect a robust job outlook. According to labor statistics, the job outlook for the health information specialist and health information technicians is expected to continue growing at 7 percent, which is faster than average for all occupations. This represents projected percent change in employment in this field from 2021 to 2031. The projected average growth rate for all occupations is 5 percent from 2021 to 2031. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay in May 2021 was $46,660 per year. Labor statistics are updated annually.

Important Qualities for a Health Information Specialist

The BLS.gov lists these important qualities to be a successful health information specialist working with healthcare providers of all kinds:

Analytical skills. A health information specialist interprets medical documentation to assess diagnoses, which they then add to the medical coding into a patient’s medical record.

Detail oriented. A health information specialist must be precise about verifying and coding a patient’s important health information. Organizational skills are a must in dealing with patient data and electronic records in physician’s offices.

Integrity. These health information professionals must exercise discretion and act in an ethical way when working with patient health data to protect patient confidentiality. Protecting patient health data is required by law.

Interpersonal skills. A health information specialist needs to have good communication skills and the ability to discuss patient information, information discrepancies, and data requirements with physicians, finance personnel, and other healthcare professionals and workers that are involved in patient care and health information.

How to Become a Health Information Specialist

Although some may qualify for entry level medical records jobs with a high school diploma, some postsecondary certification or education is typically needed to enter this occupation. An associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree is often required, with certification possibly being required or preferred.

Sometimes a high school diploma or equivalent along with experience in a healthcare setting are enough to qualify for some positions. High school students would benefit from taking courses in biology, computer science, and anatomy to ensure basic knowledge in these areas when starting a job search.

Some community colleges and technical schools offer associate’s degrees or certificate programs for medical records specialists. Health IT specialists programs often include courses in medical terminology, health data requirements and standards, and classification and coding systems among other things. There are also bachelor’s degree programs in health information technology or health information management that can pave the way to a career in managing health information.

Employers may prefer to hire those who have certification in addition to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or may expect applicants to earn certification within a certain time period after being hired. Certifications in this field include: Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), and Certified Professional Coder (CPC). Certifications typically require the passing of an exam and may require work experience or education.

Professional Organizations for Health Information Specialists

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is the leading health information professional organization and voice in health information. They work to support this important health information profession through continuing education, certifications, the AHIMA professional journal, and networking opportunities. This organization works to ensure that sensitive health information remain accurate, accessible, protected and complete at all times.

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) works to advance the profession of informatics through promoting informatics education, and provide networking and professional development opportunities. AMIA’s educational programs include conferences and meetings presenting clinical research, patient health information, public health informatics, and other professional health informatics topics.

The American Nurse Informatics Association (ANIA) serves professional nurses and nursing associates working in information science, computer science, and health data management. ANIA works to bring together nurses to improve professional development and provide networking opportunities. ANIA works to improve population health, community and public health, individual health and family health. ANIA produces professional publications, hosts conferences, and supports local ANIA chapters.

The National Institutes of Health Informatics (NIHI) offers resources and professional benefits to health information specialist members, and is a great resource for those considering pursuing this field. The NIHI works to ensure medical care is efficient and accessible. This organization welcomes students, educators and professionals in the field of health information specialist.

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is devoted to “positively transforming health and healthcare” through best practices of information technology. HIMSS conducts initiatives, holds conferences, offers professional development, networking, and literature resources.

The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) is a professional organization made up of health information societies around the world. IMIA publishes documents and guidelines for ethical practices in the profession. The IMIA produces the MedInfo conference and maintains interest groups within the profession.

These professional organizations would be a good place to find information to help you on your career path as a health information specialist.

MPH Staff, Updated October 2022

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