Health Information Management
Program Chair
Char Gore, RHIA, CCS
253.566.5082 cgore@tacomacc.edu
TCC’s online Health Information Management (HIM) program prepares students for employment in hospitals, ambulatory health care facilities, physician practices, skilled nursing facilities, state or federal health agencies, insurance providers, software vendors, and information technology departments.
The HIM program provides a combination of medical knowledge and business applications and leads to an Associate of Applied Sciences degree. Graduates are eligible to write the nationally recognized certification exam for Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Prospective students are encouraged to visit the AHIMA careers website (http://hicareers.com) to view career opportunities and extensive professional resources.
Degree completion and attainment of the RHIT credential may provide the opportunity to enter a university level 2+2 Health Information Administration program and become eligible to sit for the Registered AHIMA Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential. Students who wish to transfer to four-year colleges and universities should work closely with their TCC advisor and contact their transfer institutions to determine transfer requirements.
TCC’s HIM program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). Skills students acquire through the program are identified in the AHIMA Associate Degree Entry-Level Competencies for the profession (http://www.cahiim.org).
Entry into the HIM program is on a space available basis. There is no formal application process.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the AAS degree in Health Information Management students will:
- Apply the American Health Information Association of HIM Associate Degree Entry-level Competencies within the following subdomains: Health Data Management; Health Statistics, Biomedical Research, and Quality Management; Health Services Organization and Delivery; Information Technology and Systems; and Organizational Resources.
- Identify the cultural diversity found in health care and the value of understanding these differences to work together in a multicultural environment.
- Accept responsibility for their own learning and act in an ethical manner.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
This is a full online learning program. Students are required to have 24/7 internet access with reliable computer hardware and software. For more information go to www.tacomacc.edu/onlineclasses/gettingstarted/. Students must be familiar with and comfortable using computers. Those who need remedial computer training should take TCC’s CU 100 course (2-credits) prior to program entry. Students are required to use Microsoft Office programs, specifically Word and PowerPoint. Those who are uncomfortable with either of these applications should take CU 102 Word I (2 credits) and/or CU 104 PowerPoint (1 credit) prior to program entry.
Professional Practice Experience internships for the program “Capstone” courses require:
- Criminal and federal fraud background checks
- Health insurance
- Immunizations
Associate in Applied Sciences Degree
(101-102 credits)
All prerequisite courses must be completed with passing grades within two attempts before enrolling in HIM core courses. There is a 10-year time limit for all math and science prerequisite courses.
- Prerequisites (15 credits)
High School diploma or GED |
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Assessment at college-level reading or completion of READ 95 |
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Human Biology with Lab |
5 |
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Business Math |
5 |
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English Composition I |
5 |
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- 1st Quarter (fall/spring) (13 credits)
Success Strategies for HIM Students |
2 |
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Health Care Delivery Systems |
3 |
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HIM Health Data Structure, Content and Standards |
5 |
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Medical Terminology I |
3 |
- 2nd Quarter (winter/fall) (13 credits)
Medical Terminology II |
5 |
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Beginning ICD-9-CM Diagnostic Coding |
2 |
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Clinical Classification Systems |
3 |
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Health Care Privacy, Confidentiality, Legal and Ethics |
3 |
- 3rd Quarter (fall/spring) (18 credits)
Health Care Statistics and Research |
2 |
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Pathophysiology |
5 |
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Clinical Classification Systems |
3 |
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Intermediate ICD-9-CM Coding |
5 |
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Excel 1 (can take anytime-if taking the IT track then must complete prior to taking CU 210) |
3 |
- 4th Quarter (fall/spring) (15 credits)
CPT Coding |
5 |
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Data Quality and Performance Improvement |
5 |
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ICD-10-CM Coding |
3 |
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Access I (can take anytime-if taking the IT track then must complete prior to taking CU 210) |
2 |
- 5th Quarter (winter/fall) (16 credits)
HIM Revenue Cycle - 2 |
5 |
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Information and Communication Technologies |
5 |
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Health Information Management and Leadership |
3 |
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ELECTIVE TRACK - TAKE ONE OR THE OTHER |
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Advanced Coding (coding track) |
3 |
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Access II (IT track) |
3 |
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- 6th Quarter (spring/winter) (14-15 credits)
HIM Capstone |
5 |
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HIM 255 |
HIM Professional Practice Experience |
5 |
Introduction to Product Management (offered spring and summer only) |
2 |
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ELECTIVE TRACK - TAKE ONE OR THE OTHER |
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Coding Clinical (Coding track) |
2 |
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Data Modeling (offered spring only) (IT track) |
3 |
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or IT 248 |
Database Modeling (offered spring only) (IT track) |
2 |
Certificate Option Available
An e-HIM (electronic-Health Information Management) certificate is also offered in collaboration with TCC’s Networking & Convergence Technologies program. This 43-credit certificate is designed to complement the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential. The certificate program provides information technology skills that allow HIM professionals to participate on health information management IT teams working in electronic development and/or management of health information. For more information, visit www.tacomacc.edu/ehimcertificateprogram.