Midland College Health Information Management Program Earns CAHIIM Program of Distinction RecognitionJune 04, 2026

Midland College's Health Information Management (HIM) program has been recognized as a Program of Distinction by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), earning the accreditor's highest level of commendation and placing Midland College among a select group of Health Information Management programs nationwide recognized for leadership, innovation, and excellence in healthcare education.

The designation recognizes accredited Health Information Management programs that have demonstrated exceptional leadership as early adopters of CAHIIM's Future Education Model (FEM), a framework designed to prepare graduates for the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape through competency-based education and workforce-focused learning.

Midland College volunteered to participate in CAHIIM's Future Education Model Demonstration Program and completed a comprehensive reaccreditation review under the new standards. Following the review, the college earned a perfect score and was designated as an HIM Associate of Applied Science Program of Distinction.

"This recognition reflects years of dedication from our faculty, students, advisory board members, and healthcare partners who have embraced innovation in Health Information Management education," said Leonora Lambert, Department Chair and Professor of Health Information Management at Midland College. "By serving as an early adopter of CAHIIM's Future Education Model, we have been able to help shape the future of the profession while ensuring our graduates are prepared to meet the evolving needs of today's healthcare organizations. Achieving a perfect score during reaccreditation and earning Program of Distinction status is a testament to the quality of our program and the success of our students."

"Health Information Management professionals play a critical role in healthcare delivery, and Midland College is proud to offer a program that is recognized nationally for excellence," said Brandi Havner, Dean of Allied Health at Midland College. "This distinction demonstrates our commitment to providing students with industry-relevant education that leads to meaningful careers while supporting the growing workforce needs of healthcare organizations across Texas and beyond."

According to CAHIIM, Programs of Distinction serve as exemplars of best practices in healthcare education. These programs contribute to the development of new student outcome measures, participate in extensive assessment and data collection efforts, identify evidence-based practices for competency-based education, and collaborate with peer institutions and CAHIIM leadership to help shape the future of the profession.

Midland College's online Health Information Management program prepares students for careers managing, protecting, and analyzing healthcare data, helping ensure patient information is accurate, secure, and accessible. The STEM-designated program offers embedded certificates in Health Data Coordination and Medical Coding while leading to an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Management. Students who complete the program are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credentialing exam through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The program's strong student outcomes reflect its commitment to excellence. During the 2023-24 academic year, Midland College's HIM program reported a 100% RHIT exam pass rate, 100% graduate satisfaction rate, and 100% on-time completion rate among graduates.

Health Information Management professionals play a critical role in today's healthcare system, serving as the bridge between clinical, administrative, and technology teams. Graduates pursue careers in hospitals, clinics, physician practices, insurance companies, pharmaceutical organizations, and other industries that rely on healthcare data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued growth in the field as demand for health information and healthcare services increases.

The college's accreditation for the Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through the 2030-31 academic year.

For more information about Midland College's Health Information Management program, visit midland.edu/him.