2005-07 Catalog - Tacoma Community College

58 Professional/TechnicalTacoma Community CollegeHEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMProgram Chair: Marion Miller, RHIA, CCS ............. 253.566.5076Tacoma Community College offers several options for professional career development in health information management: the HealthInformation Technology (HIT) Associate of Applied Science degree program, the Health Information Coding Specialist certificate, theMedical Billing Specialist certificate, and various health technology courses open to any student for exploration of the healthcare field.The Health Information Technology (HIT) program provides a combination of medical knowledge and business applications to preparegraduates for employment in hospitals, ambulatory health care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and state or federal health agencies. Skillstaught include organizing and analyzing health records, compiling and utilizing health statistics, a working knowledge of computer systems inhealth care, performing quality assessment and utilization review functions, coding and indexing diseases and operations, maintaining recordstorage and retrieval systems; preparing health data consistent with the administrative, legal, accreditation and regulatory requirements. Acombination of HT, HIM, and related instruction courses are taken in the first year before applying for admission into the second year of theprogram.Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Certification Exam for Health InformationManagement Technicians sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Upon passing this exam,graduates will receive the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credentials from AHIMA, which are recognized nationally by allhealth care institutions. The program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Health Informatics and InformationManagement Education (CAHIIM). CAHIIM is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.The program requires a separate application process through Health, Justice and Human Services in Bldg. 19, Room 70. Assessedplacement at college-level reading and English, as well as Math 90 is required. Fluency in Microsoft Windows or CU 100 required. Applicantsmust be fluent in the English language and possess the physical and emotional ability to complete the program. First year classes are open toall qualified students, while the 200 level HIM courses are only open for accepted program students or by instructor’s permission. Manycolleges and universities offer baccalaureate programs in this field. See AHIMA’s website at www.ahima.org for listings and information.Health Technology CoursesHealth Technology cluster courses are basic requirements for severalof the Allied Health professional/technical programs. However,students interested in the health care field but undecided as to aspecific program, may enroll for these courses. Enrollment in any ofthe following courses is recommended for a student wishing to gainknowledge related to health care. Completion of these courses alonedoes not lead to a certificate. Admission to a specific program is nota requirement. For more information, call 253.566.5076.Course No. Course Title CreditHT 110 Health Care Delivery Systems ............................. 5HT 120 Medical Office Management ............................... 5HT 130 Medical Terminology I ......................................... 3HT 131 Medical Terminology II ........................................ 5HT 140 Medical Transcription I ........................................ 3HT 141 Medical Transcription II ....................................... 3HT 142 Medical Transcription III ..................................... 3HT 150 Pharmacology for Health Professionals ........... 2HT 210 Principles of Disease ............................................ 5HT 225 Legal Concepts for the Health Field ................. 3