Department of Health Information Management

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management (HIM) prepares individuals for self-directed practice in the evolving discipline of health information management, for continued growth in the field, and for formal graduate study. The curriculum is a synthesis of content from information technology, advanced business technology, business and management, biomedical sciences, healthcare organization and delivery, and information and data management. The program of study requires a total of 120 hours and is offered fully online.

The department offers a traditional degree program for students who are not already a registered health information technician (RHIT). And, for students who have completed an accredited technical/diploma program and who are currently registered as a health information technician, the department offers an RHIT to RHIA completion program. To meet the needs of working RHITs, courses are offered online, requires the successful completion of 60 hours of general education and prerequisite courses, and 31 hours of upper-level HIM coursework. The remaining 29 hours are awarded as credit by merit of RHIT certification.

The HIM program of study is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Upon degree completion, students are eligible to sit for the national certification exam for Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA).

All Health Information Management students must meet the program admission and progression requirements and are expected to meet the graduate outcomes outlined below. A new cohort of students is admitted each fall trimester.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program of study, graduates will be able to:

articulate and promote the need for and uses of quality data and information requirements across the lifespan;
organize, analyze, and manage health care data to improve health care outcomes, implement standards, and control costs;
function as an agent to manage the content, integrity, accessibility, use, and protection of information resources;
use a core set of critical skills to adapt to multiple roles and work settings;
collect health care data in compliance with national and regional standards;
identify and use current quality improvement, risk management, and utilization review methodologies and models;
accurately implement and manage applications and processes for clinical classification and coding;
analyze and respond to the information needs of internal and external customers throughout the health care continuum; and
advocate confidentiality, privacy, and integrity of health care data.

Program Admission Requirements

Prospective students must meet the following requirements:

Be in good standing at William Carey University with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.60;
Complete the General Education Curriculum with a minimum grade of ‘C’ in each course; and
Submit to the program director a completed and notarized program application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Students pursuing the RHIT to RHIA completion program must provide proof of current RHIT certification.

Upon admission to the program, students must:

Provide evidence of a clear criminal background check;
Provide evidence of a negative drug screen;
Provide evidence of immunization compliance and history of physical examination prior to the professional practice experience.

Program Progression Requirements

Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 on HIM-prefixed courses with no grade lower than a ‘C’.
Students may repeat any HIM course one time only, with no more than three repeats total.

Programs

Major

Minor

Health Information Management Minor (18 hrs)