Health Informatics FAQs

In order to be eligible for the AHIMA professional HIM certification exam - the RHIT - Registered Health Information Technician, you must be a graduate of a CAHIIM-accredited HIT program. In addition, graduating from a CAHIIM-accredited HIT program assures your employer that you have the professional skills and knowledge from a curriculum that is relevant to the current electronic health record (EHR) environment.

Please visit the NAHUC website, for more information: http://www.nahuc.org

Payscale.com lists health unit coordinator salaries as reaching an impressive $40,500 per year, with $22,350 being the low end of the pay scale for those entering these positions. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the demand for these professionals will rise by 36 percent over the next decade.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Health_Unit_Coordinator/Hourly_Rate

Yes, during the last 4 weeks of the HUC program, there is a 160-hour onsite practicum located at a healthcare organization. 

Please visit the AHDI website, for more information: http://www.ahdionline.org/

The average wage for a Medical Transcriptionist is $15.19 per hour. The skills that increase pay for this job the most are neurology and Pathology. Pay for this job does not change much by experience, with the most experienced earning only a bit more than the least.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Transcriptionist/Hourly_Rate

According to the AHDI website, “Medical transcriptionists work in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, transcription services, insurance companies, home healthcare agencies, and other locations where dictation for the purpose of healthcare documentation requires transcription. Many MTs work from their homes as independent contractors, subcontractors, or home-based employees.”

Please visit the AHIMA website, for more information: http://www.ahima.org/careers

The average rate for a Medical Coder is $16.68 per hour. People in this job generally don't have more than 20 years experience. The skills that increase pay for this job the most are coding, surgical coding, medicine / surgery, and collections.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Coder/Hourly_Rate

The professional Medical Coder can work across all healthcare settings. These medical coding positions may be located within the healthcare facility or from a remote location.

Please visit the AHIMA website, for more information: http://www.ahima.org/careers

The Health Information Technician can work across all healthcare settings in a variety of healthcare organizations.