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Health Information Management

If a career working with technology in the fast-growing health care field sounds interesting, health information management could be just the profession for you. In this accredited program, you will prepare to use computer technologies to securely collect, code, maintain and analyze patient health information, understand and apply rules and regulations to keep protected health information safe, and work with clinicians to improve health information practices that will ultimately impact delivery of patient care.

In addition to gaining technical skills, you will learn medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and health care policies and regulations. You will also have the opportunity to practice the profession in a hands-on clinical setting.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible to take a nationally recognized exam to become a registered health information technician (RHIT). Health Information Management (HIM) is a very diverse field with opportunities in coding, reimbursement, research, management, quality improvement, data statistics, analytics, informatics, privacy, compliance, documentation improvement and much more. Health Information Management professionals enjoy a variety of career opportunities in hospitals, nursing facilities, group practice clinics, mental health facilities, health insurance agencies, prison systems and many other settings. Experienced HIM professionals can have opportunities to work from home as well.

  1. Abstract and process data from patient records using a variety of computer programs.
  2. Collect, tabulate, compute and prepare statistical reports for use by the medical staff, administration, governing board and authorized agencies.
  3. Code clinical data for reimbursement, research and other reporting purposes.
  4. Perform review of health information for patient care evaluation, quality improvement, and utilization management.
  5. Operate and evaluate various electronic health record (EHR) systems.
  6. Apply legal principles, policies, regulations and standards for the control, release and use of health information.
  7. Utilize computers to compile data, process information for prospective payment systems (PPS) and perform information processing.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Placement

Math placement is not required for this program.
English placement is not required for this program.

Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Program Map for

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Total Program Credits: 90


Program Courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIM 103
HIM Theory and Practice  
5
HIM 104
Medical Terminology & Anatomy for Coding Classification & Abstraction I   1
5
HIM 160
Computer Application in HIM  
5
Total Credits
 
15
 

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
BT 272
Business Correspondence   5
5
HIM 105
Legal Concepts in Health  
3
HIM 106
Medical Terminology & Anatomy for Coding Classification & Abstraction II   2
5
HIM 162
Electronic Health Records  
3
SURG 105
Blood-borne Pathogens and HIV/AIDS   4
1
Total Credits
 
17
 

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HED 129
Pathophysiology  
5
HIM 209
Health Data Analysis and Display  
4
HIM 212
Acute Care Coding  
5
Total Credits
 
14
 

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIM 167
Current Issues in HIM  
4
HIM 203
Clinical Preparation  
1
HIM 214
Ambulatory Care Coding  
5
HIM 217
Introduction to Applied Statistical Analysis for Healthcare   3
5
Total Credits
 
15
 

Fifth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIM 211
Quality Improvement   4
4
HIM 215
ICD-10 Procedural Coding  
4
HIM 222
Data Analytics  
5
PHARM145
Pharmacology  
3
Total Credits
 
16
 

Sixth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIM 213
Clinical Practice  
4
HIM 216
Reimbursement Strategies for HIM Professionals  
5
HIM 240
HIM Clinical Seminar  
4
Total Credits
 
13
 
1 HIM 104 may be substituted with BIOL& 241. HIM 104 does not count towards the Associate in Arts degree science requirement and does not satisfy requirements of any allied health program.
2 HIM 106 may be substituted with BIOL& 242. HIM 106 does not count towards the Associate in Arts degree science requirement and does not satisfy requirements of any allied health program.
3 HIM 217 may be substituted with MATH& 146 or BUS 217. This course does not count towards the Associate in Arts degree math requirement and may be subject to college policy for accepting credits with transferring to a bachelor's and/or master's level program.
4 This related education requirement may be met by any course or combination of courses approved by the instructional dean.
5 BT 272 may be substituted with ENGL& 235 or BT 274. ENGL& 235 has a prerequisite requirement.
Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

  • Cheri Beechler
    Cheri Beechler
    Instructor
    Cheri.Beechler@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7497
  • Jillian Condon
    Jillian Condon
    Health Informat Management
    B.S., Seattle University; RHIA
    Jillian.Condon@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7497
  • Barbara Flock
    Barbara Flock
    Health Informat Management
    A.A.S., Spokane Community College; B.A.S., Tacoma Community College: R.H.I.A., C.P.H.Q.
    Barbara.Flock@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7413
  • Karen Saba
    Karen Saba
    Medical Office Specialist Inst
    CPC; additional study American River College
    Karen.Saba@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7357
  • Lisa Wolfe
    Lisa Wolfe
    Administrative Office Syst
    A.A., Spokane Falls Community College; B.A., M.Ed., Eastern Washington University; additional study: Whitworth College
    Lisa.Wolfe@scc.spokane.edu
    509-533-7343

 

AccreditationCAHIIM Accredited Program stamp

The Health Information Management program accreditor of Spokane Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for Associate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2025. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 E. Randolph St., Suite 5100, Chicago, Illinois, 60601; by phone at 312-235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org. Upon graduation with a degree, students will be eligible to apply to write the national qualifying examination of the American Health Information Management Association (www.ahima.org) for certification as a registered health information technician (RHIT). Learn more about the health information profession at www.hicareeers.com.
 

Online and Real-World Learning

The program is 100 percent online with flexible classes and full-time and part-time options. There is a requirement for two, three-week clinical rotations at a health care facility during the last quarter of the program. You must pass a federal background check and may be asked to take a drug test at you own expense before going on clinical rotation.

Percentage of Students Working in the Healthcare Field within 1 year of Graduation

Year Earned Percentage
2019-20 71%
2020-21 81%
2021-22 81%
 

Graduation Rate % Completed within 150% Time by Year Awarded

Year Earned Completion
2019-20 87%
2020-21 86%
2021-22 90%
 

RHIT Exam Pass Rate

Year Earned Completion
2019-20 100%
2020-21 86%
2021-22 91%
 

Student Retention Rate

First Year in Program 1st to 2nd Yr. Retention
2019-20 72%
2020-21 72%
2021-22 75%
 

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