Health Information Management, A.A.S.

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The Health Information Management Program is a two-year associate of applied science degree designed to prepare individuals to manage and code the medical information obtained in the medical records, organize the coded information for reimbursement purposes, abstract other data to meet administrative and governmental requirements, manage medical and legal inquiries for medical information, calculate healthcare statistics, perform data analytics, and manage the HIM department operational and human resource functions. Graduates of this Program will be prepared for a variety of positions in the health information services market. The Program is designed to offer a wide variety of learning experiences including classroom and online instruction, use of computers and software designed for health information management, and professional practice experiences in various medical settings.

Health Information Management programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) in order for graduates to be eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential.

This major is specifically designed for students who plan to enter the workforce after graduation. Students who plan to pursue a higher degree should plan to meet with the HIM Program Director or faculty member.

To facilitate success in this program, all students should enroll in ORN 1010 - Orientation: Learning to Succeed during their first semester at DSCC.

Due to the changing conditions in the external environment in the Health Information Management profession and medical settings such as annual ICD and CPT coding updates, accreditation compliance, and new and amended legislation, HIM classes taken more than 5 years previously should be repeated except for Medical Terminology.

Students in the Health Information Management Program must earn a C or better in all classes in the HIM curriculum.

Major/Concentration Codes: HIMM-HIMC

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General Education Requirements:

ENGL 1010 - English Composition I Credits: 3
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Credits: 3^*
Social Sciences Elective Credits: 3^*
BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4

Major Core Requirements:

HIMT 1300 - Medical Terminology Credits: 3
HIMT 1301 - Introduction to Health Information Management Credits: 3
HIMT 1302 - Legal Aspects of Health Information Credits: 3
HIMT 1303 - Basic ICD Coding I Credits: 3
HIMT 1305 - Computer Applications in Health Information Credits: 3
HIMT 1401 - Disease Processes Credits: 4
HIMT 2211 - Quality Improvement Credits: 2
HIMT 2301 - CPT Coding Credits: 3
HIMT 2302 - Basic ICD Coding II Credits: 3
HIMT 2307 - Professional Practice Experience I Credits: 3
HIMT 2309 - Data Analysis and Statistics Credits: 3
INFS 1010 - Computer Applications Credits: 3

Additional Degree Requirements:

HIMT 2205 - Revenue Cycle Management Credits: 2
HIMT 2208 - Professional Practice Experience II Credits: 2
HIMT 2303 - Advanced Coding Credits: 3
HIMT 2304 - HIM Management Principles Credits: 3
HIMT 2312 - Seminar in Health Information Management Credits: 3
ORN 1010 - Orientation: Learning to Succeed Credits: 3

Total: 69 Semester Hours

^*For lists of eligible electives, see the appropriate section of the General Education Core Curriculum Requirements .