Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 College Catalog 
    
2018-2019 College Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Health Information Technology, AAAS Planning Guide


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Program Description:

The Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills in specific career fields to enter the workforce directly upon completion of the degree. Shoreline Community College works closely with local advisory committees comprised of industry professionals to ensure students receive the knowledge and skills currently in demand.

Program Advisor:

Melanie Meyer (Advises last names A-L)
206-546-4757 mmeyer@shoreline.edu Rm 2334
Gloria Anderson, Med, RHIA, CCS (advises last names M-Z)
206-546-4707 ganderso@shoreline.edu Rm 2333

AAAS Degree (92-94 Credits)


Note: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. However, the information is subject to change without notice and final career decisions are the responsibility of the student.

Additional Information
Prior to placement in a clinical practice site, students are required to submit a resume, sign a Professional Standards Agreement, and provide a health assessment with current immunizations and TB testing. A criminal and government agency background check is also required. Students are responsible for these costs. Students should anticipate additional expenses for parking and travel related to their practicum placement. Students must be available for up to 2 continuous weeks (80 hours) for the HIIM Professional Practice Experience.

Refer to the program website at http://new.shoreline.edu/virtual-campus/hiim or contact one of the program advisors for more information.

Professional Certifications
Graduates are eligible to write the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). In addition, graduates are eligible to write the AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist-Physician’s Office (CCS-P), entry-level Certified Coding Associate (CCA), and American Academy of Professional Coders Certified Professional Coding (CPC, CPC-H) examinations. The AHIMA mastery-level Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) examination for inpatient coding is also available.

Program Information:


Length of Program: 92-94 Credits
Completion Award: AAAS Degree
Enrollment: Fall Quarter only
Approximate Quarterly Costs: $45-$120
(in addition to tuition, books and parking)
Website: www.shoreline.edu/virtual-campus/hiim/

EPC 529

Program Prerequisites:


MATH 098 Intermediate Algebra I  or equivalent placement test score, Quantitative Reasoning course requiring Algebra completion, i.e. ECON& 201  (Micro Economics) or CHEM& 121  (Introduction to Chemistry); ENGL& 101 English Composition I ; BIOL& 170 Human Biology ; and computer literacy (basic computer application skills including working in PC Windows environment). A separate initial admissions process is required. Acceptance into Shoreline Community College does not guarantee acceptance into the Health Information Technology program. Early application to the program is advised. Students are required to submit a Criminal and Government Agency Background Check to complete the clinical practicum requirement and work in a health care setting.

Academic Requirements:


Students are required to maintain a grade of 2.0 in ALL courses. Strong English grammar skills are essential for the program and profession. Since courses are not offered every quarter and some courses require prerequisites, students MUST confer with an HIIM Advisor to develop an academic plan. Check program website for advisor information and access to required computer hardware and software.

General Education Core Requirements (13-15 Credits)


Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning (5 Credits)


Multicultural Understanding (3-5 Credits)


Choose one of the following courses: BUS 103 , CMST 203 , EDUC& 240 , GWS 284 , HIST 245 , MCS 105 

Human Relations (5 Credits)


Approval To Graduate


Student Name, SID and Date: ____________________________________________________

Faculty Advisor and Date: _______________________________________________________

Division Dean and Date: ________________________________________________________

Credential Approval and Date: ____________________________________________________

Sample Schedule for AAAS Degree


All courses are offered on-line

* Only offered on-line once per year, during the quarter listed.
** HIIM 134 Medical Terminology  is offered every quarter.

Health Information Technology-What is it?


Health Information Technology is the collection of health information and the management of patient records. Technicians monitor the accuracy of records, analyzing for quality of care and proper documentation. They assign numerical codes for diagnoses and medical procedures. They compile data for medical registries and use statistics to prepare clinical reports. Technicians are also responsible for ensuring authorized access to medical records, protecting the confidentiality of patient information. The Health Care Information Technology program is offered only online and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Program Outcomes:


Students who successfully complete this program -by achieving a grade of 2.0 or better for each individual course in the program and program prerequisites - should have a working knowledge of:

  1. Medical and clinical terminology, anatomy and physiology, human diseases and pharmacology.
  2. Health care delivery and information systems for hospitals and other health care facilities.
  3. Patient clinical records contents and current practices in coding and classification systems.
  4. Components of fee setting, prospective payment systems and how to optimize insurance reimbursements.
  5. Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance requirements and billing procedures for various health care facilities.
  6. Computer applications and internet use in health care, electronic health records, and personal computer software programs (MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and flowcharting).
  7. Legal and ethical issues related to health care information, including the release and security of confidential data.
  8. Collection and analysis of health care statistics for research, cancer and other disease based registries.
  9. Management principles for the health information supervisor.

Career Opportunities-What can I do with a Degree in Health Information Technology?


The job outlook for health information specialists is very good with graduates working as Health Information Technicians, Medical Record Technicians, Coding Specialists, Cancer Registrars, Medical Record Supervisors and Health Information Managers. For salary information in your state, please visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov.

Potential employers include: Hospitals, nursing homes, medical and dental offices, insurance companies, and home health agencies. For more, please visit career information and resources at www.shoreline.edu/acc/CareerCounseling.aspx.

Shoreline Community College


16101 Greenwood Ave N
Shoreline, WA 98133-5696

(206) 546-4101

www.shoreline.edu

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