Health Information Technology

Associate in Applied Science Degree

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Health Information Technology (HIT) is the profession that focuses on healthcare data and validity and the organization and management of  health information in electronic, paper-based, or hybrid formats in a variety of healthcare settings. The HIT program prepares students to enter the profession as health information management professionals who are responsible for maintaining accessibility, accuracy, and quality of health information by using knowledge and skills from areas such as accreditation and regulation, coding and reimbursement, data collection and analytics, information management and computer technology, and legal and ethical aspects, which include privacy and security. During their last semester of academic study, students complete a nonpaid professional practice experience in the health information management department of a hospital or other appropriate healthcare facility to gain work experience prior to graduation. The Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601, 312-235-3255, www.cahiim.org. Upon completion of this CAHIIM-accredited HIT program, graduates are eligible to take the national Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification examination, which is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

This program can be completed 100% online.

HIT Program Goals

The health information management (HIM) profession includes managers, technicians, and special experts in HIM systems and processes. The goals of the Health Information Technology (HIT) curriculum are categorized into six areas that include educational outcomes and measurable targeted outcomes, as follows:

(a) DATA STRUCTURE, CONTENT, AND INFORMATION GOVERNANCE: Describe key stakeholders for healthcare organizations; apply policies, regulations, and standards to the management of information; identify policies and strategies to achieve data integrity; determine compliance of health record content within the health organization; explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures; describe components of data dictionaries and data sets; and evaluate data dictionaries and data sets for compliance with governance standards.

(b) INFORMATION PROTECTION: ACCESS, USE, DISCLOSURE, PRIVACY, AND SECURITY: Apply privacy and security strategies to health information and identify compliance requirements throughout the health information life cycle.

(c) INFORMATION, ANALYTICS, AND DATA USE: Apply health informatics concepts to the management of health information, utilize technologies for health information management, calculate statistics for healthcare operations, create graphical representations of healthcare data, describe healthcare research methodologies, describe the concepts of managing data, summarize standards for the exchange of health information, manage data within a database system, and identify standards for exchange of health information.

(d) REVENUE CYCLE MANAGEMENT: Validate the assignment of diagnostic and procedural codes and groupings in accordance with official guidelines, describe the components of revenue cycle management and clinical documentation improvement, summarize regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies, determine diagnosis and procedure codes according to official guidelines, evaluate revenue cycle processes, and evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies.

(e) HEALTH LAW AND COMPLIANCE: Apply legal processes impacting health information, demonstrate compliance with external forces (of healthcare organizations), identify the components of risk management related to health information management, and identify the impact of policy on healthcare.

(f) ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP: Demonstrate fundamental leadership skills, identify the impact of organizational change, identify human resource strategies for organizational best practices, utilize data-driven performance improvement techniques for decision making, utilize financial management processes, examine behaviors that embrace cultural diversity, assess ethical standards of practice, describe consumer engagement activities, and identify processes of workforce training for healthcare organizations.

(g) SUPPORTING BODY OF KNOWLEDGE: Demonstrate proficiency in prerequisite knowledge in pathophysiology and pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, computer concepts and applications, and math statistics.

2018 AHIMA HIM Associate Degree Competencies

Upon completion of the HIT program, graduates shall demonstrate the following entry-level competencies, as approved by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) education.

Domains and Competencies

Domain I: Data Structure, Content, and Information Governance

I.1 Describe healthcare organizations from the perspective of key stakeholders
I.2 Apply policies, regulations, and standards to the management of information
I.3 Identify policies and strategies to achieve data integrity
I.4 Determine compliance of health record content within the health organization
I.5 Explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures
I.6 Describe components of data dictionaries and data sets
I.6 (DM ONLY) Evaluate data dictionaries and data sets for compliance with governance standards

Domain II: Information Protection: Access, Use, Disclosure, Privacy, and Security

II.1 Apply privacy strategies to health information
II.2 Apply security strategies to health information
II.3 Identify compliance requirements throughout the health information life cycle

Domain III: Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use

III.1 Apply health informatics concepts to the management of health information
III.2 Utilize technologies for health information management
III.3 Calculate statistics for healthcare operations
III.4 Report healthcare data through graphical representations
III.5 Describe research methodologies used in healthcare
III.6 Describe the concepts of managing data
III.7 Summarize standards for the exchange of health information
III.6 (DM ONLY) Manage data within a database system
III.7 (DM ONLY) Identify standards for exchange of health information

Domain IV: Revenue Cycle Management

IV.1 Validate assignment of diagnostic and procedural codes and groupings in accordance with official guidelines
IV. 2 Describe components of revenue cycle management and clinical documentation improvement
IV. 3 Summarize regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies
IV.1 (RM ONLY) Determine diagnosis and procedure codes according to official guidelines
IV. 2 (RM ONLY) Evaluate revenue cycle processes
IV.3 (RM ONLY) Evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies

Domain V: Health Law and Compliance

V.1 Apply legal processes impacting health information
V.2 Demonstrate compliance with external forces
V.3 Identify the components of risk management related to health information management
V.4 Identify the impact of policy on healthcare

Domain VI: Organizational Management and Leadership

VI.1 Demonstrate fundamental leadership skills
VI.2 Identify the impact of organizational change
VI.3 Identify human resource strategies for organizational best practices
VI.4 Utilize data-driven performance improvement techniques for decision making
VI.5 Utilize financial management processes
VI.6 Examine behaviors that embrace cultural diversity
VI.7 Assess ethical standards of practice
VI.8 Describe consumer engagement activities
VI.9 Identify processes of workforce training for healthcare organizations

Supporting Body of Knowledge (Prerequisite or Evidence of Knowledge)

  1. Pathophysiology and Pharmacology
  2. Anatomy and Physiology
  3. Medical Terminology
  4. Computer Concepts and Applications
  5. Math Statistics                      

Total Credit Hours: 62

First Semester

This course is an opportunity for students to develop the skills necessary to be successful in college. Students learn the importance of the faculty-student and advisor-advisee relationship, develop time management techniques, apply effective study skill techniques, recognize the implications of living in a diverse society, utilize college resources, and explore career and transfer requirements. Collaborative projects are included. Students matriculated in a degree program must take this course in their first term of study.

This course focuses on several kinds of writing-self-expressive, informative, and argumentative/persuasive, and others. A minimum of five essay compositions are required. The course emphasizes the composition of clear, correct, and effective prose required in a variety of professions and occupations. Prerequisites: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or EN090 Basic Writing Skills or SL116 ESL4: Advanced Composition or SL145 ESOL Advanced Composition

This course is a systems overview of human anatomy and physiology. Topics include structure and function of integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous/endocrine, immune, digestive, cardiovascular, urogenital, and respiratory systems. This course presents development and integration of these systems as a basis for understanding the anatomical and physiological aspects of humans. This course will not count for credit in the science or clinical health profession programs (Nursing, Radiologic Technologies, Respiratory Care, Surgical Technician).

This course includes a study of the language of medicine, including roots, prefixes and suffixes and the proper pronunciation and spelling of medical terms. All body systems and functions, including the structure, meaning, and use of medical terms related to diseases and operations of the human body are covered. An introduction to pharmacology (medications) is included. (Online Only)

This course includes a study of the health information management profession, functions, technologies, and purposes; health care delivery systems; health record content and documentation; data management, governance, privacy, and security; health law, including release of information processing; health information technologies; and healthcare information, including the health information exchange. (Online Only)

This course provides knowledge of relevant computer skills and a solid foundation in the terminology and concepts of computer technology. Experience is provided with a variety of microcomputer software applications, including word processing, electronic spreadsheets, graphics, file management, and integrated software. Concepts and terms focus on preparing for a technologically oriented society and using the computer as a tool for productivity, research, and communication.

Second Semester

This course encourages a deeper understanding of human nature and the human condition through the study of ideas and values expressed in imaginative literature. Emphasis is placed on the use and development of critical thinking and language skills. Library-oriented research is required. Prerequisite: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading.

This course covers pathophysiological, pharmacological, therapeutic, and diagnostic aspects of medicine. It includes concepts and medical word components for body systems and disorders encountered in health care. Pathophysiology of the normal body systems is covered. Topics include pharmacological agents, diagnostic tests and interventions, pharmacological

intervention selection, and value of laboratory tests. (Online Only)

Prerequisites: BI110 Survey of Anatomy and Physiology and HM100 Medical Terminology for Health Professionals.

This course includes a study of the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS clinical classification systems and the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS), which utilizes Medicare-severity diagnosis-related groups (MS-DRGs). Topics covered include the assignment of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) official coding guidelines, assignment of DRGs and MS-DRGs, encoder software and references (e.g., AHA Coding Clinic), accuracy of coding and DRG assignment, and physician query process. (Online Only) Prerequisites: HM100 Medical Terminology for Health Professionals, and HM101 Health Information Management Introductory Concepts. Corequisites: HM120 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology.

This course introduces the legal and ethical aspects of health information management with an emphasis on civil law and how health care settings are affected by law and non-governmental rulemaking bodies. Topics include the general study of law and an overview of ethics. (Online Only) Prerequisite: HM101 Health Information Management Introductory Concepts.

This course introduces probability and statistics. Topics include graphs, tables, frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and dispersion, normal distribution, correlation and regression, probability, and inferential statistics. This course is available in two formats: lecture only, or lecture plus laboratory using technology. Prerequisite: Appropriate high school GPA or placement test score or MA089 Arithmetic.

Third Semester

This course covers the skills required to communicate in the industrial, business, and technical settings. Emphasis is placed on the objective presentation of ideas and information. It includes the preparation of formal and informal reports, abstracts, summaries, and proposals. It covers practice in the coherent organization of ideas, stylistic conventions, standard language usage, and the design and decisions necessary for successful written communication. Prerequisites: EN101 English 1: Composition or EN105 English Composition for Speakers of Other Languages or EN106 English 1: Composition & Reading, and EN102 English 2: Ideas & Values of Literature.

This course is a study of the CPT and HCPCS level II coding systems and outpatient and physician office payment methodologies. Topics covered include assignment of CPT codes according to coding guidelines, HCPCS level II coding, ambulatory payment classifications, accuracy of coding and APC assignment, use of encoders and references, accuracy of computer-assisted coding assignment, and physician query process. (Online Only) Prerequisites: BI110 Survey of Human Anatomy and Physiology, and HM121 ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Coding.

This course includes a study of health care information requirements and standards, hospital and vital statistics, data quality and integrity, data analytics, quality management, and performance improvement. (Online Only) Prerequisites: HM121 ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Coding, HM122 Legal and Ethical

Aspects of Health Information Management.

This course includes a study of health information technologies, information management strategic planning, analytics and decision support, consumer informatics, health information exchange, information integrity and data quality, and enterprise information management. (Online Only) Prerequisite: HM101 Health Information Management Introductory Concepts.

This course provides a comparative analysis of HIM practices and information management across the spectrum of health care settings. (Online Only) Prerequisite: HM121 ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS Coding. Corequisite: HM201 CPT and HCPCS Level II Coding.

Fourth Semester

This course includes a study of health information management leadership. Topics include leadership roles, change management, work design and process improvement, human resources management, training and development, strategic and organizational management, financial management, ethics, project

management, vendor/contract management, and enterprise information management. (Online Only) Prerequisites: HM202 Health Data and Quality Management and HM203 Electronic Health Record Management.

This course includes a study of classification and coding systems, health information technologies, the revenue cycle and reimbursement, coding compliance, and clinical documentation improvement. (Online Only) Prerequisite:HM201 CPT and HCPCS Level 11 Coding.

This professional practice experience includes online laboratory assignments and projects and the completion of externally supervised activities in the health information department of a health care agency with adequate facilities to provide varied work opportunities. Students complete externally supervised activities under the supervision of a qualified Registered Health Information Administrator, Registered Health Information Technician, or other qualified personnel to whom they are assigned. The professional practice experience is designed to enable students to obtain actual work experience in health care agencies. Students will complete a minimum of 100 hours externally supervised activities, which can be completed on a full-time basis or part-time basis. Prerequisites: HM201 CPT and HCPCS Level II Coding, HM202 Health Data and Quality Management, HM203 Electronic Health Record Management, and HM204 Alternate Care Health Information Management. Corequisites: HM220 Health Information Management Leadership and HM221 Reimbursement Methodologies.

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of how informatics and data management relate to the healthcare industry. (Online Only). Prerequisites: HM202 Health Data and Quality Management

Students can take PY101 Introduction to Psychology OR SO101 Introduction to Sociology

This program is offered 100% online.

(a) Social Science electives include: PY101 Introduction to Psychology OR SO101 Introduction to Sociology.

Program Prerequisites:

All applicants must meet or be working toward the completion of the following prerequisites at the time of application: Minimum High school diploma complete, in progress, or its equivalent and the most recent of the following:

• A current overall college grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 (minimum of 12 credits)
• High school average of 75 Math
• An SAT math score of 530 or higher, OR
• An ACT math score of 19 or higher, OR
• An appropriate MVCC Mathematics Placement test result, OR
• A minimum grade of C or better in a college-level mathematics course taken within the last seven years

Recommended:

• High school chemistry with a lab or a college-level chemistry course completed within the last seven years is recommended but not required.
• High school biology with a lab or a college-level biology course completed within the last seven years is recommended but not required.
• Keyboarding and Microsoft Office Professional are recommended but not required.

Prerequisites can be taken at other colleges. Please consult the Advisement Office to determine if those classes meet the minimum criteria. Credit-bearing prerequisite courses will require a minimum grade of C or better.

Important notice to all applicants:

If a student has legal charges pending or has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, certification may be delayed or denied by the applicable national certification board. Students may be subject to criminal background checks and/or blood screening tests at their own cost. Additionally, applicants should understand they may be required to obtain the above mentioned documents for future gainful employment, and if they are unable to obtain proper documented immunizations and background clearance, opportunities for employment within the healthcare industry may be limited.

Professional Practice Experience (PPE):

HIT students are required to participate in a nonpaid Professional Practice Experience (PPE) externship as part of their program, and PPE arrangements are made in consultation with students. Students are not a substitute for paid staff during completion of PPEs, and are expected to receive appropriate supervision during completion of all tasks. The PPE allows students to gain inside knowledge and professional experience in preparation for entering the field. Students have one semester in which to complete the uncompensated minimum 100-hour, on-site requirement at a hospital or other healthcare facility with adequate facilities to provide varied work experiences in health information management. Students also complete online assignments and projects, which are assessed by College faculty.

As there may be flexibility in the days and hours worked, it should be understood that many sites operate during normal business hours of Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Travel outside the Utica/Rome area may also be a requirement to complete the PPE. Students are required to submit a health physical form to the healthcare organization that contains vaccination documentation and lab results, dated within three months of their PPE start date. Students may be required to participate in a healthcare organization’s orientation program, which may include CPR certification.

Graduation requirements:

Students are required to earn a grade of at least a C or better in each BI and HM prefix course prior to graduation from the HIT program. Part-time students are required to successfully complete General Education courses prior to taking health information technology (HM) courses.