Health Information Technician Certification
Usually, health information technicians--professionals responsible for collecting, storing and maintaining the medical information of patients--have at least an associate degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Employers, however, prefer to hire candidates with certification as well. There are a number of professional organizations that offer credentials, which usually requires passing an exam.
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RHIT
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The most common type of certification is the Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) credential. This can be obtained from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and candidates should have at least an associate degree from a CAHIIM-accredited health information technician program. RHITs with a bachelor's degree have a much greater chance of advancement to management positions in medical facilities.
Coding
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Some health information technicians specialize in coding, which involves assigning codes to medical diagnoses and procedures in computer systems for reimbursement to the health care provider. These types of health information technicians are specifically referred to as medical coders or medical coding specialists. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is the largest professional association that provides medical coding credentialing.
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Coding Areas
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Health information technicians can choose specialties within medical coding. For example, the AAPC offers the generalized Certified Professional Coder, but it offers the Outpatient Hospital, Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder and Medical Coder specialties, as well. There is also the Payer option for those interested in both coding and billing.
Diseases
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Some health information technician associations focus solely on diseases. For instance, the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) offers credentialing to become a Certified Tumor Registrar, or CTR. This certification is for those who deal with the medical information of cancer patients.
Certification Maintenance
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Most certified health information technicians must go through re-certification and continuing education for the rest of their careers to maintain their credentials. This is done to keep certified health information technicians aware of new developments in the field so that their skills are continuously enhanced.
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