Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management - BSHIM Online or On Campus

Admission Requirements

1. Complete a minimum of 90 quarter units at an accredited college or university
2. Minimum GPA of 2.5
3. Complete all program prerequisites (listed below)
4. Complete the LLU application, including values and personal essays 
5. Provide three letters of recommendation that indicate a strong academic background and professional readiness
6. Interview, if deemed necessary

You will need to finish two years of prerequisite courses at a junior college or four-year college to be eligible to enter the program. The prerequisite classes, which prepare you for two years of study at Loma Linda University, are listed below.

Applicants who have graduated from this program are eligible to sit for the registered health information administrator (RHIA) exam.

Prerequisites 

1. ARTS & HUMANITIES (16 qtr./11 sem. units min.)  

Select courses from at least three of the content areas* listed below:  

Art/Music Civilization/History 
Foreign Language Literature 
Philosophy 
*A minimum of 3 qtr./ 2 sem. units in an area are required to meet a content area  

2. SCIENTIFIC & QUANTITATIVE REASONING (12 qtr./8 sem. units min.)

Human Anatomy & Physiology/lab (complete sequence)
College Algebra
Medical Terminology

Select one additional from one of the following areas:
Chemistry Math Geology
Astronomy Physics


3. SOCIAL SCIENCES (12 qtr./8 sem. units min.)
Cultural diversity or anthropology (one course)
Psychology (one course)

Select one additional from one of the following areas:
Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology, Economics, Geography

4. WRITTEN & ORAL COMMUNICATION (9 qtr./6 sem. units min.)
Freshman English (complete sequence)
Business Communications or Interpersonal Communications

5. HEALTH & WELLNESS (2 qtr./1.5 sem. units min.)
Personal Health or Nutrition
Physical activity (2 courses total)

Health Information Managers have opportunities to assist in the development and implementation of health information systems for quality patient care, financial reimbursement, medical research, health care planning, and health care quality evaluation. Others responsibilities include privacy, security, and data governance.

Health Information Management provides job flexibility for the person seeking work in a variety of settings. Many are employed by hospitals and medical centers in large urban areas. Others work in small community hospitals in rural settings. The job market is rapidly expanding outside of hospitals. New openings are available in home health agencies, long term care facilities, outpatient care, mental health facilities, private medical practices and clinics, insurance companies, health management organizations, commercial and industrial firms, governmental agencies, legal offices, software vendors, and education.

Job opportunities continue to grow for HIMs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 28 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.” As the population ages, they will require more care. More care translates to more documentation required and reimbursement for health care providers. “Additional records, coupled with widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) by all types of health care providers, could lead to an increased need for technicians to organize and manage the associated information in all areas of the health care industry”(www.bls.gov).

Full-time salaries in the profession range from entry positions paying approximately $55,000-$70,000 to advanced positions may offer earnings as high as $125,000+.

Job positions include but are not limited to

Program Outline - 91 total units  

Get details on the standard cost of attendance at LLU. View Estimates

• Acceptance into Graduate Programs: 100%

• Graduation Rate: 100% 

• Overall positive LLU experience: 100%

• Rated the faculty highly: 100%

• Recommended the school, program, and degree to their friends: 83%

MISSION

In harmony with the mission of Loma Linda University and the School of Allied Health Professions, the Department of Health Informatics and Information Management is dedicated to:

• Educating competent health information professionals
• Promoting the health information management profession
• Extending the current knowledge of health information professionals at neighboring healthcare facilities
• Challenging students and department faculty to maintain high standards of ethical and professional behavior
• Encouraging students and faculty to seek a meaningful relationship with God and a balanced Christian lifestyle

PURPOSE 

To prepare our graduates to be competent health information professionals through excellence in classroom instruction, professional practice experience, advisement, and mentoring with an emphasis on global service.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Conduct assessment and management of data and information needs for a variety of health-care settings.
2. Advocate effective strategies for health information protection: privacy, security, and confidentiality.
3. Recommend technology, database models, and data analytic tools to support decision making and strategic planning.
4. Discuss and apprise revenue cycle management principles, strategies and processes.
5. Monitor and analyze compliance with standards, regulations, and laws documentation related to healthcare.
6. Formulate management and leadership plans and strategies in legal and ethical manners to utilization resources effectively and efficiently.
7. Integrate pathophysiology, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, computer concepts and application, and math statistics into the practice of health information administration.

In order to achieve career entry competency, students in the Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Information Management program should have the ability to perform essential functions. Learn more about our Technical Standards here.