RHIT vs. RHIA: Which Certification is Right For You?

Health Information Management (HIM) is a rapidly evolving field with a great demand for skilled, qualified professionals to work within the healthcare industry. With the ever-changing digital landscape, it is more important than ever to have Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) and Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) to continue to enhance patient care and overall patient experience. 

RHIT vs RHIA: What is the Difference?

As you consider a career path in Health Information Management (HIM), you may be wondering which direction you would like to pursue. RHIT and RHIA are both critical career paths that require HIM certification, but while their titles sound similar, they have different education requirements and job responsibilities. RHIT is a technical career path in which you specialize in managing medical records. An RHIA certification includes managing units, maintaining patient health information, and working with clinical, financial, administrative, and information systems. 

Registered Health Information Technician 

An RHIT is a technical position in which the technician ensures that patients' medical records are complete and accurate. As an RHIT, you will collect and analyze all patient information that should go into a medical record. This information is critical because it enhances patient care and ensures they are properly being cared for. Additionally, you can specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures for medical records. 

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers an RHIT certification for those pursuing an associate's degree in an accredited health information technology program. These programs must be accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIM). Once you have completed the associate’s degree, you are allowed to take the RHIT exam to become certified. 

RHITs can work in hospital settings, physicians' offices, home health, mental health centers, and many more. There are many different opportunities for growth and advancement. The importance of an organized, complete medical record for each patient ensures that all patients receive the best care possible. 

RELATED: 4 MAJOR HEALTHCARE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES ( AND WHAT TO DO)

Registered Health Information Administrator 

An RHIA has a different set of responsibilities when analyzing patient data and interacting with other healthcare professionals. If you pursue an RHIA certification you can step into a more managerial role in positions that require managing projects and units, setting policies and strategies, preparing budgets, etc. 

This certification requires more education than the RHIT in order to sit for the RHIA exam credentialed by AHIMA. It requires at least an accredited bachelor’s degree, or you may also successfully complete an accredited Master’s degree or an HIM Certificate of the Degree (Post-Baccalaureate) program that is approved by CAHIM.

An RHIA can work in various settings throughout healthcare systems such as hospitals, clinics, private practices, mental health centers, and urgent care. In addition, many RHIAs work in managed care organizations, insurance or software companies, consulting firms, government agencies, educational facilities, and pharmaceutical companies. 

Which Path is Right For You? 

Depending on the area of focus that you would like to pursue, either RHIT or RHIA could be the track you follow into the HIM field. Many RHITs pursue advancement into managerial roles which will require additional education when the time comes. RHITs often have a more technical focus to ensure that all medical records are impeccably maintained. The RHIA educational path, while more involved, does open up more avenues immediately once certified. RHIAs also often hold leadership roles, focus on properly overseeing patient health information, and have significant interaction with department heads across the board. 

Thriving in Health Information Management 

Whether you are certified as an RHIT or an RHIA, you are a part of the mission to enhance patient care and provide top-notch service. One of the ways to do that is by utilizing a document management system (DMS) in your organization. DigiDoc software is a proven DMS that can help streamline form governance within both large and small healthcare systems. Contact DigiDoc for a live, customized demonstration of our cloud-based software.