Course Descriptions 2008-2009 Catalog

Health Information Technology (Medical records)

HIT 101 Health Information Management Science
6 Credits
Introduces the student to the health record, from inception to completion. Emphasis is on form, content and regulations impacting the health record in the various health care settings. Other areas to be discussed include the computerized aspects of the health record as well as the functions and responsibilities of the health information department. This course also examines various health care delivery systems and health care practitioners. The dilemmas of health care with attention directed to current events and how these events impact our profession are discussed.

HIT 105 Physician practice: coding and reimbursement
3 Credits
Provides the student with opportunities to apply basic ICD-9-CM, ACCUPLACER and HCPCS principles and guidelines to code outpatient visits. Topics will include physician documentation requirements and guidelines, reimbursement guidelines for different payer classes, and fraud abuse issues.

HIT 111 Health Data Management
3 Credits
Focuses on the effective collection, presentation and verification of health care data necessary for the preparation of administrative and clinical reports. The role of data in clinical research, vital statistics and epidemiology will be discussed. Laboratory activities will focus on manual and automated data presentation techniques and on the interpretation and analysis of health care data. The role of the health information professional in transforming data into meaningful information for use in clinical and financial decision making will be stressed. Data reliability and validity will be emphasized.

HIT 112 Legal Aspects
2 Credits
Introduces the student to the legal system and identifies the role of the HIM professional in this system. Specific Federal and State laws are identified and discussed as they relate to release of medical information. Proposed Federal and State legislation that affects the health care industry is examined and discussed.

HIT 188 Health Information Practicum I
2 Credits
Provides a directed clinical experience in a health information department in a health care facility. This experience focuses on the practice of skills related to the application of legal principles, record analysis and abstraction and record retention and retrieval.

HIT 221 Clinical Classification Systems I
5 Credits
Studies nomenclatures and classification systems with emphasis on the most recent revision of ICD-9-CM. Students study the coding conventions and principles for this system. These skills are then applied to the coding of actual medical records from area facilities.

HIT 222 Quality Management
3 Credits
Introduces the student to the basic concepts of quality management in the health care environment. Requirements by regulatory agencies regarding quality, utilization and risk management are discussed. Data collection, verification, analysis and presentation techniques will be studied. The course emphasizes the ongoing use of objective data and feedback to improve processes, systems and patient outcomes.

HIT 225 Health Information Management
3 Credits
Concentrates on the principles of management as they relate to the administration of the health information management department as part of a health care organization.

HIT 231 Clinical Classifications Systems II
5 Credits
Provides an intermediate study of ICD-9-CM coding conventions and principles. DRG and case mix logic along with regulations regarding their use in conjunction with optimization and compliance issues will be discussed. ACCUPLACER/ HCPCS in both the hospital-based outpatient and physician office settings will be studied. Students apply these skills in assigning codes for actual medical records from area facilities.

HIT 241 ACCUPLACER Coding Basic Principles
2 Credits
Provides the student with skill sets to apply the current procedural terminology (ACCUPLACER) and HCPCS code set principles and guidelines for application in reporting/ communicating information and data about clinical services provided to patients by healthcare providers. Includes understanding what the ACCUPLACER nomenclature is, how and why it is used, and guidelines for each code category and how it is applied to represent services within each code category.

HIT 251 Introduction to Healthcare Vocabularies and Terminologies, Code Sets and Classifications
2 Credits
This course is designed to provide the student with a concrete understanding and foundation of healthcare terminologies, code sets and classification schemes and associated standards. The student will gain an understanding of inoperability and the role it plays in the application of each system as it pertains to the adoption of the HER. The student will learn the principles of each system; the role of each in reporting clinical information and services in the healthcare delivery enterprise. Topics include understanding vocabularies, terminology and classification systems, data set standards, data interchange standards, and the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) database.

HIT 275 Special Topics
1-6 Variable Credits
Provides students with a vehicle to pursue in-depth exploration of special topics of interest.

HIT 285 Independent Study
1-6 Variable Credits
Course designed to meet the individual needs of students.
PREREQUISITE: Instructor's permission.

HIT 288 Health Information Practicum
2 Credits
Focuses on the ability of the student to apply classroom knowledge in a clinical setting, practice professionalism, gain insight into the functions of the department and understand the relationship of health records to the facility as a whole. Emphasis is on the ability to act independently, complete assigned projects and demonstrate a good understanding of health information management concepts.
PREREQUISITE: Instructor's permission.

PREREQUISITES: Completion of all first and second year HIT courses.

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