Health Information Administration

Description of the Profession

Health information professionals play a key role in maintaining, collecting, interpreting, analyzing and protecting healthcare data. They are experts in coding and classification systems, management of patient health information, and administration of computer information systems. They also interact with clinical, financial, administrative, information technology, and legal staff to interpret data for patient care, research, statistical reporting, and database content development.

Skills and Characteristics Important to this Profession

Excellent attention to detail, the ability to multitask and function efficiently within a software and technology-driven environment, effective interpersonal communication, and the ability to work independently as well as cooperatively.

Description of the Indiana University Health Information Administration Program

IU Bloomington does not offer a Health Information Administration (HIA) program, but pre-HIA students may complete the prerequisites at IUB and then transfer to complete the degree through the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) School of Informatics. The course of study requires the completion of 62 credit hours of pre-requisite work at IUB or another campus / college. Once admitted to the HIA program, students complete 60 hours (2 years) of professional work in the IUPUI School of Informatics.

Other Accredited Programs

For a listing of accredited masters, baccalaureate, and associate degree level HIA programs, visit the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education website.

Additional Notes and Recommendations

Job Shadowing / Observation

Job shadowing / observation is the best way for you to get a first hand look at a given profession and determine whether or not it is one you wish to look into further. HPPLC advisors strongly encourage you to take advantage of any such opportunities that arise during high school; or, if you are already in college, to arrange shadowing / observation as soon as possible. Refer to the PDF document below for further shadowing / observation information.

Further Information

Refer to the HPPLC Health Information Administration handout for more detailed information about prerequisite courses, application and admission information, and for additional resources.

If you are interested in other health professions that are advised through HPPLC, we encourage you to sign up for the HPPLC email list associated with your program(s) of interest. Feel free to sign up for more than one list. Also refer to the HPPLC handout, Health Professions Descriptions.