Program: AS-25480

Note: The Health Information Management degree is currently under review and not accepting new students.

The Health Information Program prepares students for employment in the Health Information Management (HIM) field. Rapid growth in the healthcare industry and awareness of the importance of accuracy and quality in health information has created an increasing demand for this profession. HIM professionals are responsible for the collection, analysis, interpretation, classification, research, quality, reimbursement aspects, and confidentiality of healthcare records/data. They also possess the information and skills necessary for maintaining health information systems that correlate with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, accrediting, and regulatory standards.

There are many entry-level opportunities for the HIM graduate. These opportunities depend on the graduate’s education, work experience, and place of employment. The HIM professional can expect to find employment in all areas within the healthcare industry, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, physicians’ offices, behavioral healthcare organizations, insurance agencies, and government agencies. HIM graduates obtain employment in a variety of positions including coder, health record technician, release of information coordinator, quality assurance coordinator, and records supervisor. Rapidly advancing technology is making this an exciting and dynamic field. Employment potential for graduates is excellent, and employment forecasts indicate continual growth in this field.

Accreditation

The Health Information Management Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Program Hours

Health Information Management Program courses are offered in a variety of traditional and non-traditional formats including online, hybrid, Fastrack (8-week courses), and evening options. Most traditional courses are offered Monday through Thursday in the evenings.

Potential Salaries

Credentialed HIM practitioners’ salaries are influenced by the type of setting, level of experience, and difficulty of work. More than half of new HIM graduates with an associate’s degree earn $25,000 to $40,000 annually.

Certification Exams

The HIM Program includes General Education and technical courses which include lecture, laboratory, and clinical practicum experiences. Upon successful completion of the program, students obtain an Associate in Science or Associate in Applied Science degree in Health Information Management. Graduates are then eligible to take the certification examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Successful examinees earn the title of Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Due to the range of the program, students may be eligible to sit for additional certification exams. Students should see the Medical Coding Specialist Program for more information. Students who have a Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), or a Certified Coding Specialist–Physician (CCS-P) credential from AHIMA may be awarded up to 32 credit hours for that course work, which can be applied toward the Health Information Management AS/AAS degree.

Admission Criteria

The following criteria are required prior to admission to the Health Information Management Program:

1. Prospective students must gain acceptance to Polk State College as credit-seeking students, with all required admission documents received by the Registrar’s Office.
2. At the time of application and admission to the HIM Program, students must have an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 or higher, and a grade of C or higher in all prerequisite courses.
3. Students must complete the following program prerequisite courses by the August start date:
   HSC 1531  - Medical Terminology
   BSC 1084C - Basic Anatomy and Physiology
   CGS 1061 - Introduction to Computers and Information Systems                                                                                                                                 
   Note: Prerequisites to a program and courses that can be taken prior to admission to a program can change; students not yet admitted to the program may be required to take additional or alternate prerequisites prior to admission to the program.
4. Students must complete any required college preparatory courses.
   
   • Students must place above REA 0017 and ENC 0025 course levels on the state-mandated college placement test in reading and writing (or complete these courses) prior to taking HSC 1531 Medical Terminology.
   • Students must place above the REA 0017, ENC 0025, and MAT 0018 course levels on the state-mandated college placement test in reading, writing, and math (or complete these courses) prior to taking BSC 1084C Basic Anatomy and Physiology.
5. An application packet for admission to the Health Information Management (HIM) Program must be submitted by the application deadline of June 30 for the August class. Application packets may be obtained online from the Polk State College website and from the Admissions’ Office at any College location only during the application period of June 1 – June 30.
6. A pre-admission consultation with the HIM Program Director/Clinical Education Program Coordinator or attendance at an HIM Program information session is required.

Additional Requirements

Additional requirements that must be completed after the selection process has been finalized, and prior to enrolling in the program practicum courses, include:

1. Completion of a comprehensive physical examination.
2. Completion of all immunizations.
3. Completion of the drug screening.
4. Completion of the national background screening.

The Department of Health Information Management provides information regarding the completion of these additional requirements with the acceptance letter and during program orientation. Applicants with specific conviction histories or positive drug screenings may ultimately not be accepted in the Health Information Management Program. Specific conviction histories or positive drug screenings occurring after full admission and matriculation in the program are addressed according to program policy, and this may result in dismissal from the program.