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Health Information Management (510707)

Degree: Associate in Health Science, AHS

Overview

The Health Information Management program at Florence Darlington Technical College is designed to prepare students for the growing field of health information technology/management.  Accurate and appropriate information is essential to   today’s healthcare system. Health information management (HIM) professionals provide a necessary supportive role that ensures the access of patient health data for optimal decision-making and clinical care across organizations, settings, and health disciplines. HIM professionals play a critical role in maintaining, collecting and analyzing the data that these health professionals need. Courses within this program of study include instruction in:

  • Medical terminology
  • Anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology
  • Coding systems and classification
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Billing and Reimbursement
  • Legal aspects of health care
  • Quality assurance and improvement
  • Supervision
  • Technology and computers in health care

In addition to coursework and simulation experience, the HIM student will have supervised clinical that allows them to apply their knowledge in real world situations.

Accreditation information

The Health Information Management AAS program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

233 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601-5800
312-233-1131

Florence Darlington Technical College is also accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees, diplomas and certificates.

In the Real World

Health information managers design, utilize and manage health information systems to ensure they meet medical, legal and ethical standards. Depending on their title or work setting, specific job responsibilities vary. Some typical responsibilities include the following:

  • Collecting and analyzing patient data
  • Ensuring that patients' medical records are complete and accurate
  • Ensuring records are only available to those directly involved with a patient's care
  • Managing and maintaining databases
  • Designing, generating and analyzing reports for administrators and physicians
  • Coding patient diagnoses and procedures

With an associate's degree in health information management, job titles may include the following: Health Information Management Department Manager/Supervisor; Health Information Management Systems Manager; Healthcare Privacy Officer; Information Security Officer; Insurance Claims Analyst; Records Technician Specialist; Clinical Coding Specialist; Physician Practice Manager; Patient Information Coordinator; Health Information Consultant.

According to the Department of Labor, the median annual wage for health information technicians was $34,160 in May 2012. Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 22 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages.

According to salary.com, for the Pee Dee area, the median salary is $43,148 annually. The projected job growth rate for HIM is 36% over the next decade

Career Placement

At FDTC, we believe that education deserves results - that’s why we want to watch our students succeed in the real world. Florence-Darlington Technical College works diligently to match students with relevant jobs in our community so that they can put their hard-earned education to work. We partner with successful alumni and local businesses to ensure our students get the best possible career upon graduation. Our Career Services Office offers a variety of services to help students succeed including: resume coaching, on-campus recruiting & career fairs, online job postings, professional development workshops, personality evaluations, internship placement assistance, and other online career building resources. We encourage all students to schedule a meeting with a Career Services Coach at (843) 661-8075 to explore their post-graduation opportunities. Find out about what Career Services can do you. What does your future look like?

Learning Goals/Objectives

  1. Integration- Integrate educational knowledge with practicum experience and skills for critical thinking, task completion and related problem solving to professionally perform duties with an understanding of cultural awareness work environment.
  2. Communication- Effectively present information related to health information management in both oral and written formats demonstrating skills in communication with patients, public agencies, and health care professionals.
  3. Professionalism- Demonstrate professionalism in relation to their work environment and perform duties in compliance with legal, ethical, and moral requirements.
  4. Critical thinking- Apply critical thinking skills and methods to effectively perform health information management related duties and tasks that enhance the quality and performance of health care outcomes.
  5. Quality and Safety- Perform all related work with care and accuracy to ensure a commitment to generally accepted safety practices.
  6. Technology and Innovation- Competently utilize and understand health information management related technology in performance of duties.
Want to enter this program? Fill out a college application and you're on your way!

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