Graduate & Continuing Studies Undergraduate Catalog and Handbook 2007-2008

Health Information Administration

The Health Information Administration (HIA) Program is designed to assist women and men in their quest to become Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIAs). The program strives to educate graduates who have obtained a rigorous, quality education, are recognized throughout the country as HIA professionals, and are committed to lifelong learning.  Satisfactory completion of the HIA Program establishes a student’s eligibility to sit for the national registration examination (RHIA). The HIA Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

The curriculum is designed to promote the development of creative and critical thinking, enhance leadership skills, and prepare students to perform the general and specific duties required of health information administrators. Students will study financial management of health care institutions; risk management and quality assessment; computer applications in health information centers; management of clinical classification and reimbursement systems; and human resource administration. A significant achievement in the program is the completion of a professional practice management experience in a professional setting. Students complete the program by conducting research on a topic related to health information administration and presenting their findings to fellow students during an expense-paid campus visit just prior to graduation.

Non-degree students wishing to take HIA courses may only take the following:

BIO 247: Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 248: Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BUS 225: Principles of Management
CIS 206: Information Systems
HIA 200: Introduction to Health Information Administration

HIA 250: Basic Health Care Statistics for HIA
HIA 255: Medical Terminology

B.S. Degree Requirements
To be eligible for a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Administration from Stephens College, a student must complete 120 semester hours. A minimum of 36 semester hours (including 15 in the major) must be taken with Stephens faculty to meet the residency requirement.  These distance-learning courses are online-based. Working with the Academic Advisor in consultation with the Director of the Health Information Administration Program, students plan a degree program around their professional and personal commitments.

The degree requires completion of 66 specified semester hours in HIA coursework, 30 semester hours of specified liberal arts (general education) courses, and 24 semester hours of electives. Transfer credit may be awarded based on previous college coursework. An overall 2.5 grade point average in the HIA major must be achieved to fulfill graduation requirements.

Certificate Requirements
Students holding a baccalaureate or master's degree may receive a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Administration by completing the 66 semester hours required for the HIA major. Transfer credit may be awarded based on previous college coursework. An overall 2.5 grade point average must be achieved to fulfill graduation requirements. At least 15 semester hours must be taken with Stephens College faculty.

Foundation Courses

All HIA foundation courses must be completed before taking HIA core courses.

BIO 247: Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Competency cannot be demonstrated through prior learning or challenge examination.
This course introduces the structure and function of the human body to those students pursuing careers in the allied health field. The emphasis is on the way in which normal body systems are maintained and how deviations result in illness and disease. The course progresses from a general organization of the human body and of cells, to that of tissues and organs, and then to organ systems. For each system, basic anatomical structures are identified and the fundamental ways in which these structures carry out the activities of that system are investigated. The organ systems explored include (1) skin and body membranes, (2) skeletal and muscular systems, (3) nervous system and special senses, and (4) endocrine, blood, and cardiovascular systems. Underlying the study of these systems, the course will show the student connections between body systems, providing an understanding of the interactions of these systems in maintaining homeostasis.

BIO 248: Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Competency cannot be demonstrated through prior learning or challenge examination.
Prerequisite: BIO247
This course continues the study of the structure and function of the human body to those students pursuing careers in the allied health field. The emphasis is on the way in which normal body systems are maintained and how deviations result in illness and disease. The course progresses from a general organization of the human body and of cells, to that of tissues and organs, and then to organ systems. For each system, basic anatomical structures are identified and the fundamental ways in which these structures carry out the activities of that system are investigated. The organ systems explored include (5) lymphatic and immune systems, (6) respiratory system, (7) digestive system and metabolism, and (8) urinary and reproductive systems. Underlying the study of these systems, the course will show the student connections between body systems, providing an understanding of the interactions of these systems in maintaining homeostasis.

HIA 200: Introduction to Health Information Administration

This course is an introduction to health information administration emphasizing the history of the healthcare delivery system, the health information management profession, healthcare standards and the health record. The course focuses on healthcare information requirements and standards.

HIA 210 (formerly HIA403): Comparative Health Record and Information Systems

This course investigates health record and information systems in hospitals, alternative care settings, and health-related agencies. Roles of the health information administrator in traditional and nontraditional healthcare settings are investigated and evaluated. Other topics include information systems application in a variety of healthcare settings, accreditations and regulatory standards in non-acute care settings, analysis of organizational behavior and culture in non-acute care settings, quality improvement methods in non-acute care settings, epidemiology, statistical applications in non-acute care settings, record content and use in non-acute care settings, healthcare information models and extra-enterprise healthcare information infrastructures.

HIA 250: Basic Healthcare Statistics for Health Information Administration
This course emphasizes the principles of data collection, preparation, analysis, and interpretation of healthcare statistics. It focuses on acceptable terminology, definitions, and computational methods. Other topics in the course include: data access, introduction to payment and reimbursement systems, calculations related to managing an health information department, statistics used in performance improvement activities and organizational assessment, vital statistics, computerized statistical packages, use of data for decision-making, health care data sets, registries and indices, and statistical interpretation.

HIA 255: Medical Terminology
This is a basic course in medical terminology, the language of medicine. It consists of basic word structure (including word analysis, combining forms, suffixes, prefixes, and pronunciation) of descriptive medical terms pertaining to the body as a whole and to each body system.

HIA 275: Clinical Applications of Pathophysiology & Pharmacology
Prerequisites: BIO 247-248 and HIA 255 or equivalent
This course focuses on important disease processes in major medical specialties. Emphasis is on disease terminology and abbreviations with identification of disease symptomatology, differential diagnosis, and evaluation of laboratory data and drug therapy through textbook readings.

HIA 281: Medical Coding I (ICD-9-CM)
Prerequisite: BIO 247-248, HIA 255 and HIA275 or equivalent
This course emphasizes the principles and conventions of clinical classification systems used in today's healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on ICD-9-CM. Other topics in the course include: applicable licensing and regulatory issues relative to coded data, payment and reimbursement systems, professional ethics, content of the medical record, decision-making processes, data validity and integrity, classification systems and nomenclature, quality assessment and improvement, work and legal standards related to reimbursement, and retrieval of information.

HIA 285: Medical Coding II (CPT/HCPCS)
Prerequisites: BIO 247-248,HIA 255, HIA275 and HIA281 or equivalent
This course emphasizes the principles and conventions of the CPT/HCPCS clinical classification system used in today's healthcare settings. Other topics in the course include: applicable licensing and regulatory issues relative to coded data, payment and reimbursement systems, professional ethics, content of the medical record, decision-making processes, data validity and integrity, classification systems and nomenclature, quality assessment and improvement, work and legal standards related to reimbursement, and retrieval of information.

Core Courses

All HIA foundation courses must be completed before taking HIA core courses. 

Competency in core courses cannot be demonstrated through prior learning or challenge examination.

CIS 206: Information Systems

Prerequisite:  Introductory computer course
The student will study computer concepts including networking, total information systems, and security. In addition, there will be projects using a spreadsheet, a relational database, and Web page construction. This course is designed to give a good working knowledge of the computer, software and the technology associated with it. Since the work will be done independently, students will participate in an online discussion group to collaborate with one another and gain assistance with the course. Students will use the World Wide Web, the Internet, and e-mail extensively. Note: The student must have access to a computer with CD-ROM drive and software including spreadsheet (Excel), word processing, and a relational database (Access).

BUS 225: Principles of Management
The study of the basic principles of management, including organizational designs and the use of groups, leadership, communication, planning, decision-making and controlling.

BUS 305: Human Resource Management
Prerequisite: BUS 225 or permission of instructor
A course designed to acquaint students with the theory and techniques of effectively managing human resources in modern organizations. Topics include the following: job analysis and design; recruitment and selection; appraisal; training and development; compensation and health; and employee relations.

HIA 330: Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Information Administration
This course provides the student with a study of law and legal concepts as they apply to the practice of health information administration. Emphasis is on institution and physician liability; HIPAA Privacy/Rule regarding privacy and confidentiality; health record documentation standards; and release of information practices as impacted by HIPAA. Issues that occur in biomedical ethics will also be presented.

HIA 347: Management of Clinical Classification and Reimbursement Systems
Prerequisites: BIO 247-248, HIA 275 and HIA 281-285 or equivalent
This course emphasizes the application of management principles and techniques of clinical classification and reimbursement systems in health care settings. The course tests the students coding competency and skills; reviews quality control and compliance issues of the coding function, and federal government compliance institutions. Other topics include: reimbursement software applications, data definitions, data security, data retrieval and report design, organization of health care, accreditation standards, compliance and regulatory requirements, professional ethics, supervision of staff, productivity standards, interpersonal skill development, organizational assessment and benchmarking, content of the clinical information as it relates to coded data, work redesign, and strategic planning.

HIA 351: Health Information Systems
Prerequisite: CIS206 and completion of all HIA foundation courses
This course is a study of computer applications in the management of systems to collect, store, process, retrieve, analyze, disseminate, and communicate health related information. Study of work simplification, system analysis and graphic representation techniques are covered. Other topics include data security, local and wide area network data definitions, data administration, database structures, data dictionaries, data modeling, and database administration.

HIA 354: Accounting and Finance for Health Information Administration

Suggested prerequisite: Principles of Accounting II and/or Principles of Finance
This course is an introduction to financial management of healthcare institutions. It is a study of the basic concepts and principles of healthcare accounting and finance. Other topics include organization of health care delivery, payment and reimbursement systems, strategic planning and forecasting, general financial management, health data sets, entrepreneurial roles, security management, and managing and communicating with professionals.

HIA 355: Integrated Quality Management

Prerequisite: Completion of all HIA foundation courses
This course is a study of the history, principles and techniques of quality assessment and performance improvement programs; review of utilization of health care and other cost-containment programs; risk management and the application of evaluation techniques in different healthcare settings. Other topics include computer software applications related to performance improvement, data retrieval and report design, organization of health care, accreditation standards, licensing and regulatory agencies, legal aspects of health care related to patient safety and risk management, professional ethics, organizational behavior, strategic planning, marketing, interpersonal skill development, organizational assessment and benchmarking, and quality improvement methods.

HIA 375: Advanced Health Information Systems

Prerequisite: CIS 206 and HIA 351
This course is an advanced health information systems course emphasizing the role of the HIA manager in the planning and implementation of the electronic health record (EHR). Related topics include the definition and functions of an EHR, its historical development, stakeholders and software providers. Other topics include computer architecture, local and wide area networks, data information and file structure, database management, data security and data access, e-HIM workflow issues, project management, systems life cycle analysis, and clinical and administrative user-interface analysis.

HIA 401: Management of Health Information Centers

Prerequisite:  Completion of all HIA foundation courses

This course covers the application of the management of health information centers, discusses leadership and management functions and roles for the Health Information Administration professional. Topics include leadership, management, effective problem solving and decision making, workflow management, effective use of resources, effective communication, employee training and supervision, project and strategic planning. Budgeting is fully discussed in the course.

HIA 450: Internship in Health Information Administration
Prerequisite: Completion of all HIA coursework and permission of instructor.
This course is an individualized professional practice experience in administration of health information centers in various health care facilities. Final determination of internship sites is contingent upon contracting approval between the site and the College and also upon the approval of the HIA Program Director. The internship is undertaken for the purpose of applying the content of all previous courses in the clinical setting. Students are expected to utilize appropriate textbooks to analyze and evaluate health information systems as required by their clinical site. Students may be required to temporarily relocate in order to complete the internship. Students are expected to exhibit professional behavior at all times. Failure to adhere to professional behavior may result in the inability to complete the internship and the HIA program. Students must purchase professional insurance and have a completed history, physical and current TB test on file prior to being allowed to undertake the internship. Students are not allowed to begin their professional practice experience until they receive notification of approval from the HIA Program Director. 

HIA 490: Capstone Seminar in Health Information Administration (6 hours)
Prerequisite: Completion of all HIA coursework and permission of instructor.
This semester long course introduces the HIA student to formal research methods including data collection techniques.  Students will study a research problem or topic related to health information administration. Then prepare a formal research paper and presentation of their research findings to the HIA instructor and fellow classmates as part of a four-day on-campus experience.  The on-campus component will also include a variety of HIA related workshops.

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