From Health Information Manager to Director - HIM Career Advancement (2023)

coding director

• Professional duties:These professionals monitor the quality of the coding and the integrity of the data; ensure documentation and coding practices are in line with national coding and compliance guidelines; providing training for programmers and clinicians on proper documentation procedures; and oversee all coding and documentation reviews. They should have a working knowledge of the Manual of the International Classification of Diseases (among other manuals) and serve as a liaison between clinical and administrative professionals in health centers.
• Who fits well:Former HIM directors with an unwavering attention to detail and the ability to enforce compliance across a diverse group of healthcare professionals will be most likely to succeed in this role. You must be excellent communicators and able to ensure smooth relationships between health information teams and physicians.
• Earning Opportunities: Lohnskal(February 2017), a website that relies on self-reported salary data, found the following salary percentiles among the 44 responding coding directors:
  • 10th percentile: $64,000
  • 25th percentile: $75,000
  • 50. Perzentil (Median): 102.208 $
  • 75th percentile: $120,000
  • 90th percentile: $130,000

Director of HIM

• Professional duties:These professionals manage all operations of HIM; develop revenue cycle policies and procedures; and initiate improvements and standardization of the workflow. You will oversee multiple departments while ensuring compliance with all local and state regulations. monitoring performance relative to competitors; Creation and maintenance of patient data recording systems; contribute to the development of the budget; and keep up to date with various regulatory requirements such as HIPAA and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO).
• Who fits well:HIM director opportunities are open to HIM managers with three to five years of coding or medical records experience, particularly those with advanced knowledge of compliance standards, coding systems, transcription, disclosure regulations, privacy and security rules, and information management. procedures and patient education.
• Earning Opportunities:Based on an analysis of 422 responding HIM directors,Lohnskal(2017) found the following salary percentiles:
  • 10th percentile: $41,000
  • 25th percentile: $51,000
  • 50. Perzentil (Median): 69.975 $
  • 75th percentile: $87,000
  • 90th percentile: $110,000

Oddly enoughsalario.com(2017) found significantly higher salary percentiles for medical records managers, a closely related occupation:

• 10th percentile: $85,505
• 25th percentile: $99,305
• 50. Perzentil (Median): 114.462 $
• 75th percentile: $131,340
• 90th percentile: $146,706

Keep in mind that experienced HIM directors can advance to positions like Director of Learning or Director of Compliance, where they have the potential to make even more money.

Risk Management Director

• Professional duties:These healthcare professionals analyze risk management data and trends to identify opportunities to improve performance; Development and management of all usage management programs; training of staff on risk management norms and standards; coordinate the reporting of incidents; implement policies and procedures for reviewing concurrent and retrospective cases; and to develop clinical best practice protocols. You must be an expert on regulations, standards and patients' rights and be able to analyze large amounts of information about the use of medical services and resources. They may also be referred to as utilization management, risk analysis, or performance improvement managers.
• Who fits well:The best candidates for these positions are HIM managers with at least a bachelor's degree in a clinical or healthcare-related field and a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), CCS-P, or Certified Healthcare Professional Quality (CPHQ) degree. ). In addition, directors for risk management openings typically require at least three years of relevant work experience in risk analysis and HIM, ideally 5-10 years total in a healthcare setting.
• Earning Opportunities:Based on an analysis of 144 responding CROs,Lohnskal(2017) found the following salary percentiles. Note that these managers included across different industries and were not limited to healthcare workers:
  • 10th percentile: $72,000
  • 25th percentile: $91,000
  • 50. Perzentil (Median): 114.503 $
  • 75th percentile: $140,000
  • 90th percentile: $160,000

salario.com(2017) found slightly higher salary percentiles for directors of risk management:

• 10th percentile: $94,578
• 25th percentile: $109,806
• 50. Perzentil (Median): 126.532 $
• 75th percentile: $146,036
• 90th percentile: $163,794

Tips for climbing the career ladder

To advance your career from leading HIM to one of the more advanced positions listed above, keep these seven tips in mind:

1. Gather the necessary experience.Most director-level HIM positions require a minimum of 5-7 years of experience. Gain as much experience as possible in the early years of your career. This can mean working in a variety of HIM environments and specialties. Cross-sectional skills are a major advantage when competing for director-level positions, as a multivariate background encourages coordination across different departments.

2. Consider going back to school.Some HIM managers eventually choose to pursue a master's degree in HIM, data science, or a variety of other disciplines. Some are doing PhDs in computer science, biostatistics, bioinformatics, or bioengineering. A master's or doctorate degree helps you differentiate yourself from other professionals, and these degrees demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and leadership skills. For this purpose there are a variety of convenient onesOnline Health Informatics Programsin different stages, many of which can be completed by keeping the job.

3. Seek on-the-job training.Even if you don't have the experience to move into a more advanced role, ask someone who already has that role if you can follow them. HIM professionals who have made it to the top of the corporate ladder are often happy to serve as mentors to others who are simply trying to gain experience. For example, can you attend selected meetings with this mentor? Help with investigations or reports? Do you offer training in-house, at annual conferences, or during vendor-sponsored webinars?

4. Improve your project management skills.Project management skills are a must, regardless of the role you ultimately seek. These are especially valuable at manager level, as HIM professionals in these roles need to be able to gain stakeholder buy-in, develop project budgets and timelines, define roles and responsibilities, track progress, and confirm if results are achieved be fulfilled.

5. Take the initiative voluntarily.Sometimes it can be helpful to take on more responsibility in your current role to pave the way to the desired position. What challenges is your organization facing and how can you help? For example, do doctors have problems with the documentation of certain diagnoses or interventions? If so, can you send email reminders or post quick tips in clinical areas to educate physicians and executives about your specialties?

6. Obtain another HIM entitlement.additionally huntHIM certificationsIt says a lot about your own competence and motivation. Online programs can be particularly appealing to working professionals who want to continue their work while enhancing their qualifications and skills.

7. Consider moving.Even if you're not ready (or qualified) for career advancement, many HIM managers find they can make more money working for a larger facility in an urban area.

Above all, curiosity and motivation combined with a commitment to lifelong learning can help you achieve your professional goals. Because in the dynamic field of HIM, ever-changing healthcare codes, regulations, and standards require an ongoing commitment to maintaining up-to-date expertise.

Editor's note:For more information on career paths at HIM, seeAHIMA Student and Career Center.

Lisa A. We were writer

Lisa A. Eramo, BA, MA is a full-time freelance healthcare writer specializing in healthcare information management, medical coding and regulatory issues. He regularly contributes to various healthcare publications and assists clients in developing healthcare content including blogs, articles, white papers, case studies and more. Visit their website atwww.lisaeramo.com.

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