Health Information Management

Bachelor of Applied Science Requirements

Associate Degree Requirements 90 credits +
Bachelor Degree Requirements = Total 180 credits

Prerequisites (90-100 credits) Associate Degree in a health-related field, or Associate Degree in a business-related field, or At least 90 college-level credits

Lower Division Distribution Requirements ENGL&101 - English Composition BIO&175 - Human Anatomy & Physiology HIT 160 – Pathophysiology/Pharmacology MATH&146 OR MATH 136 - Introduction to Statistics Lower Division Non-Distribution Requirements  The following lower division non-distribution courses must completed with an earned grade of C or higher prior to taking 300 level HIM courses. Medical Terminology Excel 203 OR 2016 or 2019 MOS Core Level Certification  (Recommended for students beginning in fall 2020. Required for students beginning in fall 2021.)

General Education Electives (at least 15 credits – must include the following) The following general education electives must be completed with an earned grade of C or higher. They may be taken prior to, or concurrently with the HIM curriculum. Computer Concepts IT 246 - Database Implementation Medical Coding Medical Terminology

Preferred Course Work Students who have not completed coursework in the following areas may take individual study concurrently to meet these requirements. (arrangements made through HIM Advisor) Independent Study (0-6 credits) Healthcare Systems The Medical Record Healthcare Data Health Statistics and Research Terminologies, Nomenclatures and Payment Methodologies Medical Coding

Upper Level General Education Distribution Requirements The following general education distribution courses must be completed with an earned grade of C or higher. These courses are scheduled as part of the core curriculum after successful completion of lower division course requirements. ENGL 301 – Professional Writing and Communication in Healthcare PHIL 320 – Ethical Decision Making PSYC 301 – Fundamentals of Research for Healthcare

Choose one preferred Humanities and one preferred Social Science class from the list below. Two general education distribution electives must be completed with an earned grade of C or higher. They may be taken prior to, or concurrently with the HIM curriculum. Humanities (CMST 320 or PHIL 320 recommended) CMST&101 – Introduction to Communication CMST 110 – Multicultural Communication CMST&210 – Interpersonal Communication CMST&220 – Public Speaking CMST 320 – Professional and Organizational Communication PHIL&101 – Introduction to Philosophy   Social Science (PSYC 360 recommended) PSYC&100 – General Psychology PSYC&180 – Human Sexuality PSYC&220 – Abnormal Psychology PSYC 360 – Health Psychology SOC&101 – Introduction to Sociology SOC&201 – Social Problems SOC 262 – Race and Ethnic Relations

HIM BAS Upper Division Core The following upper division core curriculum must be completed with an earned grade of C or higher. HIM 301 – Foundations in Health Information LS 301 – Research Skills for Healthcare HIM 310 – Data Governance HIM 320 – Healthcare Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security HIM 330 – Revenue Cycle Management HIM 340 – Data Quality Management and Performance Improvement HIM 350 – System Analysis and Design HIM 410 – Healthcare Compliance HIM 420 – Human Resources Management and Leadership HIM 430 – Data Analytics HIM 440 – Organizational Management in Healthcare HIM 450 – Professional Practice Experience HIM 455 - Capstone

What is the cost of the program?

Approximately $15,917.50 - $16,147.50

The following cost estimate is based on a full time student who needs to complete 90 Credits (60 upper division HIM credits + 30 lower division general education). 15 quarterly credits x 6 quarters

Students are encouraged to review the official Tuition Rate/Student Approved Mandatory Fees information posted by Tacoma Community College. The following table reflects approximate tuition rates for a full-time resident student.

Breakdown of Costs

	Tuition/Fees	$2104.75 x 6 = $12,628.50
	Student approved mandatory fees	$187.50 x 6 = $1125.00
	Books and Miscellaneous*	$2164.00 to $2394.00
	TOTAL	$15,917.50 - $16,147.50

 

 

BOOKS AND MISCELLANEOUS COSTS *

	Books and supplies ($300 per quarter)	$1800.00
	Student membership in AHIMA (for non-RHITs)  OR  Professional membership in AHIMA (for RHITs)	$70.00 ($35.00/yr)  or  $300.00 ($150.00/yr)
	RHIA Credential Examination fee	$229.00
	Certified Background Check	$65.00
	TOTAL	$2164.00 to $2394.00

*all costs are approximate

Students are responsible for miscellaneous registration fees, purchasing any required textbooks, and are required to hold an active membership to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Check out the Types of Aid available for you at TCC. BAS students qualify for all aid types.

Program Effectiveness Outcomes

• Program Evaluation Survey: 100% of respondents would recommend program to a friend

• Graduation Rate: 100%

 

Upon successful completion of the Health Information Management Bachelor of Applied Science program, students will be able to:

1. Evaluate and implement policies and procedures surrounding Information Governance, to include classification systems, health record content and documentation, data governance, data management, and secondary data sources.
2. Assess, implement, and improve systems to ensure the protection of health information, to include health law, data privacy, confidentiality and security, and the release of information.
3. Analyze and Interpret data and implement technology used in informatics, to include health information technologies, information management strategic planning, analytics and decision support, health care statistics, research methods, consumer informatics, health information exchange, and information integrity and data quality.
4. Apply the principals of revenue management and implement processes for management and reporting of the revenue cycle.
5. Interpret policies and construct procedures for compliance of healthcare regulatory requirements, to include medical coding, fraud surveillance, and clinical documentation integrity.
6. Evaluate leadership models, theories, and skills required for successful leadership to include the areas of change management, work design and process improvement, human resource management, training and development, strategic and organizational management, financial management, project management, vendor/contract management, enterprise information management, all of which comply with the ethical standards of practice.

All Program Level Outcomes also align with TCC’s Degree Learning Outcomes. TCC has six measurable outcomes that all degree recipients are expected to meet.

• Core of Knowledge (COK): Demonstrate a basic knowledge of each of the distribution areas (Written Communication, Humanities, Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences), or, as applicable, specific professional/technical content, and program-level content and apply this knowledge to academic endeavors.
• Communication (COM): Listen, speak, read, and write effectively and use nonverbal and technological means to make connections between self and others.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving (CRT): Compare, analyze, and evaluate information and ideas to solve problems.
• Information & Information Technology (IIT): Locate, evaluate, retrieve, and ethically use relevant and current information of appropriate authority for academic or, as applicable, specific professional/technical applications.
• Intercultural Collaboration & Diversity (ICD): Demonstrate successful application of an interdependent, diverse, and multicultural worldview through collaborative engagement.
• Responsibility & Ethics (RES): Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes responsible and ethical behavior toward individuals, the community, and the environment.

Please note that your schedule will depend on your educational background and how many general education courses you need to be complete. 

Year One FALL QTR (12 credits) 

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
ENGL 301	Professional Writing and Communications in Healthcare	5
HIM 301	Foundations in Health Information	5
LS 301	Research Skills for Healthcare	2
Year One WINTER QTR (13 credits)
PSYC 301	Fundamentals of Research for Healthcare	5
HIM 310	Data Governance	5
HIM 320	Healthcare Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security	3
Year One SPRING QTR (15 credits)
HIM 330	Revenue Cycle Management	5
HIM 340	Data Quality Management and Performance Improvement	5
HIM 350	System Analysis and Design	5
Year One SUMMER QTR (optional)
Elective or distribution requirement	Recommended: PSYC 360 – Health Psychology	5
Elective or distribution requirement

 Year Two FALL QTR (10 credits)

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
PHIL 320	Ethical Decision Making	5
HIM 410	Healthcare Compliance	5
Elective or distribution requirement
Year Two WINTER QTR (10 credits)
HIM 420	Human Resource Management and Leadership	5
HIM 430	Data Analytics	5
Elective or distribution requirement
Year Two SPRING QTR (10 credits)
HIM 440	Organizational Management in Healthcare	5
HIM 450	Professional Practice Experience	3
HIM 455	Capstone	2

What does a Health Information Management Professional Do?

Health information (HI) professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications. They understand the workflow process in healthcare provider organizations, from large hospital systems to private physician practices, and are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records (EHRs). They ensure a patient’s health information is complete, accurate, and protected.

HI professionals have an extraordinary impact. They are the link between clinicians, administrators, technology designers, operations, and information technology professionals.

These professionals affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touch point in the healthcare delivery cycle. HI professionals work on the classification of diseases and treatments to ensure they are standardized for clinical, financial, and legal uses in healthcare. HI professionals care for patients by caring for their medical data and are responsible for the quality, integrity, security, and protection of patients’ health information.  (AHIMA, 2020)

Average Salary by Job Family

The following average salaries were reported in a 2019 AHIMA survey.  These are national averages and may not be reflective of your specific region.

Revenue Cycle Management/Coding and Billing  $66,370

• Revenue Cycle Manager or Director
• Revenue Cycle Auditor
• Coding Professional

Operations/Administration $81,950

• Director or Manager of Health Information Management
• Project Manager
• Release of Information
• Quality Improvement Management

Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) $84,300

• Clinical Documentation Manager or Specialist
• Director of CDI
• Clinical Data Coordinator

Compliance/Risk Management $89,230

• Quality Improvement Analyst
• Compliance Auditor
• Privacy Officer
• Information Security Management
• Director of Risk Management

Informatics/Data Analytics $83,490

• Clinical Informatics Coordinator
• Data Integrity Analyst
• Director of Clinical Informatics
• Research and Development Scientist

IT and Infrastructure $98,180

• Implementation Support Specialist
• Data Quality Manager
• System Analyst
• Data Architect
• Chief Technology Officer

There are several Master’s degree-level paths that graduates of the HIM BAS program have upon completion.

WGU offers Master’s degrees in multiple fields. They accept all Washington BAS degree graduates via a statewide transfer (articulation) agreement.

Pacific Lutheran University has a transfer agreement for all TCC BAS degrees to be accepted into all their Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Marketing Analytics degrees offered through their School of Business.

University of Washington-Tacoma’s Milgard School of Business (MSB) program accepts all TCC’s applied bachelor’s degrees into their Master of Science in Business Analytics.

In addition to the official transfer partnerships listed above, we have had HIM BAS graduates go on to other institutions - here are a few examples:

• Seattle University
  - School of Law
  - Legal Studies in Compliance & Risk Managment

• College of St. Scholastics
  - Health Informatics

• West Coast University
  - Master of Public Health

• Walden University
  - Social Worker in Healthcare

WGU MEMORANDOM OF UNDERSTANDING (PDF)

TCC TO PLU

UW TACOMA MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING