Health Information Coding, Diploma (HI12) (510707)  Diploma


Campus Locations: Moultrie (Veterans Parkway), Thomasville, Tifton, Online, Bainbridge

Health Information Coding 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.

Length of Program: Four (4) Semesters

Entrance Date: Fall semester.

Entrance Requirements: Refer to Admission criteria. Click for Entrance Score Requirements.

Age: Applicant must be 16 years of age or older.

Education: An applicant must be a high school graduate or the equivalent (GED). College transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Advisor: A Program Advisor should be consulted prior to enrolling in any course. An advisor will be assigned by admissions.

Additional Requirements: A Criminal background check and drug toxicology may be required for Internship/Externship and/or Employer. Results will affect employment options and will need to be discussed with your advisor.

Program Final Exit Point: Health information Coding, Diploma.

Credits Required for Graduation: 50 minimum semester hour credits required for graduation.

Cost
Books: $379.60
Fees: $326.00
Tuition: $1,300.00
Total: $2,005.60
Books: $631.50
Fees: $301.00
Tuition: $1,200.00
Total: $2,132.50
Books: $483.20
Fees: $301.00
Tuition: $1,000.00
Total: $1,784.20
Books: $498.70
Fees: $341.00
Tuition: $900.00
Total: $1,739.70
Curriculum Outline (50 hours)
1: Basic Skills Courses (8-9 hours) 8
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
and one of the following (2 Hours) 2
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, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
MATH 1013

Emphasizes concepts and operations which are applied to the study of algebra. Topics include basic mathematical concepts, basic algebraic concepts, and intermediate algebraic concepts.

3
Select one of the following courses: 3
EMPL 1000

Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Emphasizes human relations and professional development in today's rapidly changing world that prepares students for living and working in a complex society. Topics include human relations skills, job acquisition skills and communication, job retention skills, job advancement skills, and professional image skills, personal finance, problem solving, and diversity.

2
PSYC 1010

Pre-requisite(s): Entrance exam reading and writing scores in accordance with approved TCSG admission score levels 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 treatments, stress and health, and social psychology.

3
2: Institutional Credit (3 hours) 3
COLL 1500

This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/ technical program of study. Topics include: Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communications Skills, Career Exploration, Research Skills, College Campus Knowledge, Memory & Reading Skills, Presentation & Interview Skills, and Group Skills. Effective Fall 2016, students who already have an Associate Degree or higher will be given exemption credit for the COLL 1500 course.

3
3: Occupational Courses (40 hours) 39
ALHS 1011

Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission 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
HIMT 1100

Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission 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

Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission 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

Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission 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

Pre-requisite(s): HIMT 1360, (BIOL 2114 or ALHS 1011), (ALHS 1090 or BUSN 2300) 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

Pre-requisite(s): HIMT 1400 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

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

Pre-requisite(s): HIMT 1400 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
Choose one of the following 2
ALHS 1090

Pre-requisite(s): Provisional Admission 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
BUSN 2300

Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Introduces the basic spelling and pronunciation of medical terms, and the use of these terms as they relate to anatomy, treatment, surgery, and drugs. Topics include: word analysis, word elements, spelling, pronunciation, and semantics.

2
Faculty
Program Chair

Health Information Management Technology Faculty
School of Health Sciences
Thomasville Building C, Office 20

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