Health Information Manager

Health information managers combine knowledge of health care processes, health records and administration, information management and human resource management to provide services that meet the medical, legal, ethical and administrative requirements of the health care system.

Health information managers may perform the following tasks:

plan and develop health information systems for various types of health care facilities including computerised patient identification systems, coding and analysis of diseases and procedures, and the design of health record forms
revise and test the effectiveness of existing health information record services in hospitals and other health care facilities
develop and implement new policies and procedures for handling health information in accordance with professional ethics, institutional requirements and relevant legislation including the Freedom of Information Act
select, supervise and manage staff
instruct health record service and other staff in the policies and procedures associated with the control, use and retrieval of health information
develop in-service training programs for health record and other health professional staff
control the transfer of relevant health service data to state health departments
perform management functions such as workplace design, financial planning, budgetary control, quality assurance, and selection of equipment and supplies
assist in medical research and health care projects.

Specialisations:

Health Informatician

A health informatician makes use of information technologies and computer sciences to develop and administer systems that accurately use, store, retrieve and exchange information in the health care field.

Health information managers usually work in hospitals or other health facilities where they liaise with doctors, nurses, other health professionals and administrative staff. They may have some contact with the public. Some positions involve substantial managerial responsibility.