Benefits of RHIA Credential?

[scrabblern, RN]

Hi everyone,

In January I will start studying toward a one-year graduate certificate in Clinical Informatics at Oregon Health Science University. I am currently an RN with a little over four years of experience. I have also worked as a Systems Analyst for about two and a half years going to Nursing school. So here I am, attempting to merge the past and current knowledge.

The University's Clinical Informatics program offers several tracks (R&D Scientist, Clinical Leader, Programmer, etc.) amongst which is the Health Information Management and Exchange Specialist track. According to the Department all other tracks require a 20hr/week study commitment, while the HIM track requires 30hr/week. The HIM track also allows graduates to sit for the RHIA credential.

Given that I work full-time an extra ten hours per week of studying is definitely a concern. I am already wondering if I should work part-time while I am in school.

I wanted to ask the professionals in Informatics field the following question: What are the real-life benefits of posessing the RHIA credential? Does the credential justify the extra 520 hours of study over the next year?

Thank you!

Jelena

[rninformatics, DNP, RN]

Greetings Jelena,

"Does the credential justify the extra 520 hours of study over the next year?"

In answer to your question - first what exactly is it you want to do after you complete the certificate program?

Which area of informatics do you want to practice/work in; doing what exactly?

The RHIA credential is usually used for those who wish to work in the Medical Records dept/area or Health Information Management (HIM) not necessarily someone who work in Informatics/HIS/HIT.

Health Information Management is not Informatics.

See my previous posts on the difference between the two.

Health Information Mgt or informatics - Nursing for Nurses

Hi everyone,

In January I will start studying toward a one-year graduate certificate in Clinical Informatics at Oregon Health Science University. I am currently an RN with a little over four years of experience. I have also worked as a Systems Analyst for about two and a half years going to Nursing school. So here I am, attempting to merge the past and current knowledge.

The University's Clinical Informatics program offers several tracks (R&D Scientist, Clinical Leader, Programmer, etc.) amongst which is the Health Information Management and Exchange Specialist track. According to the Department all other tracks require a 20hr/week study commitment, while the HIM track requires 30hr/week. The HIM track also allows graduates to sit for the RHIA credential.

Given that I work full-time an extra ten hours per week of studying is definitely a concern. I am already wondering if I should work part-time while I am in school.

I wanted to ask the professionals in Informatics field the following question: What are the real-life benefits of posessing the RHIA credential? Does the credential justify the extra 520 hours of study over the next year?

Thank you!

Jelena

[elkpark]

Yes, HIM is what used to be called (back in the old days, when jargon and titles made sense) "medical records." I'm not aware that there's much overlap between that and nursing informatics.

[Mijourney]

Go to AHIMA Home - American Health Information Management Association

if you have not already and review that website. From what I understand HIM is just as involved in ARRA funding for training of new professionals as any other discipline. Some of their focus are the EHR, e-health, HIEs as well as HIT. In fact, I've noticed a growing number of these professionals getting additional certification through HIMSS. They are typically seen as nothing more than medical records specialists but they are trying to get beyond that thus the name change to health information management. Nursing informatics and healthcare informatics are different. It depends on whose body of knowledge you want to incorporate with what you have and know now. Best wishes.