What Does a Health Information Manager Do?

If you’re exploring career options in health care, you might be interested in the field of health information management and the role of a health information manager. These professionals may help ensure that patient health information data is accurate, complete, and protected, while supporting healthcare providers and other healthcare professionals in using health information systems and electronic health records (EHRs).¹

Understanding what a health information manager does can give you insight into the roles and responsibilities, skills, work settings, and educational pathways involved in this field. It may also clarify how these professionals interact with healthcare teams, administrative staff, and technology systems to support quality patient care.

Roles and Responsibilities of Health Information Managers

Health information managers typically work to maintain and manage patient records, electronic health records, and other medical information that is essential to healthcare delivery. Their work may involve collaborating with healthcare professionals, medical coders, and IT staff to ensure accurate medical records and secure patient information.²

Typical responsibilities for a health information manager may include:²

• Designing, developing, testing, and implementing health information technology applications, data structures, and decision-support tools that help healthcare providers and other healthcare professionals manage patient information.
• Evaluating or refining health information systems and processes to enhance information management and interactions.
• Analyzing and processing large datasets using statistical and analytical software to identify trends, relationships, or factors affecting patient care or healthcare operations.
• Depending on their role and organizational needs, some HIMs may assist in data analysis initiatives to support predictive models and data-driven decisions in healthcare management.
• Creating visualizations, reports, and presentations to communicate findings from healthcare data analysis to managers, clinicians, or other stakeholders.
• Designing surveys or instruments to collect health information, and recommending data-driven solutions to address clinical or administrative challenges.
• Testing, validating, and refining models or applications to ensure accurate medical data predictions and support quality patient care.
• Writing or customizing software tools to conduct analyses and implement healthcare information management solutions for operational or clinical challenges.

Specific responsibilities may vary depending on employer, healthcare setting, and level of experience.

Through these activities, health information managers may contribute to the accuracy of medical records, healthcare data quality, and the use of health information systems to support patient care, clinical decision-making, and healthcare operations.²

Common Skills for Health Information Managers

Health information managers may develop a range of specialized skills that support healthcare information management and quality patient care, drawing on areas such as:³

• Data and Information Governance: Understanding emerging technologies that affect how patient information is collected, shared, and used, including telehealth tools, wearable devices, and digital engagement platforms.
• Information Protection and Security: Evaluating privacy and security strategies to protect patient health information data and electronic medical records in compliance with requirements.
• Health Law and Compliance: Interpreting compliance expectations and recommending privacy practices throughout the health information life cycle.
• Leadership and Management: Assessing strategies, policies, and processes for human resources, project management, performance improvement, ethical standards, and organizational culture.
• Healthcare Data Analytics and Informatics: Examining how technology supports the management and interpretation of health information and healthcare data for reporting and decision‑making.
• Revenue Cycle and Financial Management: Understanding the flow of revenue and reimbursement processes that affect operations across a healthcare organization.

These skills may help health information managers ensure that health information systems, patient records, and healthcare data are accurate, secure, and effectively used to support healthcare services.

Typical Work Settings for Health Information Managers

Health information professionals may work within healthcare provider organizations, including large hospital systems and private physician practices.¹

In these settings, health information managers may be involved in daily operations management of health information systems and electronic health records, helping healthcare providers and other healthcare professionals access patient information safely.¹

How To Become a Health Information Manager

Becoming a health information manager typically involves earning a bachelor’s degree in health information management. Coursework may cover topics like electronic health records, health data, health information systems, and the administrative aspects of managing patient information and clinical data.³

Students in a bachelor’s program might study areas such as leadership and management, health information security and privacy, health law and compliance, and healthcare technology applications; all of which relate to information governance and daily operations management in healthcare organizations.³

Professional Development for Health Information Managers

For those pursuing a career in health information management, professional development may play a critical role in maintaining and advancing expertise. Health information managers often work in rapidly evolving healthcare technology environments, where electronic health records, health information systems, and healthcare data analytics are continually advancing.⁴

Key areas for professional growth may include:

• Continuing Education: Engaging in courses or workshops on health informatics, data management, medical coding, and healthcare technology to stay current with emerging trends and regulatory requirements.⁴
• Leadership and Management Skills: Building competencies in team leadership, project management, and organizational strategy to contribute to healthcare delivery improvements and support daily operations management.⁴
• Evidence-Based Practice and Data Analysis: Developing skills in evaluating and applying research, performing healthcare data analysis, and using clinical data to inform decisions in patient care and healthcare operations.⁴
• Information Governance and Ethics: Strengthening knowledge of privacy, security, and compliance in handling patient health information data and electronic medical records.⁴
• Professional Networking and Mentorship: Connecting with professional associations, such as American Health Information Management Association^® (AHIMA^®) or the Medical Library Association (MLA), attending conferences, and seeking mentorship opportunities to collaborate with health information professionals and other healthcare professionals.⁴
• Certification and Credentialing: Pursuing credentials like the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA^®) or Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT^®) to validate expertise.³

By engaging in these professional development activities, health information managers may choose to pursue continuous learning and skill-building in their field.

Understanding the Role of a Health Information Manager

Health information managers support healthcare delivery by ensuring that patient health information data, electronic health records, and clinical data are accurate, secure, and accessible. They may work in large hospital systems or private physician practices, collaborating with healthcare teams, administrative staff, and information technology personnel to maintain healthcare data quality and support healthcare operations.¹

Through their work, health information managers may support patient care by helping maintain accurate, secure and accessible health information systems.

American Health Information Management Association^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.
AHIMA^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.
RHIA^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.
RHIT^® is a registered trademark of American Health Information Management Association 201 West Lake Street, #226, Chicago, Illinois, United States 60606.

¹American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA^®), Health Information 101, at https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certifications-overview/career-tools/career-pages/health-information-101 (accessed Feb. 25, 2026).
²American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA^®), Discover Health Informatics, at https://www.ahima.org/media/idjfpog5/healthinformatics_nobleed.pdf (accessed Feb. 25, 2026).
³Rasmussen University, Health Information Management Bachelor’s Degree Online, at https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/health-information-management/bachelors (accessed Feb. 25, 2026).
⁴The Medical Library Association (MLA), MLA Competencies, at https://www.mlanet.org/professional-development/mla-competencies/# (accessed Feb. 25, 2026).