College Catalog

The Health Information Technology major prepares students to manage health-care data and information resources. The curriculum provides training in planning, collecting, aggregating, analyzing, and disseminating individual patient and aggregate clinical data. Study includes the nature, structure, and translation of data into usable forms of information for the advancement of health and health care of individuals and populations. Students learn how to apply this information to the day-to-day activities of a health information manager. These activities include designing, implementing, and maintaining automated and manual health information systems; determining health information policies; developing the departmental budget; hiring, supervising, and evaluating employees; providing in-service education; serving on organizational committees; and assisting with research. Students are eligible to sit for a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam that is offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), allowing students to distinguish themselves from non-credentialed individuals and improve their employment prospects.

Career Opportunities

Health Information Management (HIM) professionals enjoy a broad selection of job opportunities and options for professional growth. Based on skills, education, and interests, some of the positions available include HIM department director; HIM system manager, data quality manager, information security officer, HIM college instructor, and consultant. Other job titles include privacy officer, compliance officer, health data analyst, patient information coordinator, physician practice manager, and director of quality management. Jobs in health information management are available in every state as well as internationally. A degree in health information management is portable, preparing graduates to work nearly anywhere.

Recommended High School Subjects

English/communications, biology with lab, anatomy and physiology, intermediate algebra, general business courses, keyboarding and introduction to computers.

Special Admissions Requirements

Current, valid RHIT certification. and/or graduate of a CAHIIM (or CAAHEP if graduated before CAHIIM became the accrediting body) approved associate degree program in Health Information. Other applicants will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Remediation Strategies

Students are expected to remediate all English, reading and math deficiencies by the end of the first year.

Transfer Procedures

Health information workers who have earned an AAS degree in Health Information Technology from a CAHIIM (or CAAHEP) accredited institution and/or the RHIT credential will be accepted into the BHI degree. Their previous AAS work and/or credential will be credited toward the requirements in semesters one through four. These students will receive the 39 "Previous Health Information Program Credits" by virtue of their RHIT credential or earned associate's degree. Any general education course requirements in semesters one through four that were not completed in the AAS degree must be completed as part of the BHI course work. All students entering the BHI major will be treated as transfer students, including students who graduated from Penn College's associate-degree Health Information major. All student transcripts will be evaluated by Admissions. All general education/liberal arts courses that meet core College requirements for baccalaureate degrees will be eligible for transfer according to College policy. The transfer of health information credits is evaluated on an individual basis according to the program's policy. Students must have a minimum grade of "C" (2.0) in courses transferred into the BHI major. All Penn College associate-degree requirements will apply toward bachelor-degree requirements.

Program Goals

A graduate of this major should be able to:

• demonstrate the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) entry-level competencies.
• manage health care data according to established legal and accrediting agency guidelines and standards.
• calculate, analyze, and manage health statistics and other health information for use by various health care professionals.
• organize and coordinate quality management programs for use in health care decision making.
• manage access and disclosure of confidential patient information.
• implement and manage the use of technology for data collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of health information, including computer-based patient record systems.
• plan and implement various systems used to collect, store, analyze, and report health information.
• develop human-relation skills and successfully apply those skills to a variety of business situations.
• demonstrate knowledge of financial management principles.
• apply project management techniques to ensure efficient workflow and appropriate outcomes.
• recognize and develop the skills necessary for life-long learning.
• apply information literacy to personal, professional, and other related areas.
• develop critical thinking, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• evaluate and use professional literature.
• understand the fundamentals of good communications and apply those fundamentals in written, oral, and visual delivery methods.

Curriculum

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).