Which Schools Have Online Medical Records Management Degree Programs?

Individuals interested in working in the medical field but who do not want to work in a clinical capacity can pursue a degree in medical records management. Students in these degree programs learn how to efficiently and legally manage patient health records, perform coding and billing procedures, and handle other administrative duties.

Overview of Schools Offering Online Medical Records Management Degrees

A degree program in medical records management, also known as health information management (HIM) and health information administration (HIA), equips students for jobs in healthcare-related offices, organizations and companies. Several online degree programs in medical records management are offered by institutions located in the eastern half of the country.

Important Facts About Online Degree Programs in Medical Records Management

Degree Levels	Undergraduate and graduate
Prerequisites	Varies depending on the intended program of enrollment; for example, a high school diploma or GED and SAT/ACT scores are required for an undergraduate degree program.
Online Options	Fully online and hybrid format
Continuing Education	Required every two years for HIM graduates who become licensed cancer registrars
Median Salary (2021)	$46,660 (Medical Records and Health Information Technicians)
Job Outlook (2021-2031)	7% (Medical Records and Health Information Technicians)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

State University of New York

State University of New York's Polytechnic Institute awards a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Bachelor of Professional Studies (B.P.S.) in Health Information Management. Online students who have completed 2-year liberal arts programs with emphases in the natural sciences usually enroll in the B.S. program, while those who have completed a 2-year health information technology program opt for the B.P.S. degree. In both programs, students will take courses addressing electronic health records, medical information systems, inpatient and outpatient coding and classification, data management and health information services management.

University of Cincinnati

The University of Cincinnati offers a Bachelor of Science 'completion' degree for students who have completed 2-year programs leading to certification as Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs). After completion of the B.S. program, students may take the Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) certification exam through the university.

Louisiana Tech University

Louisiana Tech University awards both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in the field of Medical Records Management. The B.S. program in Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) requires 12 quarters of online study, plus practical experience that requires one quarter off campus at different healthcare sites. Students enrolling in the non-thesis online Master of Health Informatics (MHI) may be required to complete foundational courses in Health Information Management prior to starting the program, if they don't have a bachelor's degree in the field. From there they complete the graduate coursework as normal.

University of Illinois

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program at University of Illinois Chicago can be taken on campus or online. Full-time students can earn this degree in two years. Course topics students could expect to discuss in this program include healthcare data analysis, coding and classification systems, medical terminology, alternative health records and health informatics.