HIM Program Course Descriptions

HIM 2003. Fundamentals of Medical Transcription. Fall.

Introduction to the healthcare record and medical documents. Transcription of basic medical dictation, incorporating English usage and machine transcription skills, medical knowledge, and proofreading and editing skills, and meeting progressively demanding accuracy and productivity standards. 

HIM 3003. Advanced Medical Transcription. Spring.

Prerequisite: HIM 2003, AHS 2013.

Transcription of advanced original medical dictation, using advanced proofreading and editing skills, while meeting progressively demanding accuracy and productivity standards. Introduction to Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards for the healthcare record.

HIM 3024. Introduction for Health Information Management. Fall.

Prerequisite: Admission to the HIM Program.

A study of the history of health records, professional ethics, the functions of a health information department, retention of records, medical forms, health information practices, and responsibilities to healthcare administration, medical staff and other medical professionals.

HIM 3033. Basic Coding Principles. Fall.

Prerequisite: BIOL 2004, AHS 3013, or permission of instructor.

An in-depth study of the principles of disease and procedural coding using the ICD-9-CM classification system. Areas emphasized during the course include: the purpose of coding, the definition of key terms, accurate application of coding principles, methods to assure quality data, and a review of the impact of prospective reimbursement on the function of coding.

HIM 3043. Advanced Concepts in Health Information. Fall.

Prerequisite: HIM 3024.

A study of such advanced concepts as quality improvement, utilization review, licensure and accreditation standards, medical staff and interdisciplinary relationships.

HIM 3133. Alternative Health Records. Spring.

Prerequisite: HIM 3024.

A study of health record requirements in non-traditional settings such as cancer programs, ambulatory care facilities, mental health centers and long term care facilities.

HIM 3132. Health Data and Statistics. Spring.

Prerequisite: HIM 3024.

A study of the methods of recording diagnoses and operations by recognized systems of disease, procedural and pathological nomenclatures and classification systems, manual and computerized systems of indexing and abstracting, research and statistical techniques, and health information data handling.

HIM 3142. Healthcare Registries. Spring.

A junior-level course intended to explore the many different health registries that exist, with special attention to cancer registry programs. This course will also orient the student to the information and skills needed to abstract cancer cases using the ICD-O-2 coding system, Registries Operations and Data Standards (ROADS) manual, and CPDMS software; as well as stage cancers using the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual and the SEER Summary Staging Guide.

HIM 4033. Advanced Coding Principles. Spring.

Prerequisite: HIM 3033.

A continuation of HIM 3033, dealing with advanced principles of coding using ICD-9-CM and CPT-4. Experience with coding of health records as well as DRG grouping and the administrative aspects of coding will be emphasized.

HIM 4063. Organization and Administration. Fall.

Prerequisites: HIM 3024 and senior standing.

A study of the application of the principles of organization, administration, supervision, human relations, work methods, and organizational patterns in the health information department. The duties and relationships of the health information manager and the social forces affecting the department and current trends in hospital and medical care are investigated.

HIM 4073. Legal Concepts for the Health Fields. Spring.

Prerequisites: HIM 3024 and senior standing, or permission of instructor.

A study of the principles of law as applied to the health field. Consideration is given to the importance of health records as legal documents as well as a general introduction to the law, administration of the law legal aspects of healthcare facility and medical staff organization, release of information, confidential communication and consents and authorizations.

HIM 4083. Health Organization Trends. Spring.

Prerequisites: HIM 3024 and senior standing, or permission of instructor.

A comprehensive review of the trends and changes in the healthcare field. Historical aspects of healthcare organization and governmental health agencies are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on current events in the healthcare arena.

HIM 4092. Research in Health Information Management. Spring.

Prerequisites: HIM 3024 and senior standing.

A study of the specific research methodology used in a health information management setting. Emphasis will be given to hands-on performance of research in conjunction with area healthcare facilities and agencies. Formal presentation of research will also be a component of the course.

HIM 4153. Principles of Disease. Spring.

Prerequisites: AHS 2013, BIOL 2004.

An introduction to medical science, including the etiology, treatment and prognosis of various diseases. Emphasis is given to the medical information as viewed from the standpoint of a health information management professional.

HIM 4182. Directed Practice I. Fall.

Prerequisites: HIM 3024, HIM 3042, HIM 3131, HIM 3132,HIM 3033.

Active participation within an actual health information management department providing a supervised learning experience through which the student develops insight, understanding, and skills in health information procedures, accepts responsibilities and recognizes the need for confidentiality. $5 laboratory fee.

HIM 4292. Directed Practice II. Spring.

Prerequisites: HIM 4182.

A supervised learning experience through which the student learns to recognize the contribution of and learns to work with other professional and non-professional personnel, learns to recognize and deal with personnel problems in a health information department. $5 laboratory fee.

HIM 4892. Seminar in Health Information. First summer term.

Prerequisites: HIM 4895.

A seminar, utilizing the case method approach, on problem situations encountered in the field of health information management. This course includes discussion of problems that arise during their affiliation experience.

HIM 4895. Affiliation. First summer term.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all HIM courses except HIM 4892.

Provides the student with management experience in the activities and responsibilities of the health information management professional. Augments theoretical instruction received during previous courses. Student is actively involved in the management process while under direct supervision of a qualified health information management professional. Although every effort is made to secure a convenient local, the student must assume full financial responsibility for this assignment. $5 laboratory fee.

HIM 4983. Systems Analysis for Health Information Management. Fall.

Prerequisites: HIM 3024 and senior standing, COMS 1003, COMS 2003.

A course designed to provide a detailed study of the relationship between health information management departments and computerized information systems. Students will learn from a variety of projects related directly to the clinical setting.

HIM 4991-4. Special Problems in Health Information Management.

Open to health information management senior students only.

The problems will vary to fit the needs of the student and reflect the continual changes in the allied health field.