Course Descriptions

The list below is NOT a complete list of program courses and shows courses taught in the previous, current, and two future terms. View complete degree/certificate requirements and course offerings by clicking the links below.


HIM 100 - Medical Terminology - 3.00 credits

This course introduces elements of medical terminology, such as the etymology of words used to describe the human body. Students learn to apply proper terminology and spelling for major pathological conditions. This course identifies and explains the terms used for the integumentary, respiratory, nervous, reproductive, endocrine, urinary, digestive, lymphatic, hematic, immune, and musculoskeletal systems.

HIM 101 - Introduction to Health Information Management - 4.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM100, HLSC 108 OR BIOL 109 OR BIOL 110 and BIOL 210, and ENGL 101 (All prerequisite courses must have a grade of C or better) & Formal admission into the Health Information Management Program. This course is an introduction to the health information management profession addressing its history and structure of the national, state and regional associations along with professional ethical principles. The course explores the history of healthcare delivery systems and external factors that influence, impact and change the healthcare industry to include key accrediting bodies, and state and federal regulatory agencies. Different types of data are defined and how the data affects the data and information governance for the key stakeholders. Introduction to health record content, structure, and origin of clinical information for various healthcare settings and providers are addressed and how compliance requirements are identified throughout the health information life cycle.

HIM 108 - Legal Aspects of Health Information Management - 3.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 100, HLSC 108 OR BIOL 109 OR BIOL 110 and BIOL 210, and ENGL101 (All prerequisite courses must have a grade of C or better) & Formal Admission into the Health Information Management Program. This course addresses the legal processes, regulations, federal and state laws as they impact health information. Students will understand how health information must be protected from unwanted breaches and how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rule apply regarding healthcare industry strategies. Recognize that the health record is a legal document that allows for access, use and disclosure with appropriate authorization, subpoenas, and/or court orders and how those disclosures are accounted for and the importance of continuum of care needs.

HIM 110 - Pharmacology - 2.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 100, HLSC 108 OR BIOL 109 OR BIOL 110 and BIOL 210, and ENGL 101 (All prerequisite courses must have a grade of C or better) & Formal Admission into the Health Information Management Program. This course introduces pharmacology as the study of drugs through the explanation of therapeutic and adverse effects of drugs, and effects to the body systems.

HIM 112 - Database for Health Information - 2.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 100, HLSC 108 OR BIOL 109 OR BIOL 110 and BIOL 210, and ENGL 101 (All prerequisite courses must have a grade of C or better) & Formal Admission into the Health Information Management Program. Students will become familiarized with database concepts and the ability to store, retrieve, and process information. This course is designed to familiarize the student with entry-level database models commonly used in healthcare. The course is presented on three levels: concepts, procedures and activities.

HIM 115 - Healthcare Statistics - 3.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 101, HIM 108, HIM 110, and HIM 112, with a grade of C or better, and Formal admission into the HIM Program. This course focuses on the computation, interpretation and reporting of statistics for healthcare operations. Students are expected to develop, interpret and apply numeric information presented in tables, charts and graph format(s).

HIM 120 - Quality Improvement in Healthcare - 3.00 credits

Prerequisite: HIM101, HIM 108, HIM 110, and HIM 112, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admission into the HIM Program. This course addresses a comprehensive introduction to the theory, practice and management of performance and quality improvement processes for quality patient care in healthcare organizations. Students will apply analytical and graphic tools used in performance and quality improvement.

HIM 130 - Health Data Systems - 3.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 101, HIM 110, HIM 112 and HIM 115, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. The role of health information management and the electronic health record that includes computer hardware, operating systems, networking concepts, and user interfaces. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of database management principles, data security, and information retrieval and reporting inherent in electronic health records management.

HIM 135 - Organizational Management - 3.00 credits

Prerequisite: HIM 101, HIM 110, HIM 112, and HIM 115, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. Students will demonstrate fundamental leadership skills and identify the impact of organizational change. As part of organizational best practices, students will identify human resource strategies while examining behaviors that embrace cultural diversity. Utilizing budgets and financial management processes and identifying workforce-training processes

HIM 202 - Clinical Classification Systems - Diagnostic - 4.00 credits

Prerequisite: HIM 115, HIM 120, HIM 130, HIM 135, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. The course teaches nomenclatures and use of the International Classification of Disease (ICD) Clinical Modification (CM) code sets using ICD coding guidelines as they relate to diseases. Students develop an understanding for the need of quality information and standards of ethical coding. Students gain an understanding of reimbursement systems to include Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems (IPPS) and Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems (OPPS).

HIM 207 - Clinical Classification Systems - PCS - 3.00 credits

Prerequisite: HIM 115, HIM 120, HIM 130, HIM 135, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. Students are required to validate procedure code assignments based on the common root operations for the body system as well as devices and qualifiers that are unique to the body system. Students develop an understanding for the need of quality information and standards of ethical coding.

HIM 214 - Healthcare Reimbursement Methodologies - 3.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 115, 120, 130 and 135, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. Analyze the revenue cycle process as it relates to the payer, provider, patient, and the needs of the healthcare organization. Emphasis on clinical documentation needed for coding, reimbursement, and claims management for the revenue cycle process.

HIM 215 - Clinical Professional Practice - 3.00 credits

Prerequisite: HIM 115, 120, 130, 135, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. Students are placed in a didactic supervised learning environment related to the health information management field in both a traditional and non-traditional healthcare setting. Students are expected to perform job responsibilities as supervised by a credentialed HIM professional.

HIM 218 - Ambulatory Care Coding - CPT - 4.00 credits

Prerequisite: HIM 202, HIM 207, HIM 214, HIM 215, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. Coding of medical services and procedures using the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) classification system and use of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) coding system applicable to ambulatory settings. Validate codes in compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies.

HIM 221 - Coding Professional Practice - 2.50 credits

Prerequisite: HIM 202, HIM 207, HIM 214, HIM 215, with a grade of C or better, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. Accumulative review and application of code sets (ICD-CM, ICD-PCS, CPT and HCPCS) with the use of the electronic health record and encoder.

HIM 222 - Health Information Management Competency Review - 3.00 credits

Prerequisites: HIM 202, HIM 207, HIM 214, HIM 215, and Formal Admittance to the Health Information Management Program. This course offers a review of the AHIMA Domains on the national credentialing exam to prepare the student for said exam. Mock exams for each domain is offered along with a comprehensive final exam