Health Information Management Programs
Health Information Management (Formerly Health Information Technology)/Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Option/Certificate
Degrees & Certificates:
Health Information Management Code 336
Formerly Health Information Technology
Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)
Designed for the dynamic field of health information management, this program integrates the disciplines of medicine, computer technology and business management. Students who are interested in studying diseases and treatments but are not interested in hands-on patient care will find this a challenging career path. The graduate is prepared to perform technical and supervisory duties in organizing, analyzing and generating health data for reimbursement, planning, quality improvement, research and the legal issues surrounding the release of health information. Employment opportunities exist in a broad range of settings, such as hospitals, home health care, nursing homes, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), physicians’ offices, consulting, computer software companies and government agencies. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), 233 Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60601; (312) 233-1183 in cooperation with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the AHIMA. Passing this examination entitles the graduate to use the credential registered health information technician (RHIT).
Program Concentration 41 Credits
| HIM 150 Fundamentals of Health Information |
5 |
| HIM 153 Medical Terminology |
4 |
| HIM 154 Directed Clinical Practice I |
1 |
| HIM 155 Disease Processes |
4 |
| HIM 158 Principles and Applications of ICD-9-CM |
4 |
| HIM 160 Principles and Applications of CPT |
2 |
| HIM 251 Health Information Statistics and Quality Improvement |
5 |
| HIM 253 Health Information Management |
3 |
| HIM 255 Health Information in Alternative Care |
2 |
| HIM 256 Directed Clinical Practice II |
3 |
| HIM 258 Directed Clinical Practice III |
2 |
| HIM 260 Medical Reimbursement and Billing |
3 |
| MGT 155 Elements of Supervision |
3 |
Required General Education Courses 29 Credits
| English Composition I and II* |
6 |
| EGL 101 and EGL 132 |
|
| Humanities* |
3 |
| SPH 101 or SPH 105 |
|
| Mathematics* |
3 |
| MAT 114 |
|
| Science* |
8 |
| BIO 205 and BIO 206† |
|
| Social Sciences* |
3 |
| PSY 101 |
|
| Computer Literacy* |
3 |
| CIS 101 |
|
| Cultural Diversity* |
3 |
Total Required for A.A.S. Degree 70 Credits
†If not previously completed, BIO 206 must be taken concurrently with HIM 150.
Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Option Code 337
Certificate
This option prepares students for employment in hospitals, physicians’ offices and other health care settings as medical coders, abstractors and medical billers of clinical patient information using ICD-9-CM, HCPCS/CPT. In addition, students will learn about other related classification systems, clinical documentation requirements, prospective payment systems, e.g., diagnosis related groups (DRGs), reimbursement strategies and the processing of medical claims. The program incorporates classroom instruction and a practicum covering a wide variety of medical specialties in both ambulatory and inpatient care.
Graduates are eligible to take one of three national certifying examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a certified coding associate (CCA), certified coding specialist (CCS) or certified coding specialist-physician (CCS-P). Graduates are also eligible to take the national certifying examinations administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Program Concentration 25 Credits
| HIM 150 Fundamentals of Health Information |
5 |
| HIM 153 Medical Terminology |
4 |
| HIM 155 Disease Processes |
4 |
| HIM 158 Principles and Applications of ICD-9-CM |
4 |
| HIM 160 Principles and Applications of CPT |
2 |
| HIM 256 Directed Clinical Practice II |
3 |
| HIM 260 Medical Reimbursement and Billing |
3 |
Required General Education Courses 14 Credits
| EGL 101 |
3 |
| BIO 205 and BIO 206 |
8 |
| CIS 101 |
3 |
Total Required for Certificate 39 Credits
†If not previously completed, BIO 206 must be taken concurrently with HIM 150.