(pending MHEC approval)
Career Programs Building
Award: Associate of Applied Science degree, A.A.S.
Total Credit Hours: A minimum of 70 credit hours
Purpose: Prepares students for practice as health information employees in the following practice areas: health care facilities, cancer registries, government agencies, and specialty health areas. The range of job functions includes: medical records manager, privacy officer, risk management, compliance, data analysis and research, and medical coding.
There is a non-compensated professional practice, externship experience, in which students work in a healthcare or an appropriate health information setting. Externship hours are scheduled during the day, Monday through Friday. Externship sites may have their own requirements that students must meet prior to their externship experience. Prior to externship, students must provide appropriate health examination record(s) and all required tests and immunizations, along with a urine drug screen and criminal background checks. Prior criminal records may prohibit you for program externship and employment opportunities. Students may also be required to have a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider certification.
Curriculum: The curriculum is divided into areas of study consisting of lecture, laboratory, and professional practice experiences. Content areas of the curriculum include anatomy and physiology, database fundamentals, networking, systems design and analysis, medical records and coding, electronic health record management, health data research and analysis, and professional practice. Health Information Management degree students must maintain a grade of “C” or better in all HIM required courses.
Mission Statement: The Health Information Management Program is designed to provide students with successful entry into the practice of health information management.
Program Outcomes: Graduates of the Associate of Applied Science degree in health information management will be able to:
- Assign code numbers to diagnoses and procedures for indexing health data and maintaining revenue cycle and compliance with third party payer guidelines
- Abstract health records and compile reports on health care services
- Analyze critical data to identify trends that demonstrate quality, safety, and effectiveness of healthcare
- Abstract and report data for healthcare quality management and performance improvement programs
- Answer legal, government, insurance, and other inquiries for patient health information
- Adhere to legal and regulatory requirements related to health information while applying ethical standards of practice in a secure environment
- Use technology to collect, organize, analyze, and report health information data for completeness and accuracy
- Monitor resource and financial management
Students who do not meet program, course, technical, and health standards that result in termination from the health information program by the College are not eligible for readmission.
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