Registered Health Information Administrator Certification and School
Registered health information administrators use technology to provide solutions for patient privacy and healthcare processes. Read more to find out about a career as a registered health information administrator, including education programs and the professional certification exam.
What You Need to Know
A registered health information administrator (RHIA) manages patient records. Most patient files are electronic, but the job can also sometimes include paper filing. You will apply information technology to keep accurate patient records for use by doctors, healthcare facilities and insurance providers.
<table border="1"><tr><td><b>Courses</b></td><td> Data collection, health data management, computer systems related to healthcare; medical coding; finance and budgeting</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Degrees</b></td><td> For eligibility, a bachelor's degree in health information technology or health informatics will be required; certificates are also available</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Certification</b></td><td> Exam given by the American Health Information Management Association</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---WhatEducationDoINeedToBecomeRegistered">What Education Do I Need to Become Registered?</h3><p>You will need to have a bachelor's degree in health information technology or health informatics to be eligible to earn the RHIA designation. You should take courses in ethics and computer systems related to healthcare. If you are not already an RHIT, you should also take courses in medical coding and terminology. You will also learn the government rules and regulations for managing patient privacy.
</p><p>There are accredited online and traditional programs available, as well as programs for part-time and full-time students. Your school should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management.
</p><p>Some topics you'll be covering are listed as follows:
</p><ul><li>Data collection tools
</li><li>Health data management
</li><li>Reimbursement methodologies
</li><li>Finance
</li><li>Budgeting
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatStepsWillINeedToBecomeRegistered">What Steps Will I Need to Become Registered?</h3><p>With your bachelor's degree in health information technology, you will have to take a certification exam administered by the American Health Information Management Association to become registered. You will have to take a 180-question multiple-choice exam, which will feature 160 scored questions and 20 pre-test questions. Some topics that you will be tested include:
</p><ul><li>Patient security
</li><li>Database design
</li><li>Human resource management
</li><li>Integrating multiple systems
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhichSchoolsOfferRegisterHealthInformationAdministratorPrograms">Which Schools Offer Register Health Information Administrator Programs?</h3><p>You can find programs to prepare for certification at various colleges across the country. Online options also exist. The following schools may provide opportunities for you to gain credentials in this field:
</p><ul><li>Pennsylvania College of Technology
</li><li>University of Cincinnati
</li><li>University of Illinois
</li><li>Clarkson College
</li><li>Long Island University
</li></ul><h3 id="section---WhatSkillsWillIUse">What Skills Will I Use?</h3><p>In addition to your knowledge of healthcare software, you may apply your knowledge of medical terminology and the administrative processes that make hospitals run. You may also be responsible for managing staff. RHIA is the next professional step for those who are already registered health information technicians (RHIT). If you are an RHIT, you should already have knowledge of anatomy, medical coding and terminology.</p>