The Career
A career in health information management (HIM) involves the collecting, storing, securing, retrieving, analyzing and transmitting of vital medical records and data used by clinicians and healthcare organizations. HIM professionals carry out specialized data entry, classification and recordkeeping duties related to medical, diagnostic, treatment, billing and insurance documentation.
They fill a pivotal role within the medical environment, “often serving in bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational and administrative functions. Having skilled HIM professionals on staff ensures that an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed,” according to HICareers.com.
Professional Traits
Those pursuing a career in this field should:
- Have solid oral and written communication skills
- Be proficient with computer software and technology
- Be open to continuing education
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities for RHITs (registered health information technicians) in healthcare organizations include:
- Acute and long-term care hospitals
- Physician offices and clinics
- Nursing homes
- Home healthcare agencies
- Community mental health clinics
- Health plans
- Insurance companies
- Government agencies
- Outpatient diagnostic facilities
The Program
The East Central College HIM program gives students the knowledge they need to successfully plan, design and manage medical information systems, processes and facilities. Assuming appropriate placement scores, the program can be completed in two years.
Experienced ECC faculty provide comprehensive instruction to students in medical records, health information software and applications, as well as data entry, coding and classification. Coursework also includes the fundamentals of medical science, treatment procedures, medical terminology and basic anatomy and physiology. All courses with the HIM prefix are fully online (except for professional practice experience PPE). In addition, students learn about the various regulations pertaining to health information documentation, the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Upon completion, students are prepared to demonstrate entry-level abilities in all curriculum competencies and knowledge clusters established by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). They are also eligible to sit for a national certification exam to earn their Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential.
Admissions Requirements
Students must have completed:
- High school diploma or the equivalent (documentation sent to the registration office)
- Application for admission
- A placement test as specified by the college (some courses requires minimum placement results)
Prerequisites
Students will need to demonstrate proficiency in reading, English and mathematics based on assessment scores or by taking the recommended/ required classes. In addition, some of the courses in this curriculum have specific prerequisites. Students should also have basic keyboarding skills.
Transfer Options
The AAS degree is for students seeking employment immediately upon graduation. Upon completion, students will earn several credit hours that apply to programs beyond the AAS degree if they choose to pursue that option later. Students should work with advisors on how to best reach their career goals.
Standard Occupational Classification: 29-2071
The ECC HIM Program is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) - http://www.cahiim.org/
Accreditation
East Central College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle St., Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504
800-621-7440
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