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The differences between activity therapists and health information specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both an activity therapist and a health information specialist. Additionally, an activity therapist has an average salary of $54,001, which is higher than the $33,343 average annual salary of a health information specialist.
The top three skills for an activity therapist include patients, mental health and rehabilitation. The most important skills for a health information specialist are patients, HIPAA, and medical terminology.
| Activity Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $54,001 | $33,343 |
| Hourly rate | $25.96 | $16.03 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 25,092 | 135,448 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
An Activity Therapist specializes in organizing set activities for patients in hospitals or those undergoing therapy. Recreational activities are essential for uplifting patients' moods and recuperating mentality from the stresses involved with medication and hospitalization. An activity therapist outlines a list of activities customized for the types of patients that will join the activity. Activity Therapists coordinate with other physicians, therapists, and psychologists to better develop activities that benefit everyone.
A health information specialist is in charge of overseeing and developing strategies to optimize information management procedures in hospitals, physicians' offices, and other similar environments. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering and updating medical records, receiving and organizing files, and updating databases according to the appropriate coding systems and procedures. Furthermore, as a health information specialist, it is essential to coordinate with nurses and other staff to ensure accuracy in documentation, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Activity therapists and health information specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Activity Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average salary | $54,001 | $33,343 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $78,000 | Between $25,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Jose, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | University of California |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an activity therapist and a health information specialist in terms of educational background:
| Activity Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Rehabilitation Science | Health Care Administration |
| Most common college | Columbia University in the City of New York | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between activity therapists' and health information specialists' demographics:
| Activity Therapist | Health Information Specialist | |
| Average age | 43 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.8% Female, 74.2% | Male, 15.1% Female, 84.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.5% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.2% Asian, 3.3% White, 74.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |