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Multiple Pathways

Health Information Management
Degree Programs for DC Residents

Calendar

CLASSES START
Oct 28th

20-36 Mo.

Program Length

CAHIIM

Accredited1

Online

Format

AS, BS

Degree Pathways

Multiple Pathways

Health Information Management
Degree Programs for DC Residents

Earn a career-focused education in health information management online

DegreesChoose our 20-month associate degree program or 36-month bachelor’s degree program
EligibilityStudents residing in the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for either online program
AccreditationCAHIIM accredited,1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
CertificationPreparation for RHIT (associate level) or RHIA (bachelor’s level) certification
Format100% online courses, in-person internship
QuickPathsTransfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University; future master’s degree options include an MS in Healthcare Administration or MBA
Washington DC health information technologist reviewing patient data with medical team
US News Best Online Programs Bachelor's 2024 Badge

Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online bachelor's programs in 2024

Health Information Management Programs - District of Columbia
US News Best Online Programs Bachelor's 2024 Badge

Find your place in healthcare as a health information management professional

Students residing in the District of Columbia may choose a 20-month associate degree or 36-month bachelor’s degree program in health information management with Herzing University. You can potentially transfer credit from prior college coursework to reduce the time and cost of the program you choose.

We can help you develop the educational building blocks to become a key contributor to delivering and maintaining quality patient care. Discover a new rewarding career path in the field of health information technology and management.

Our roots in online learning

Herzing University has been providing online learning to students throughout the United States since 2003. Every year we work to improve our processes to create strong, supportive online communities of HIM students and faculty eager to help each other succeed in their education and work.

You can become a part of our vibrant online community—we’re thrilled to open our online health information management programs to DC residents.

SVG
Career-focused curriculum

Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.

SVG
Flexible schedule

You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.

SVG
Virtual services

Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.

SVG
Lifelong support

We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.

SVG
Rolling admissions

No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.

Classes Start October 28th

Learn More Today

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Programs

Degree pathways in health information management

Health Information Technologist Reading Notes in File Folder

  • Program length: 20 months
  • Semester credits: 63
  • Aligned certification: RHIT

RHIA with Bachelor's Degree in Health Information Management Reading Files and Notes on Computer

  • Program length: 36 months
  • Semester credits: 124
  • Aligned certification: RHIA

Careers

Career opportunities in health information management and technology in Washington DC

You don’t need to work directly with patients to significantly impact positive patient health outcomes. Health information professionals in the District of Columbia work behind the scenes to manage and improve the processes supporting the doctors, nurses, and additional healthcare staff responsible for delivering clinical care.

Earning a degree in health information management can help you pursue a variety of different types of jobs in the field, including the following as categorized by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Medical Records Specialists

These types of professionals organize and maintain patient files and information. Some RHITs may work as a medical records specialist.


Average salary in DC: $70,900 average salary per year ($34.09 per hour)*

Job outlook in DC: 6.9% increase from 2022-2032**

Health Information Technologists

Health information technicians or technologists create, maintain, and manage health information systems, and may play a role in health data analysis.


Average salary in DC: $86,750 average salary per year ($41.71 per hour)*

Job outlook in DC: 12.5% increase from 2022-2032**

Medical and Health Services Manager

This comprises managerial and administrative leaders in healthcare, including those directly involved in health information management and technology.


Average salary in DC: $170,710 average salary per year ($82.07 per hour)*

Job outlook in DC: 27% increase from 2022-2032, 550 jobs added**

Curriculum

Courses & curriculum details

ProgramMonthsiCredits
Associate of Science in Health Information Management2063
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management36124

i. Average number of months for students to complete program

Associate of Science in HIM curriculum

Required Health Information Management Courses

All courses, 30.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Anatomy and Physiology Courses

All courses, ◊8.00 semester credit hours, are required. (3.00 of these credit hours satisfies Science General Education Requirement).

Required Internship Experience

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

* Enrollment in a student readiness training is required two terms prior to internship course.  Successful completion of training is required prior to internship course enrollment.

Required General Education Courses

Students enrolled in this associate degree must complete a minimum of 24.00 semester credit hours in general education (◊ includes 3.00 credit hours from Anatomy and Physiology listed in above required) distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences ◊ Science Semester Credit Hours are satisfied through Anatomy and Physiology requirement listed above.

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

Bachelor of Science in HIM curriculum

Required Management Core Courses

All courses, 24.00 semester credit hours, are required.

or  3.00 semester credit hours

or  3.00 semester credit hours

or  3.00 semester credit hours

Required Courses in Health Information Management Core

All courses, 45.00 semester credit hours, are required.

Required Anatomy and Physiology Courses

All courses, ◊8.00 semester credit hours, are required. (3.00 of these credit hours satisfies Science General Education Requirement).

Elective Courses

A minimum of 8.00 semester credit hours is required. Students may take any healthcare or health information management, business management, or human resources course. At least 3.00 semester credit hours must be at the 300- or 400-level.

Required Internship Experience

4.00 semester credit hours are required.

* Enrollment in a student readiness training is required two terms prior to internship course.  Successful completion of training is required prior to internship course enrollment.

Required Courses in General Education

Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 36.00 semester credit hours in general education (◊ includes 3.0 credit hours from Anatomy and Physiology listed in above required) distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 12.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences ◊ Science Semester Credit Hours are satisfied through Anatomy and Physiology requirement listed above.

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

Certification

One of our primary goals is to prepare you to earn the HIM certification that’s right for you

Preparing you for American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) certifications is a crucial component of our health information management curriculums.

Earning certification proves your proficiency in the subject matter and shows potential employers you’ve got the knowledge and skills to succeed at the job.

Medical coder taking notes in file

Requirements

Admissions requirements

Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Health Information Management associate degree or bachelor’s degree program include:

  • Completed high school diploma, GED or equivalent
  • Meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor
  • Complete an enrollment application

Classes Start October 28th

Waived Enrollment Fee
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Health information management is the collection analysis, storage and protection of the quality of patient health information. This information can be either paper-based, a combination of paper and digital (hybrid) or as is more often the case, a fully electronic health record (EHR).

HIM professionals are using advanced technology as they perform most HIM-related functions. The HIM professional must have a wide range of knowledge, including HIPAA laws that protect patient privacy, data analysis and how to harness computer systems that collect data.

Learn more about what health information management is, including additional information regarding potential career paths.

There are many potential jobs you can pursue in health information management after earning a degree. Keep in mind every employer will have their own qualification requirements in terms of experience and education. Potential job titles include:

  • Health Information Technician
  • Health Information Clerk
  • HIM Consultant
  • HIM Director
  • Medical Records Technician
  • Patient Care Coordinator
  • Patient Information Coordinator

Yes. Both the associate and bachelor’s degree curriculums contain coursework on diagnostic (ICD-10-CM, DSM-IV, Snomed, ICD-O) and procedural coding (ICD10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS). These are introductory courses designed to familiarize students with the relationship between the coding and reimbursement processes.

If you are interested in medical billing and coding-specific jobs, you may also consider diploma or associate degree program options in billing and coding.

If you’re looking for a faster start in HIM and pursue a job as a health information technician, the associate degree pathway may be the best choice for you.

Those who already hold a degree in another field or have ambition to pursue managerial-level positions in HIM may be more interested in the bachelor’s degree pathway. It’s all a matter of where you are now and where you want to be.

Our admissions team can help you determine the best path forward. We are here to help you find the educational pathway to your highest career goals.

There are a few primary differences between medical billing and coding and health information management.

Those who work in medical billing and coding, who may be referred to as medical records specialists, play a key role in the healthcare revenue cycle, ensuring Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are assembled accurately and entered into health information systems properly. They communicate with healthcare staff, insurance companies, and patients to best represent services provided (coding) and secure payment for those services (billers).

Health Information Management professionals (sometimes referred to as Health Information Technology – HIT) are responsible for maintaining, analyzing, and optimizing these systems. Their role is more on the backend, emphasizing informatics and Information Technology (IT). These professionals create, manage, and analyze the systems billers and coders rely on to maintain the Electronic Health Record (EHR). They can also play a wider role in data analysis, management, protection, and administration of patient health information.

With Herzing University you are never alone. It’s our goal to provide all students an affordable, career-driven education. Financial aid options include:

You can find an estimate for tuition and expenses by using the Herzing University tuition wizard.

The primary difference is:

  • Healthcare management refers to the practices and procedures involved with operating and supervising hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
  • Health information management involves the collection, analysis, maintenance and security of a healthcare facility’s billing, research, quality improvement and credentialing.

Both fields combine high-level business and day-to-day functions of a healthcare environment to support the delivery of excellent patient care.

Discover more details about the difference between healthcare management vs. health information management.

Disclosures

1. The Health Information Management accreditor of Herzing University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for the Associate of Science degree and the Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2030-2031. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at 312.235.3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals

* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.

** Projections Central, Long-Term Projections (2022-2032). Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work, and degree field will affect career outcomes. Herzing does not guarantee that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, or other career growth.

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