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Health information manager vs health information technician

The differences between health information managers and health information technicians 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 technician. Additionally, a health information manager has an average salary of $63,401, which is higher than the $34,604 average annual salary of a health information technician.

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

Health information manager vs health information technician overview

Health Information ManagerHealth Information Technician
Yearly salary$63,401$34,604
Hourly rate$30.48$16.64
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs121,247120,786
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Associate Degree, 41%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

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 technician do?

A health information technician is primarily responsible for managing and handling patient information, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality. They coordinate with various health care workers to gather patient data, laboratory results, test findings, and medical histories, encoding them in clinical databases in a timely and efficient manner. They must analyze every information to detect any inconsistencies, performing corrective measures right away. Furthermore, as a health information technician, it is essential to utilize particular software and systems when processing information, all while adhering to the hospital's policies and regulations.

Health information manager vs health information technician salary

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

Health Information ManagerHealth Information Technician
Average salary$63,401$34,604
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $103,000Between $26,000 And $45,000
Highest paying CityFarmington, CTFairbanks, AK
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyHuron Consulting GroupStifel Financial
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between health information manager and health information technician education

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

Health Information ManagerHealth Information Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 43%Associate Degree, 41%
Most common majorComputer Information SystemsHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Health information manager vs health information technician demographics

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

Health Information ManagerHealth Information Technician
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 16.9% Female, 83.1%Male, 16.5% Female, 83.5%
Race ratioBlack 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, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between health information manager and health information technician 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).
  • Show more

Health information technician example responsibilities.

  • Maximize ROI by effectively managing the microfiche process.
  • Assist patients and staff on filling out ROI's, and explain what exactly are being release or obtain.
  • Perform analysis and assembly of emergency room and surgery records and release records according to HIPAA regulations and confidentially.
  • Input data into a windows base in-house system.
  • Scan medical records in the EHR using the NEXTGEN software.
  • Attend advanced SQL coding workshops to optimize and refine database infrastructure.
  • Show more

Health information manager vs health information technician skills

Common health information manager skills
  • Patients, 23%
  • Transcription, 10%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Chart Completion, 5%
  • ICD-10, 4%
Common health information technician skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • Medical Terminology, 13%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • HIPAA, 9%
  • Patient Care, 7%
  • Data Entry, 5%

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