Health Information Coding Diploma (HI12)  Diploma


Program Description:

The Health Information Coding diploma prepares students to be medical coders and billers to classify medical records according to accepted standards. The classification of diagnoses and treatments is required for Medicare and insurance reimbursement in hospitals, outpatient clinics and medical offices. The program offers training in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, diagnostic coding, and medical procedural coding.

Entrance date:

Core courses: Each semester

Occupationally specific courses: Fall, Spring semester

Program admission requirements:

Minimum Test Scores

ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION– Reading 224 ACCUPLACER- Sentence Skills 60
Writing 236 Reading Comprehension 55
Arithmetic 229 Arithmetic 34

High School diploma or equivalent required for admission. Applicant must be at least 17 years old.

Applicant must submit a satisfactory criminal history check and must pass drug screening.

Credits Required for Graduation: 48

Beginning Spring 2022 (January 2022), ALL FIRST TIME college students will be required to take the College Success (COLL 1020) course.

Basic Skills Courses 8 credits
ENGL 1010

Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.

3
MATH 1012

Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, formula manipulation, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
PSYC 1010

Presents basic concepts within the field of psychology and their application to everyday human behavior, thinking, and emotion. Emphasis is placed on students understanding basic psychological principles and their application within the context of family, work and social interactions. Topics include an overview of psychology as a science, the nervous and sensory systems, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatment, stress and health, and social relations.

3
Occupational Courses 40 credits
ALHS 1011

Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

5
ALHS 1090

Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.

2
HIMT 1100

This course focuses on orienting the student to health information management. Topics include introducing students to the structure of healthcare in the United States and its providers, and the structure and function of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

3
HIMT 1151

Designed to provide students with computer and software skills used in medical offices. Topics include hardware and software components of computers for medical record applications; database software and information management; specialized information management systems in healthcare; methods of controlling confidentiality and patient rights; accuracy and security of health information data in computer systems as well as future directions of information technology in healthcare.

4
HIMT 1200

This course focuses on the study of legal principles applicable to health information, patient care and health records. Topics include: working of the American Legal System, courts and legal procedures, principles of liability, patient record requirements, access to health information, confidentiality and informed consent, the judicial process of health information, specialized patient records, risk management and quality assurance, HIV information, and the electronic health record.

3
HIMT 1250

This course provides a study of content, storage, retrieval, control, retention, and maintenance of health information. Topics include: health data structure, content and standards, healthcare information requirements and standards.

2
HIMT 1360

Introduces drug therapy with emphasis on safety, classification of drugs, their action, side effects, and/or adverse reactions. Also introduces the basic concept used in the administration of drugs. Topics include: introduction to pharmacology, sources and forms of drugs, drug classification, and drug effects on the body systems.

3
HIMT 1400
Prerequisites: ALHS 1011, BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, BIOL 2114L, ALHS 1090, HIMT 1350 Corequisite: MAST 1120

This course provides the student an introduction to Medical Coding & Classification of diseases, injuries, encounters, and procedures using standard applications of Medical Coding Guidelines to support reimbursement of healthcare services.

4
HIMT 1410
Prerequisite: HIMT 1400

This course is a continuation of HIMT 1400 (Coding and Classification I). This course provides the student with case studies for in-depth review of inpatient and outpatient record formats as found in current healthcare settings. Advanced coding skills and use of industry applications to apply coding and billing standards will be the focus to develop auditing and compliance strategies in the work setting.

3
HIMT 2400
Prerequisite: HIMT 1400

This course provides an introduction to, and application of, codes using CPT/HCPCS system. Codes will be applied to workbook exercises, case studies, and actual outpatient charts. Codes will be assigned manually as well as by an encoder.

3
HIMT 2410
Prerequisite: HIMT 1400 Corequisite: HIMT 2400

This course focuses on how the revenue cycle is impacted by various departments within the facility such as patient access/registration, case management/quality review, health information management, and patient accounting. Subjects include insurance plans, medical necessity, claims processing, accounts receivable, chargemaster, DRGs, APCs, edits, auditing and review. ICD and CPT coding as they relate to the billing function will be reviewed. The importance of revenue cycle management for fiscal stability is emphasized.

3
HIMT 2500

This course provides students with the opportunity to review for the certification exam. Students are also afforded the opportunity to develop a portfolio as they seek to make the transition into the workforce. Topics include: searching the job market; preparing the portfolio; stress management and burnout; test-taking strategies; and reviewing for the certification exam.

4
Faculty
Click to view profile for Deborah Nieves
Program Chair

Chair/Instructor Health Information Technology Management
Center of Excellence in Information Technology Building (CEIT), Room 208

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