Health information manager vs health information specialist

The differences between health information managers 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 a health information manager and a health information specialist. Additionally, a health information manager has an average salary of $63,401, which is higher than the $33,343 average annual salary of a health information specialist.

The top three skills for a health information manager include patients, transcription and patient care. The most important skills for a health information specialist are patients, HIPAA, and medical terminology.

Health information manager vs health information specialist overview

	Health Information Manager	Health Information Specialist
Yearly salary	$63,401	$33,343
Hourly rate	$30.48	$16.03
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	121,247	135,448
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	12	12

What does a health information manager do?

A Health Information Manager is someone who processes and safeguards patient information records. A health facility needs to secure patient records as it is confidential. A health information manager creates and implements policies in recording and documenting patient records and retrieve them upon request of a physician for a diagnosis. The health information manager also ensures that all patient information acquired by the healthcare facility is stored securely, adhering to all state and federal laws concerning data privacy.

What does a health information specialist do?

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.

Health information manager vs health information specialist salary

Health information managers and health information specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Health Information Manager	Health Information Specialist
Average salary	$63,401	$33,343
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $103,000	Between $25,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Farmington, CT	San Jose, CA
Highest paying state	Connecticut	California
Best paying company	Huron Consulting Group	University of California
Best paying industry	Health Care	Health Care

Differences between health information manager and health information specialist education

There are a few differences between a health information manager and a health information specialist in terms of educational background:

	Health Information Manager	Health Information Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common major	Computer Information Systems	Health Care Administration
Most common college	University of Southern California	University of Southern California

Health information manager vs health information specialist demographics

Here are the differences between health information managers' and health information specialists' demographics:

	Health Information Manager	Health Information Specialist
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 16.9% Female, 83.1%	Male, 15.1% Female, 84.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 8.3% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%	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%

Differences between health information manager and health information specialist duties and responsibilities

Health information manager example responsibilities.

Manage discharged medical records and confidentiality of records as per HIPAA regulations.
Achieve this goal by providing clear policies/justification for initiatives which impact designated FTE's.
Maintain integrity of CPT coding, payer contracts and library builds.
Compile & generate statistical reports for ROI purposes & physician re-appointments.
Ensure correct assignment of ICD-9-CM diagnosis code/s and sequencing of admission diagnosis for billing.
Serve as an integral part of the ICD-10 implementation team for the facility (ongoing).

Health information specialist example responsibilities.

Manage chart completion (ICD-9-CM and CPT coding/abstracting), chart assembly and analysis, patient admission and patient information privacy/security.
Review and audit medical records for correct DRG and APC assignment.
Certify requests for subpoenas, court orders, legal cases and training of employees.
Utilize Cerner and Centricity systems to assist in ancillary services.
Abstract medical records with ICD9-CM, CPT and DRG coding.
Scan documentation via DCS into HPF to be index under ROI.

Health information manager vs health information specialist skills

Common health information manager skills

Patients, 23%
Transcription, 10%
Patient Care, 7%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Chart Completion, 5%
ICD-10, 4%

Common health information specialist skills

Patients, 26%
HIPAA, 11%
Medical Terminology, 10%
Patient Care, 10%
Data Entry, 4%
Office Equipment, 3%

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Health Information Manager
Health Information Manager vs Health Information Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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