Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is a degree program that is specially designed for busy HIT professionals. As a student in this program you will be assigned to a small cohort of your peers led by a faculty member. This learning community will interact with you through online communication tools such as the discussion board, weekly chat sessions, Wikis, and e-mail. All course content including multimedia lectures and e-learning tools, will be delivered directly to you via the course Web site.
Courses are scheduled in two seven-week periods per quarter to allow you to focus your studies on one course at a time and in 9 academic terms. Below is the course of study prescribed for the BS degree.
HIM 4004 Healthcare Statistics & Research Methods (5 Credits)
Analysis and presentation of data and introduction to research methods.
- Statistical analysis of healthcare data
- Descriptive, inferential, and vital statistics
- Data reporting and presentation techniques
- Computerized statistical packages
- Research design and methods
- National guidelines regarding human subjects’ research
- Institutional Review Board process (IRB)
HIM 4006 Quality Management & Performance Improvement (5 credits)
Advanced study of the application of QI tools, evaluation of documentation standards, quality improvement, utilization and risk management, and credentialing.
- Quality assessment and management tools
- Utilization and resource management
- Risk management
- Disease management process
- Outcomes measurement
HIM 3006 Health Data Management (5 credits)
Advanced study of methods and techniques to manage healthcare data. Emphasis will be placed on documentation guidelines and evaluation of compliance with regulations and standards.
- Structure and use of health information
- Healthcare data sets
- Data collection tools
- Standards and regulations for documentation
- Health information standards
HIM 3004 Issues in Legal Aspects & Healthcare Delivery (5 credits)
Discussion of national trends in health care delivery. Students will explore forces outside healthcare facilities that affect health information management. Advanced study of legal and ethical issues in healthcare with a focus on practical applications in information management. Topics include managing access and disclosure of personal health information and promoting ethical standards of practice.
- Organization of healthcare systems
- Components and operation of healthcare organizations including e-health delivery
- Professional and practice related ethical issues
- Privacy, confidentiality, security principles, policies, and procedures
- Health information laws, regulations, and standards (HIPAA, e-health, JCAHO, state laws)
- Elements of compliance program
- Professional and practice related ethical issues
HIM 3016 Clinical Data Management & Reimbursement System (5 credits)
Application and analysis of the relationship between clinical code assignment and reimbursement.
Emphasis will be placed on management of clinical data required for reimbursement. Students will apply data analysis skills to monitor the accuracy and completeness of coded data.
- Compliance strategies and reporting
- Healthcare taxonomies, clinical vocabularies/nomenclatures
- Clinical data and reimbursement management
- Severity of illness systems
- Chargemaster management
- Casemix management
- Audit process
- Payment systems
HIM 3018 Human Resources & Financial Management in Healthcare (5 credits)
Application of the principles in managing health information management (HIM) departments in healthcare facilities. Students will apply theories and utilize best practices to the management of human resources. The examination of the financial aspects of health care and accounting principles and how it relates to health information management department oversight.
- Healthcare finance
- Accounting principles
- Budget process
- Cost/benefit analysis
- Employment laws
- Principles of human resources management
- Workforce education and training
- Performance standards
HIM 3010 Health Information Communication Technology (3 credits)
Study of the design and implementation of the electronic health record. Analysis of standard clinical terminologies and the role of healthcare vocabularies and clinical terminologies in the electronic health record.
- SNOMED, ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS
- Medical linguistics
- Medical vocabulary standards
- Natural language processing
- National Healthcare Information Infrastructure
- Leading development of health information resources and systems
- Clinical, business, and specialty system applications
- Systems development
- Human factors and user interface design
HIM 3012 Health Information Systems (3 credits)
Comprehensive study of the use of computers in healthcare. Students will compare and contrast the various clinical, administrative, and specialty service applications used in healthcare organizations.
- Health information standards
- Computer concepts
- Communication technologies
- Internet technologies
- Data information and file structures
- Data storage and retrieval
- Data security
HIM 3013 Health Information Technology Practicum (4 credits)
Supervised computer practicum in a healthcare facility or simulated lab. Emphasis on evaluation of computer applications and utilizing software applications. Evaluation of the transition from paper-based record to electronic record
- Practice issues in an electronic environment
- Use of software applications
HIM 4012 Leadership Health Information Management (5 credits)
Study of the management of change, team building, communication, and leadership development related to practice in healthcare. Students will learn skills and outline effective strategies for communication.
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Team/consensus building
- Professional development for self and staff
- Negotiation techniques
- Change management
HIM 4010 Strategic Planning & Organizational Development in Healthcare (5 credits)
Course will focus on developing strategic and operational plans in healthcare.
- Strategic leadership, management, and planning
- Organizational behavior
- Business building
- Organizational assessment and benchmarking
HIM 5005 Capstone & Practicum (10 credits)
Research and discussion of emerging issues and trends in the healthcare field that affect the health information management (HIM) field. This professional practice experience provides students the opportunity to integrate knowledge, skills and behaviors, and professional attributes acquired throughout the curriculum and are necessary to the practice of Health Information Management. The Practicum experience will be performed under the guidance of a HIM professional. While at these organizations, the student will be involved in developing insight, understanding, and skills in the management of a health information system.
- Implement a training and/or continuing education program
- Participate in the project management process and report results
- Focused individualized projects
- Hot topics, emerging trends in healthcare and HIM field
- Life-long learning
- Future of HIM
Pre-requisite: Successful completion of all HIM Baccalaureate degree courses.
*Subject to revision
Comments
how many credits ours is the HIM Baccalaureate degree Program?
Hello Sherri, thank you for your interest. Our program totals 90 credit hours. If you have further questions or would like to move forward please contact me. Thanks.
Sarah Wakely
Enrollment Advisor
800-499-6813 x 464
S.Wakely3@himonline.uc.edu
How many weeks will the program take from start to finish with the semester switch, and are students permitted to “double-up” courses in order to graduate sooner?
Hello Erica, it will take you exactly two years to complete our program. Since each semester is 14 weeks and there will be 6 semesters total, you will take 84 weeks of class with us. I’m afraid we only offer a part time pace at this time so you will not be able to “double-up” on courses in order to graduate sooner.
I hope that helps. If you have any additional questions, or if you would like to apply, please call me.
Sarah Wakely
Enrollment Advisor
800-499-6813 x 464
I am looking for the class schedules. I am currently enrolled in an accredited program and need a Stats class online in the summer in order to graduate on time.
Where is the list of class offerings and terms offered list located?
Hello Valerie, a list of classes is located on the Curriculum page of our website; however, I am happy to provide you with a more specific class schedule. My contact information is below.
Sarah Wakely
Enrollment Advisor
800-499-6813 x 464
I know that it takes 90 credit hours to obtain a HIM BA degree, within those 90 credit hours are the non-HIM classes included?
Hello Rosalind, we actually just switched to semesters so our program is now 60 semester credits. All of the classes in the curriculum are HIM related.
I hope that helps. Feel free to call me for clarification or for additional information.
Sarah Wakely
800-499-6813 x 464
Is the tuition per credit hour or by class? How much is the tuition per credit hour or per class — to complete the 60 credit-hour requirement for the BS HIM program?
Hello Rusdy, Our tuition rates are per credit hour. Ohio residents will pay $27,000 in total tuition or $450 per credit hour, while non-Ohio residents will pay $27,900 in total tuition or $465 per credit hour. All students applying for the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program will pay an application fee of $50. All students will be responsible for costs associated with textbooks (estimated at $200 per quarter). Students are also responsible for any additional fees associated with the program. Please let me know if you have any further questions by contacting me at 800-499-6813 x 464.