HIM 220 HIM and Healthcare IT

This introductory course focuses on health record and information systems. Topics include compliance, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), communication and network technologies, integration of systems, interoperability, and databases. Emphasis is placed on information security and the development, implementation, and maintenance of relational databases to support healthcare delivery.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Prerequisite: HIM 100

See Course Syllabus

Course Number and Title:

HIM 220 HIM and Healthcare IT

Campus Location

  • Wilmington

Effective Date

2023-51

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: HIM 100

Course Credits and Hours

3 credit(s)

2 lecture hours/week

2 lab hours/week

Course Description

This introductory course focuses on health record and information systems. Topics include compliance, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), communication and network technologies, integration of systems, interoperability, and databases. Emphasis is placed on information security and the development, implementation, and maintenance of relational databases to support healthcare delivery.

Additional Materials

Allied Health/Science Department Program Student Policy Manual

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

AHIMA Virtual Lab and Case Studies are used in this course

Core Course Performance Objectives (CCPOs)

  1. Describe healthcare organizations from the perspective of key stakeholders.(CCC 1, 2, 4; PGC 3, 6)
  2. Apply policies, regulations and standards to the management of information. (CCC 4, 5; PGC 1, 3)
  3. Identify policies and strategies to achieve data integrity.(CCC 1, 2, 5; PGC 1, 2, 5, 6)
  4. Determine compliance of health record content within the health organization. (CCC 1, 2; PGC 3, 5)
  5. Explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures (CCC 1, 5; PGC 1).
  6. Describe components of data dictionaries and data sets. (CCC 1; PGC 1)
  7. Apply health informatics concepts to the management of health information (CCC 1, 2, 4; PGC 3, 6)
  8. Use technologies for health information management. (CCC 2, 3, 4; PGC 3, 4)
  9. Calculate statistics for healthcare operations. (CCC 1, 2, 6; PGC 1, 2)
  10. Report health care data through graphical presentations. (CCC 1, 2, 6; PGC 1, 2, 6)
  11. Describe research methodologies used in healthcare. (CCC 2, 5, 6; PGC 1, 6)
  12. Describe the concepts of managing data.(CCC 1, 2, 3; PGC 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
  13. Summarize standards for the exchange of health information. (CCC 1, 5; PGC 3)

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 healthcare organizations from the perspective of key stakeholders.
    1. Explain the processes used to select and implement HIM systems, including the strategic planning process, the integration of systems, the information management strategic plan, and the corporate/enterprise strategic plan.
    2. Describe the components of and requirements for an EHR system.
    3. Describe the systems development life cycle related to the EHR and project management methods used.
    4. Discuss the selection process for an EHR system.
    5. Outline the steps required for implementation of an EHR, including integration and testing.
    6. Describe the type of support required to maintain an EHR.
    7. Describe the components of disaster and recovery planning related to information systems and information process continuity.
    8. Explain the purpose of the request for information (RFI) and request for proposal (RFP) as related to vendor and contract management.
  2. Apply policies, regulations and standards to the management of information.
    1. Relate confidentiality, privacy, and security measures for internal and external use and exchange to protect health information.
    2. Outline policies and procedures required for the electronic health record (EHR), personal health record (PHR), and applications for storing protected health information.
    3. Give examples for sample policies and procedures required for confidentiality, security, and retention of applications containing protected health information.
    4. Explain the use of internal and external standards, regulations, and initiatives to ensure data privacy, confidentiality, and security.
    5. Identify policies and procedures to ensure organizational compliance with state and federal privacy and security laws.
    6. Identify policies and procedures to ensure operational compliance for patient identification and verification processes.
    7. Explain current trends and future challenges in medical identity theft and measures available to prevent medical identity theft.
    8. Explain the processes used to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines for data security and monitoring.
    9. Identify policies and procedures for retention and destruction related to data storage and retrieval, eDiscovery, information archive, and data warehouses to ensure organizational compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
    10. Relate system security policies according to departmental and organizational data/information standards.
    11. Relate policies and procedures surrounding issues of access and disclosure of protected health information.
  3. Identify policies and strategies to achieve data integrity.
    1. Relate strategies and processes in support of data and information governance and stewardship where data quality is achieved, maintained, and valued in accordance with organizational strategies and objectives.
    2. Identify the sources of data used for patient care, disease management, and disease prevention.
    3. Relate data integrity concepts and standards to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
    4. Outline the evolution of health information exchange and data sharing.
    5. Relate data interchange standards (X2, HL7) used for the exchange, management, and integration of electronic information.
    6. Relate the potential risks to the accuracy and integrity of health data associated with 'copy and paste' functionality.
    7. Identify the types of data and the relationships between data and information models.
    8. Select appropriate data analysis tools to prepare relevant data presentations.
    9. Identify reports that demonstrate the integrity of data contained within the EHR.
    10. Relate the collection and maintenance of health data in screen design for health information systems.
    11. Identify the various components, types, and structures of databases used in healthcare information systems.
    12. List the purposes of data mapping and its importance to linking disparate systems and data sets.
    13. Relate clinical data sources and data warehousing to make data available to a wide variety of users.
  4. Determine compliance of health record content within the health organization.
    1. Describe the components of the ARRA, including the adoption of EHRs and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) regarding the use of computers, software, the Internet and telemedicine to improve the quality of healthcare, the healthcare population, and efficiency of systems supporting healthcare delivery.
    2. Explain the stages necessary to comply with regulatory requirements for meaningful use (interoperability) of EHRs.
    3. Relate the gap between the existing EHR system and Stage 3 of meaningful use (interoperability).
    4. Explain the process used for EHR certification.
    5. Explain the legal health record for disclosure.
    6. Compare and contrast the paper-based legal health record, hybrid legal health record, and electronic legal health record.
    7. Explain e-discovery for legal proceedings.
    8. Summarize the importance of developing a legal health record policy.
    9. Relate patient record documentation regulations for correct utilization within legal health record policies and procedures.
  5. Explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures.
    1. Differentiate primary vs. secondary uses of data and information.
    2. Identify and compare the major data sets, classification systems, clinical terminologies and other standards utilized for secondary data use.
    3. Distinguish between structured and unstructured data.
    4. Distinguish how natural language processing is used to support secondary uses of healthcare data and information.
  6. Describe components of data dictionaries and data sets.
    1. Construct a template for a data dictionary for an HIM application.
    2. Construct a data dictionary entry for one or more fields in an HIM application.
    3. Diagram the relationship among data collection, data storage, and data reporting.
    4. Prepare an upload of data, given a data set, into a database or other data analytics program so that a query can be applied to the data.
  7. Apply health informatics concepts to the management of health information.
    1. Describe the functions of the basic components of the personal computer to include hardware, software, networks, and Internet technologies.
    2. Identify the impact of computers in healthcare in all areas within a facility.
    3. Discuss the history of computers in healthcare.
    4. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences among the Internet, the intranet, and the extranet as used in healthcare.
    5. Explain the EHR and the benefits of its use over the paper record in acute care facilities.
    6. Identify the role of distributed systems in facilitating collaborative computer communications.
    7. Compare and contrast the uses and standards for the EHR, PHR, portals, public health, and telehealth technologies in the delivery of healthcare services.
  8. Use technologies for health information management.
    1. Demonstrate use of record tracking functionality within an HIM computer application.
    2. Demonstrate use of release of information functionality within an HIM computer application.
    3. Describe how registry information is collected, stored, used, and transmitted.
    4. Describe how computer applications are used within the revenue cycle.
    5. Describe how quality improvement applications can be used within the HIM department.
    6. Describe how voice recognition technology can be used within an EHR.
    7. Describe appropriate use of spreadsheets, databases, and word processing within the healthcare facility and the EHR.
    8. Describe how natural language processing applications can be used within the HIM department.
    9. Demonstrate the use of EHRs and PHRs in the HIM department.
    10. Explain the use of document imaging technology in the HIM department.
    11. Explain database architecture and design for HIM software applications.
    12. Describe how system testing and integration tools are used within the HIM department.
  9. Calculate statistics for healthcare operations.
    1. Apply report generation technologies to facilitate decision-making.
      1. Select reports to retrieve information regarding employee and departmental performance.
      2. Select reports to monitor the integrity of the EHR.
      3. Select reports from the record and deficiency tracking systems to support physician notification.
      4. Select reports from the release of information systems to monitor compliance with policies and procedures.
  10. Report health care data through graphical presentations.
    1. Explain guiding principles for the creation of data presentations
    2. Determine the best type of data visual to convey data analysis results.
    3. Demonstrate the use of charts and graphs to present data analysis results.
  11. Describe research methodologies used in healthcare.
    1. Describe the steps in the research process.
    2. Differentiate the different types of research.
    3. Describe the purpose of the institutional review board (IRB).
    4. Describe the data collection methods and instruments for research.
    5. Explain advanced data analysis techniques (trend analysis, predictive analysis, forecasting and data mining).
  12. Describe the concepts of managing data.
    1. Describe the types of data and the relationship between data and information.
    2. Describe health information standards.
    3. Explain the purpose of data mapping within healthcare information systems.
    4. Identify the methods for data collection.
    5. Demonstrate the use of data quality practices.
    6. Define the data governance process.
  13. Summarize standards for the exchange of health information.
    1. Describe the current and future trends for the ability to exchange data across multiple entities:
      1. Employer to health provider
      2. Health provider to health provider
      3. Health provider to employer
      4. Facility to facility
      5. Health information exchange (HIE)
    2. Define the different types of HIE organizational structures.
    3. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of HIE consent models.
    4. Describe interoperability standards used within and across organizational boundaries to effectively deliver healthcare for individuals and communities.
    5. Relate the issues and challenges for provider and consumer acceptance of HIE.
    6. Explain usability and accessibility of mobile technologies, patient portals, patient education, outreach, patient safety, personal health records (PHR), and patient navigation.
      1. Describe current trends regarding the usability and accessibility of health information by patients.
      2. Describe future challenges regarding the usability and accessibility of health information by patients.
    7. Describe the difference between population and public health.

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)

18%

Homework (formative)

12%

Presentation/Projects:  1 project @ 5%; 2 @ 10% (summative)

25%

Case Studies (equally weighted, summative)

20%

Exams: 2 exams are weighted at 10% and 5%  (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.