HIM 100 Intro to Health Information

This course is an introduction to the healthcare industry and health records. Emphasis is on the roles of health professionals, functions of the hospital health information department, content and analysis of health records in a variety of healthcare settings, storage and retrieval of health information, health data quality, and common registries.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Pre-requisite: BIO 100 and BIO 110 and (DAT 101 or OAT 152 or concurrent) and (SSC 100 or concurrent) and (Test Score or ENG 101 or higher)

See Course Syllabus

Course Number and Title:

HIM 100 Intro to Health Information

Campus Location

  • Wilmington

Effective Date

2023-51

Prerequisites

Pre-requisite: BIO 100 and BIO 110 and (DAT 101 or OAT 152 or concurrent) and (SSC 100 or concurrent) and (Test Score or ENG 101 or higher)

Course Credits and Hours

3 credit(s)

2 lecture hours/week

2 lab hours/week

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the healthcare industry and health records. Emphasis is on the roles of health professionals, functions of the hospital health information department, content and analysis of health records in a variety of healthcare settings, storage and retrieval of health information, health data quality, and common registries.

Additional Materials

Allied Health/Science Department Policy Manual

Course Policy Manual

Class Schedule

Instructor handouts

Required Text(s)

Obtain current textbook information by viewing the campus bookstore - https://www.dtcc.edu/bookstores online or visit a campus bookstore. Check your course schedule for the course number and section.

Disclaimer

Students in this course use Neehr Perfect EHR Go - an online EHR.

Core Course Performance Objectives (CCPOs)

  1. Describe the evolution of the health information management (HIM) profession and the current role of the health information management professional. (CCC 1; PGC 3, 5, 6)
  2. Differentiate the various healthcare delivery systems within the United States, and describe the roles of healthcare professionals, regulatory and accreditation agencies, and key organizations (such as World Health Organization [WHO] and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ]) throughout the continuum of care. (CCC 1; PGC 3, 5)
  3. Explain the organizational structure and functions of a typical health information management department. (CCC 1; PGC 3, 6)
  4. Recognize the principles and application of classification systems, taxonomies, nomenclatures, terminologies, clinical vocabularies, and data sets as well as the settings in which they are used. (CCC 5; PGC 1, 2, 3, 5)
  5. Analyze the documentation in the health record to ensure it supports the diagnosis and reflects the patient's progress, clinical findings, and discharge status. (CCC 2; PGC 3, 5)
  6. Explain data quality principles and how they affect the collection and maintenance of primary health data and the use of secondary data. (CCC 1; PGC 2, 4, 5)
  7. Describe the use of electronic systems to capture, store, and share health data. (PGC 1, 2, 3)
  8. Describe the revenue cycle process and how health information management professionals contribute to revenue cycle management. (CCC 1; PGC 4)
  9. Identify professional behaviors and ethical standards in health information management. (CCC 3, 4; PGC 6)
  10. Use basic descriptive, institutional, and healthcare statistics to describe activity, support decision-making, and understand research. (CCC 2; PGC 2)

See Core Curriculum Competencies and Program Graduate Competencies at the end of the syllabus. CCPOs are linked to every competency they develop.

Measurable Performance Objectives (MPOs)

Upon completion of this course, the student will:

  1. Describe the evolution of the health information management (HIM) profession and the current role of the health information management professional.
    1. Discuss the history and evolution of the health information management profession.

    2. Define and describe the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), including its organizational structure and mission.

    3. Describe the certifications and certification processes of HIM-related organizations, such as the AHIMA, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), and the Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS).

    4. Describe the current and evolving roles and responsibilities of HIM professionals across the healthcare industry.

  2. Differentiate the various healthcare delivery systems within the United States, and describe the roles of healthcare professionals, regulatory and accreditation agencies, and key organizations (such as World Health Organization [WHO] and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ]) throughout the continuum of care.
    1.  Define and describe the basic organization, structure, and purpose of hospitals and healthcare organizations.
    2. Recognize the difference between operational and strategic planning.
    3. Differentiate the roles of various providers and disciplines throughout the continuum of healthcare, and describe their data collection and information needs.
    4. Differentiate the relationships among physician providers and the healthcare organizations in which they practice.
    5. Differentiate among certification, accreditation, and licensure at the national and state levels related to healthcare professionals and organizations.
    6. Compare The Joint Commission, National Association of Integrated Health Organizations (NAIHO), and Conditions of Participation (COP) standards for documentation, health information management, and medical staff operations.
  3. Explain the organizational structure and functions of a typical health information management department.
    1. Describe the multiple functions of the health information department:
      1. Analysis and evaluation of health records
      2. Scanning: indexing and imaging
      3. Healthcare statistics
      4. Coding of diagnoses and procedures
      5. Patient identification
      6. Transcription of medical reports
      7. Release of information
      8. Data integrity, storage, and retrieval
    2. Describe the purpose, development, and maintenance of indexes such as the master patient index and disease and operation index.
    3. Describe the software used for completion of HIM processes.
    4. Describe the purpose, data collection, and maintenance of specialized data collection systems such as registries.
    5. Recognize the interrelationship between the HIM Department and other key departments within the healthcare organization.
    6. Describe the basic principles of forms designed for both paper and electronic data collection, including inventory and utilization control.
    7. Differentiate between volume and accuracy in productivity calculations.
    8. Differentiate strategic, operational, and capital budgets.
  4. Recognize the principles and application of classification systems, taxonomies, nomenclatures, terminologies, clinical vocabularies, and data sets as well as the settings in which they are used.
    1. Identify coding and classification systems used in various healthcare settings.
    2. Distinguish among classification systems, taxonomies, nomenclatures, terminologies, and clinical vocabularies.
    3. Match the coding and classification systems with the setting in which they are used.
    4. Distinguish among the data sets used in healthcare such as Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS), Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), and Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS), and identify their applications and purposes.
    5. Match the diagnostic and procedural groupings with the setting in which they are used.
    6. Distinguish fraud and abuse.
  5. Analyze the documentation in the health record to ensure it supports the diagnosis and reflects the patient's progress, clinical findings, and discharge status.
    1. Explain preventive, detective, and corrective controls as they pertain to data management.
    2. Explain the difference between quantitative and qualitative analysis.
    3. Describe the contents of a health record, including the sources and organization of the data.
    4. Identify the best source of a specified data element.
    5. Describe the principles of forms design, including both paper forms and screen design.
  6. Explain data quality principles: how they affect the collection and maintenance of primary health data as well as the use of secondary data.
    1. Describe the ten principles of data quality.
    2. Differentiate data, information, knowledge, and wisdom.
    3. Differentiate data governance, data stewardship, and information governance.
    4. Differentiate primary and secondary data.
    5. Identify the uses of health data and how the uses are affected by data quality.
    6. Identify legal, accreditation, professional standards, and facility requirements regarding administrative, financial, and clinical documentation as well as chart completion.
    7. Differentiate the legal health record and a complete health record.
    8. Describe the role of sampling in the audit process.
    9. Describe the role of health information management professionals in quality monitoring, compliance strategies, and reporting.
    10. Describe the role of health information management professionals in disaster and recovery planning.
  7. Describe the use of electronic systems to capture, store, and share health data.
    1. Define electronic health record and personal health record.
    2. Describe the use of databases to capture, store, and share health data.
    3. Explain the purpose of a data dictionary.
    4. Describe the structure of a relational database.
    5. Distinguish between data warehouse and repository.
    6. Explain the purpose and function of a health information exchange.
    7. Differentiate an electronic health record and a hybrid health record.
    8. Discuss government and private sector intervention in the development of an electronic health record.
    9. Explain the relationship between interoperability and longitudinal use of the electronic health record.
    10. Describe the challenges of integrating multiple electronic record systems.
    11. Describe mobile technologies, patient portals, patient navigation, and telehealth.
    12. Differentiate privacy and security and how they impact the collection and use of electronic health data.
  8. Describe the revenue cycle process and how health information management professionals contribute to revenue cycle management.
    1. Define and describe revenue cycle and revenue cycle management.
    2. Differentiate the types of insurance coverage.
    3. Differentiate fee-for-service and capitation.
    4. Match the Medicare prospective payment system with the setting to which it applies.
    5. Distinguish utilization review/management and case management.
    6. Explain the role of clinical documentation improvement in the revenue cycle process.
    7. Describe the traditional roles and functions of health information management professionals in the revenue cycle.
  9. Identify professional behaviors and ethical standards in health information management.
    1. Discuss specific ethical standards relating to the health information management profession.
    2. Differentiate management and leadership.
    3. Explain diversity awareness and its relationship to the AHIMA Code of Ethics.
    4. Recognize professional behaviors and the impact of unprofessional behaviors.
    5. Discuss appropriate interactions used by health information professionals in the workplace setting, including cultural competence.
    6. Explain strategies for lifelong learning.
    7. Identify a breach of the AHIMA Code of Ethics, given a scenario.
  10. Use basic descriptive, institutional, and healthcare statistics to describe activity, support decision-making, and understand research.

    1. Use graphical tools to display data in a presentation.

    2. Differentiate data analytic and decision support.

    3. Use Excel to perform calculations.

    4. Differentiate individual, comparative, and aggregate data.

    5. Calculate basic institutional statistics, given an institutional data set.

    6. Recognize common research methodologies: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method.

    7. Explain the purpose of an Institutional Review Board.

Evaluation Criteria/Policies

The grade will be determined using the Delaware Tech grading system:

90-100 = A
80-89 = B
70-79 = C
0-69 = F
Students should refer to the Catalog/Student Handbook for information on the Academic Standing Policy, the Academic Integrity Policy, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and other policies relevant to their academic progress.

Final Course Grade

Calculated using the following weighted average

Evaluation Measure

Percentage of final grade

Labs (formative)

24%

Homework (formative)

12%

Professional behavior (formative)

  5%

Written Assignments (6) (summative)

24%

Presentation (summative)

10%

Exams: 3 exams are weighted at 5% each  (summative)

15%

Final Exam: 1 exam weighted at 10% (summative)

10%

TOTAL

100%

Program Graduate Competencies (PGCs are the competencies every graduate will develop specific to his or her major)

​​​​​​1.      Synthesize knowledge of medical sciences, clinical classification systems and guidelines, vocabularies, and terminologies to accurately and effectively assess, apply or interpret health data.

2.      Analyze data to identify trends through the use of health information technologies.

3.      Apply legal, regulatory, privacy, and security standards to employ policies and procedures for health information collection, access, and disclosure.

4.      Synthesize knowledge of health data and payment methodologies to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of revenue cycle processes.

5.      Interpret regulatory, coding, legal, and clinical documentation standards to develop, implement, and evaluate compliance.

6.      Demonstrate effective leadership through consistent and appropriate interpretation and evaluation of professional behaviors, ethical standards and guidelines.

Core Curriculum Competencies (CCCs are the competencies every graduate will develop)

  1. Apply clear and effective communication skills.
  2. Use critical thinking to solve problems.
  3. Collaborate to achieve a common goal.
  4. Demonstrate professional and ethical conduct.
  5. Use information literacy for effective vocational and/or academic research.
  6. Apply quantitative reasoning and/or scientific inquiry to solve practical problems.

Students in Need of Accommodations Due to a Disability

We value all individuals and provide an inclusive environment that fosters equity and student success. The College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with the campus Disabilities Support Counselor to request an accommodation needed due to a disability. The College's policy on accommodations for persons with disabilities can be found in the College's Guide to Requesting Academic Accommodations and/or Auxiliary Aids Students may also access the Guide and contact information for Disabilities Support Counselors through the Student Resources web page under Disabilities Support Services, or visit the campus Advising Center.

Minimum Technology Requirements

Minimum technology requirements for online, hybrid, video conferencing and web conferencing courses.