HIM Certifications - Which Ones are Best?

Whether you’re considering becoming a professional medical coder or looking for ways to advance your career, certifications are a must. Certifications in the world of health information management not only allow you to stand out from the crowd when it comes to hiring, but also help you to hone and develop your skills as your career progresses. Certifications cost time and money, though, so which are the right fit for your career?

What certifications are available in health information management?

There are multiple types of certifications available for professional medical coders. Here’s the breakdown:

AAPC: AAPC stands for the American Association of Professional Coders. This organization offers more than a dozen certificates for medical coding in a variety of facilities and settings, including both inpatient and outpatient. AAPC offers certifications for medical billing, auditing, documentation, compliance, and practice management, but their most popular certification is Certified Professional Coder. AAPC certifications are a viable option for professionals who want to focus on coding in outpatient settings or in a speciality, like neurology.

Is an AHIMA certification right for you?

AHIMA is the American Health Information Management Association. AHIMA offers a multitude of certifications, including:

• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
• Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
• Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP)
• Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA)
• Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS)
• Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
• Certified Coding Specialist–Physician-based (CCS-P)

AHIMA certifications focus on coding and health information management. These certifications focus on coding in inpatient and outpatient settings. AHIMA certifications are a strong choice for professionals who want to move into administration in larger facilities, like hospitals.

Do you need HIMSS certifications?

HIMSS: HIMSS certifications demonstrate knowledge in health information and technology. They include three certifications:

• CPHIMS - Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems. The CPHIMS certification demonstrates a professional’s ability to meet an international standard of professional knowledge and competence in healthcare information and management systems.
• CAHIMS - Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems and is a certificate geared toward expanding and diversifying health information industry knowledge.
• CPDHTS - Certified Professional in Digital Health Transformation Strategy and is a certificate designed to show expertise in digital health transformation strategy.

All three HIMSS certifications are excellent ways to demonstrate expertise as well as knowledge of recent changes and updates.

As you grow and excel in your career of health information management, you will encounter problems with document management and form governance. At DigiDoc, we streamline document management with our cloud-based DMS to help HIM professionals like you improve efficiencies and elevate patient care. Contact DigiDoc today to learn more.