Students
Health Informatics and Information Management
Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) is a unique combination of business, science, and information technology. The program is designed for students who are hands-on learners interested in having a direct and valuable impact on patients without being in the physical clinic.
Students gain valuable experience with advanced healthcare applications currently in use through the internet-based V-Lab, developed by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and through three required professional practice experiences. Students holding a significant level of work experience and/or certification relevant to HIIM may be eligible to create a professional portfolio as part of their professional practice experience.
The program - which is the first and only baccalaureate degree of its kind in West Virginia - is offered via HyFlex, which allows each student to decide on a day-to-day basis how to participate in each class and activity.
Get to know us.
Visit. Join us for a campus tour or prospective student day or take a virtual tour of the Health Sciences Center and the STEPS facility.
Connect. Meet current students and join us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Apply. Join our community by applying online at apply.wvu.edu.
Who you are
Professionals are trained in information management technology applications and the operations and workflow of a variety of healthcare organizations. They are vital to the daily operations and management of health information and electronic health records and are entrusted with keeping patients’ information and records accurate and protected.
Specialists in this field have a direct and valuable impact on patients without being in the physical clinic. Professionals may choose to specialize in a number of areas, including:
- Compliance and risk management
- Healthcare privacy and security
- Health informatics and data analysis
- Clinical documentation improvement
- Information governance
- Operations and medical records administration
- Revenue cycle management
Diverse opportunities exist to work in healthcare systems, hospitals, private practice offices, clinics, skilled- and long-term care facilities, and healthcare software companies.
Starting out, graduates can expect average salaries in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. Experienced professionals can earn upwards of $50,000 to $75,000 annually. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that medical and health services manager positions are projected to grow 28% by 2031, which is much faster than the national average for all occupations.
Facts
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400hours of hands-on professional experience.
- HIIM work experience is evaluated on a case-by-case basis via a student portfolio and may reduce the number of hours required.
Program Fast Facts
Academic Year 2019-2020
- Program Enrollment: 125
- 2020 Graduates (May, August, and December): 26
- Fall-to-Fall Program Retention Rate: 87.1%
- Student Satisfaction: 100%
- Employer Satisfaction: 100%
Academic Year 2020-2021
- Program Enrollment: 127
- 2021 Graduates (May): 26
- Fall-to-Fall Program Retention Rate: 87.8%
- Average Time to Completion of Program: 4.2 years
- Student Satisfaction: 100%
- Employer Satisfaction: 100%
Academic Year 2021-2022
- Program Enrollment: 93
- 2022 Graduates (May): 23
- Fall-to-Fall Program Retention Rate: 88.0%
- Average Time to Completion of Program: 4.2 years
- Student Satisfaction: Pending survey results
- Employer Satisfaction: Pending survey results
Hear from current Mountaineers
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Duration:Health Informatics and Information Management - Meet Sally Lucci! -
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Megan Holley
Health Informatics and Information Management
“It is really inspiring to be a part of the School of Medicine and meet people with all types of majors, backgrounds and interests, but have one thing in common and that’s health, healthcare and medicine. I made some great connections with my peers and professors.”
Alex Stevenson
Health Informatics and Information Management
“Overall the people here are very kind and helpful. The faculty really connect with the program’s students. I had a ton of questions starting out, they helped and were always available.”
Kaitlin Beegle
Health Informatics and Information Management
“I always knew that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, but I did not want to deal directly with patients. This major focuses on business and technology in the medical field, which is important because there will be jobs in this area as technology becomes more evolved.”
Recent News
Accreditation
The Health Information Management accreditor of West Virginia University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for Baccalaureate degree in Health Informatics and Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2029-2030. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.