Health Informatics California – CA
Health Informatics is one of the fastest growing industries in America today and this is no exception in California. Health Informatics professionals carry out the collection and modeling of all hospital and administrative data in educational, institutional, and medical settings. Additionally, Health Informatics workers are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of medical records. They work in a wide variety of settings, from government agencies to prisons to mental health facilities, emergency clinics, education, and legal counsel. In California , the job outlook for health informatics professionals is strong, and according to the BLS, from 2008-2018 the field is expected to increase in the number of jobs by 21.9%.
California Health Informatics Links
Health Care Informatics Training in CA
You may be interested in looking at health informatics degree programs in CA that are accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, or (CAHIIM) . This agency of professionals is highly respected, and CAHIIM graduates potentially may have a greater job outlook than graduates from other Health Information Technology programs. Benefits of earning CAHIIM certification come from membership in the California chapter of the American Health Information Management Association, or AHIMA. Members of AHIMA have a connection to a community of their fellow professionals, in addition to access to AHIMA-exclusive job listings. See California’s AHIMA website, http://www.californiahia.org.
Upon completion of an Associate’s Degree and successful completion of the CAHIIM examination, graduates become Registered Health Information Technicians, or RHIT. Due to its size, California has many health informatics programs to choose from at the associate’s level. CAHIIM-approved Associate Degrees in Health Information Technology (HIT) are offered by Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, City College of San Francisco, Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, Cypress College, DeVry University-Pomona, East Los Angeles College, Fresno City College, San Diego Mesa College, and Santa Barbara City College. Additionally, ITT Technical Institute offers CAHIIM-approved programs at their campuses in Orange, Oxnard, San Bernardino, San Dimas, and Sylmar. These two-year programs follow a general course set by CAHIIM, with coursework in medical coding, human anatomy & physiology, legal issues, medical ethics, and pharmacology. The ITT Technical Institute program, for instance, follows a track of coursework in human anatomy & physiology, human diseases, medical and drug terminology, coding, and health care reimbursement systems. Information for most of these and other schools program specifics can be found below
Health Informatics Salary in California
In California, registered Health Information Technician salaries can vary considerably, but at entry level, they earn an average of $18.53 per hour, or about $38,550 a year. Experienced professionals in the tenth percentile earn up to $28.89 an hour, or $60,000 annually.
At the Bachelor’s level, Loma Linda University’s School of Allied Health offers a degree in Health Information Administration. In other words, this degree prepares students to pass the CAHIIM exam and become Registered Health Information Administrators, or RHIA. This program offers more advanced study than Associate’s Degree programs, with coursework in pharmacology, healthcare statistical applications, HIV/AIDS and the Healthcare Professional, information management, and human resource management. Additionally, this Christian university requires at least two courses in religion, one in Religious Studies and one in Christian Ethics in Healthcare.
At the Master’s level, Claremont Graduate University offers a Master’s in Health Information Management. This program prepares professionals for the RHIA examination, and coursework includes information systems analysis and design, database concepts, medical informatics, bio statistics, and telemedicine.
Registered Health Information Administrators have the highest earning potential in the field, with an average hourly wage of $48.76, or $101,400 a year. The professionals with years of experience—those in the top 10%—earn up to $77.79 hourly, or $161,800 annually.
*Salary Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics and California Labor Market, California Occupational Guide
