Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
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Unit 1 Health Informatics Career Pathway
Although Kia loves fashionable clothes, she is careful to wear business-like
clothing at work. She chooses skirts and tops that are not too revealing, low
heels, minimal jewelry, and light makeup to create a
professional look.
Kia understands that she needs to look mature and competent, or capable,
to patients of all ages. Appearing skilled and experienced projects an image of
professionalism. In her office, visible tattoos are not allowed, and piercings are
limited to her ears. Her clothing is neat, clean, and in good condition. For Kia, the
way she looks is just as important as the way she acts.
Kia conveys a positive attitude naturally. She admits it was a challenge,
however, to learn the practical steps for maintaining confidentiality in a medical
clinic. She reminds herself to speak quietly so that patient information can’t
be heard by others. She is careful not to use a patient’s name when calling
coworkers over the intercom for a phone call. She has learned to avoid
conversations about patients when she is in the elevator or the cafeteria.
Health Informatics Services Career
Choices
Jobs in health informatics services don’t focus on direct interaction with
patients or hands-on patient care. These jobs would appeal to people who
are more interested in the data and information involved in healthcare
than in patient interaction. If you enjoy both technology and healthcare,
you might consider a career in health information management, health
information technology, or health informatics (Figure 2.1).
Health Information Management
Health information management (HIM) workers assemble and
organize a patient’s health information to create a medical record. This
document includes a medical history that lists all of the diseases and
surgeries a patient has had, his or her current symptoms, results of
examinations and diagnostic tests, treatments, and other health services.
The record also lists the patient’s family medical history because some
professional look
the standards of
appearance normally
expected of a qualifi ed
person in a work
environment
Figure 2.1 Health
informatics services is
an umbrella pathway for
different types of career
options that increasingly
combine health information
and technology. Which of
the three career categories
listed most interests you?
Health Information
Management (HIM)
Works with the
medical record
Health Information
Technology (HIT)
Works with
computer systems
Health
Informatics (HI)
Combines HIM
and HIT to improve
medical care