Program Chair and Associate Professor-Biedermann. Assistant Professor-Moczygemba, Thomas. Clinical Faculty-Acevedo, Alexander, Anderson, Baca, Beans, Benavidez, Benich, Billalobos, Brown, Cannon, Cantu, Carl, Carson, Chiuminetta, Colovas, Cone, DeLeo, Dunham, Fagin, S. Freeman, V. Freeman, Goerges, Gonzales, Gutierrez, Harmeson, Harold, Harper, Harvey, Heide, Helmke, Janssen, Kowalski, Kravitz, Lawson, Lopez, Lusk, McCauley, McCoy, Moody, Novosad, O'Mealy, Peltier, Pruett, Rains, Robey, M. Sanchez, Y. Sanchez, Schultz, Shults, Spence, Stults, Trlica, Tucker, Vallance, Welch, Willard, Williams, Williamson, Winzeler, Woods, Wright.
Liability Insurance
Immunization Requirements
It is a policy of the School of Health Professions that each student must provide a Health Report completed by a physician, and must take certain immunizations before the student can be placed in a clinical or internship assignment. Information on these requirements and forms to be supplied may be obtained through the program office.
Minor in Health Information Management
A minor in Health Information Management requires 21 hours, HIM 3306, 3363, 3365, 3370, 4355, 4382, and 4385. Appropriate sequencing of courses is necessary for progression to subsequent courses. This minor would enhance and broaden the scope of various other fields of study by providing a well-rounded introduction and an opportunity for practical applications of the administrative functions related to the management of health information. Completing this minor does not meet eligibility requirements for the R.R.A. (Registered Record Administrator) certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association.
Health Information Management
The program in health information management prepares students to work in the health information management profession which focuses on health care data and the management of health care information resources. The profession addresses the nature, structure, and translation of data into usable forms of information for the advancement of health and health care of individuals and populations.
Health information management professionals collect, integrate, and analyze primary and secondary health care data, disseminate information and manage information resources, related to the research, planning, provision, and evaluation of health care services.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the American Health Information Management Association Council on Accreditation. Upon completion of the degree, graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the American Health Information Management Association Registry Examination.
The health information management program is a two-year program consisting of the junior and senior years. The following core curriculum (freshman and sophomore years) should be completed prior to admission to the health information management program. Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the program. Applications for admission to the program must be submitted by March 1 to be considered for the following fall.
Admission Process
1. Second semester sophomore standing.2. Minimum overall grade point average of 2.25.
3. Personal interview with health information management program Admission Committee. Students will be informed of their status by April 1.
4. Students must make no less than a "C" in each HIM course to meet graduation requirements, and progression in the program may be delayed.
It is strongly recommended that students present themselves for academic advising as soon as health information management has been selected as a major.
Advanced standing in the health information management program will require a review of the student's credentials. Because of course sequencing and the scheduling of clinical assignments, students who drop out of the program for one or more semesters will be required to reapply for admission and be re-interviewed by the admissions committee.
During the second semester of the senior year, students are required to take Internship I, II, and HIM Practicum. These courses require that the students spend a minimum of six weeks in other institutions (hospitals, health agencies, etc.) away from campus. Students must furnish their own transportation and housing. Because of the time and distances involved, no courses other than those listed can be taken in the final semester of the senior year. Upon satisfactory completion of the program the student is eligible to sit for the American Health Information Management Registry Examination.
Freshman
Year Health
Professions 1310 3 Biology 1420
4 Chemistry
1410 4 Communication
1310 3 English
1310, 1320 6 General
Studies 1100 1 History
1310, 1320 6 Mathematics
1315 3 Phy. Fitness
Perspective (2 courses) 2 Social
Science* 3 35 Sophomore
Year Art, Dance,
Music, or Theatre 3313 3 Biology 2430
4 Computer
Science 1308 3 English
Literature* 3 International
Perspective* 3 Health
Information Mgt 2360 3 Health
Professions 3302 3 Philosophy
1305 3 Political
Science 2310, 2320 6 Elective
3 34 Junior
Year HIM 3220,
3306, 3363, 3367 11 HIM 3368,
3464, 4345, 4355, 4382 16 HA 3308
3 30 Senior
Year HIM 3365,
3370, 4215, 4225, 4364 13 HIM 4383,
4385, 4388, 4389 12 HA 3327,
4376 6 31
*See General Studies
requirements on page 60.
NOTE 1: Biology 2430 is required; HIM 2360, HP 1310 and Computer Science 1308 are preferred before admission to the program can be considered.
NOTE 2: Any student who graduated from high school after January 1988 and did not complete two years of the same foreign language in high school is required to take 6-8 hours of foreign language.
Courses in Health Information Management (HIM)
2360 Medical Terminology. (3-0). Recognizing and understanding the vocabulary of the health care professions. Emphasis on medical prefixes, suffixes, and word roots as used in oral and written communications.
3220 Professional Practice Aspects of HIM. (2-0) Introduction to the role of a HIM professional in the dynamic healthcare environment of today. Emphasis will be on professional expectations, career development, continuing education, and practice issues. Critical thinking and oral and written communication skills will be evaluated and reinforced.
3306 Analysis and Interpretation of Healthcare Data. (3-0) Collection, analysis, display, interpretation and management of healthcare data. Definitions, sources, computations, reporting systems and methods of quality statistical process control will be explored as they relate to the management of health information.
3363 Introduction and Technical Aspects of Health Information Management. (2-2). An introduction into the principles and procedures used in medical record organization, maintenance and retention, numbering and filing systems and procedures, forms control and design, and microfilming. Emphasis will be placed upon the function and duties of the medical record administrator, and relationships of the medical record to the health care delivery system.
3365 HIM Departmental Management and Relationships. (3-0) The Medical Record Administrator's relationships to the health care institution, the medical staff, and related committees. Survey and certification procedures for accrediting and licensing agencies.
3367 Disease and Medical Science I. (3-0) An introduction to the general disease process. Stress is placed upon the occurrence of disease, the signs and symptoms of disease, the test values and findings of disease, and the therapeutic treatment of disease. Prerequisite: HIM 2360 or consent of the program chair.
3368 Disease and Medical Science II. (3-0) A continuation of Disease and Medical Science I. Prerequisite: HIM 3367.
3370 Comparative Record Systems. (2-2) Theory and procedures for the maintenance and regulation of patient health information records in non-hospital medical care facilities to include long term care, ambulatory care, psychiatric care, rehabilitation and prison record keeping systems.
3464 Nosology. (2-2) Introduction to ICD-CM, CPT and other classifications and nomenclatures. Emphasis will be placed on manual coding of diagnoses and procedures from the acute care facility and the introduction of the use of encoding systems.
4101 Problems in Health Information Management. (1-0) Comprehensive study of selected problems related to professional practice issues and changes in the health information management field. Emphasis will be on problem solving and application of management skills. May be repeated with permission of department chair.
4215 Health Information Management Directed Experience. (1-8) Supervised experience in health information management technical procedures. Student will develop insight and understanding of the health care delivery system as related to health information management responsibilities and procedures.
4225 Health Information Management Research and Education. (2-0) A course of independent reading and research with the student completing a research project and developing an in-service instructional module. Emphasis is on the application of health information management theory and clinical practice.
4345 Fundamentals of Health Information Systems. (2-2). Course will provide the student with an exposure to the various computer systems in health care. In addition, the students will study applications available to the health information professional and management of these systems.
4355 Management of HIM Systems. (3-0) Introduction to the emerging roles of health information managers in the age of the computer-based patient record. Emphasis on understanding the functions of health information systems and the essential management concepts and practices.
4364 Classification, Nomenclature and Reimbursement. (2-2) Continued study of ICD-9-CM, CPT 4 and other classification and nomenclatures. The relationship with inpatient and ambulatory care reimbursement systems is also explored.
4382 Quality Improvement Regulations & Procedures for HIM. (3-0) Overview of regulatory agency requirements for utilization review and quality assurance. Methods for integrating quality assurance, risk management and utilization review. Methods and procedures for peer review. Completion of medical care evaluation studies.
4383 Seminar in Health Information Management. (3-0) Problem-solving course designed to assimilate actual internship encounters and theory. Emphasis is on integration of knowledge and making transition to the applications required to function as a health information manager.
(WI) 4385 Health Information Management Practicum. (0-8) Assignments made to promote uniformity and competency levels required of entry-level medical record professionals. The majority of assignments will be completed in the HIM lab utilizing records, the computer capabilities, and other resources available for practical applications of management skills. To be completed during final semester. (Capstone Course)
(WI) 4388 Internship I. (1-40) Administrative training under the direction of a Registered Record Administrator. Stress on personnel problems, interdepartmental relations, and committee assignments. Full-time participation of the student is required.
(WI) 4389 Internship II. (1-40) Administrative training under the direction of a Registered Record Administrator in a non-traditional healthcare setting. Affiliation will be in long-term care facilities, home health agencies, State and Federal agencies, clinic and community health agencies. Full-time participation of the student is required