Health Information Coder

Career Cornerstone explains that Health Information Coders are technicians who specialize in coding medical records, medical diagnoses, and procedures, relying on their knowledge of disease processes. 

The Good Universities Guide states that Health Information Coders or Health Information Managers, as they are also often referred to, combine their knowledge of healthcare 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 healthcare system.

In other words, Health Information Managers/Coders work in the ‘business’ side of healthcare.  They work in e-health at the cutting edge of Health Information Management technology.  Health Information Managers work in all areas of healthcare, from hospitals and community health centres to specialist disease registries. There is currently a national shortage of these professionals.

La Trobe University offers a 4-year double degree in Bachelor of Health Sciences (Medical Classification)/Bachelor of Health Information Management.  VCE prerequisite subjects are: Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL; Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, any Mathematics, Physical Education or Physics.