Course Catalog

Health Information Coding (HI12)  Diploma


Campus Locations: Valdosta

Purpose: The Health Information Coding diploma prepares students to be medical coders and billers, and to classify medical records according to accepted standards.

Curriculum: The program offers training in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, diagnostic coding, and medical procedural coding.

Careers: Medical Coder, Patient Access, or Revenue Cycle Management

Requirements:

  • Submit a completed application and application fee
  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Submit official high school transcript or High School Equivalency transcript or college transcripts showing successful completion of 60+ semester credits or 72+ quarter credits
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable
  • Present acceptable ACCUPLACER, ACT, ASSET, COMPASS, PSAT, or SAT scores or GED score of 145 or higher or have one of the following: an associate degree or higher or have a HOPE GPA of 2.6 after the completion of 10th grade. Documentation on a college transcript of successful completion of appropriate courses from a regionally accredited college or university may be accepted in lieu of test scores.

Additional Program Requirements:

  • Students registering for this program on the Ben Hill-Irwin, Coffee, or Cook campuses will be required to attend the Valdosta campus to complete some course requirements.

This program qualifies for the HOPE Career Grant.

This program is a HOPE Career Grant eligible program for students who are HOPE Grant eligible. The Career Grant award is a fixed amount per semester based on the number of credit hours taken. Maximum award per term is $500.

Gainful Employment Information
Curriculum Outline (47 hours)
General Core Courses 8
ENGL 1010

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Diploma Level Reading and Writing Scores OR READ 0090 and/or ENGL 0090 w/ a “C” or better Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.

3
Choose One of the Following (3 Hours) 3
MATH 1012

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Diploma Level Math Scores or MATH 0090 w/ a “C” or better Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
MATH 1013

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Placement Test Score or MATH 0090 w/ a “C” or better Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes concepts and operations which are applied to the study of algebra. Topics include basic mathematical concepts, basic algebraic concepts, and intermediate algebraic concepts.

3
Choose One of the Following (2 Hours) 2
PSYC 1010

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Presents basic concepts within the field of psychology and their application to everyday human behavior, thinking, and emotion. Emphasis is placed on students understanding basic psychological principles and their application within the context of family, work and social interactions. Topics include an overview of psychology as a science, the nervous and sensory systems, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, intelligence, lifespan development, personality, psychological disorders and their treatment, stress and health, and social psychology.

3
EMPL 1000

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes human relations and professional development in today's rapidly changing world that prepares students for living and working in a complex society. Topics include human relations skills, job acquisition skills and communication, job retention skills, job advancement skills, and professional image skills.

2
Occupational Courses 39
ALHS 1011

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 5 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): None Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

5
ALHS 1090

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.

2
HIMT 1100

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): None This course focuses on orienting the student to health information management. Topics include introducing students to the structure of healthcare in the United States and its providers, and the structure and function of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

3
HIMT 1151

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 1 Lab 2 - 6 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Designed to provide students with computer and software skills used in medical offices. Topics include hardware and software components of computers for medical record applications; database software and information management; specialized information management systems in healthcare; methods of controlling confidentiality and patient rights; accuracy and security of health information data in computer systems as well as future directions of information technology in healthcare.

4
HIMT 1200

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Program Admission Co-requisite(s): None This course focuses on the study of legal principles applicable to health information, patient care and health records. Topics include: working of the American Legal System, courts and legal procedures, principles of liability, patient record requirements, access to health information, confidentiality and informed consent, the judicial process of health information, specialized patient records, risk management and quality assurance, HIV information, and the electronic health record.

3
HIMT 1250

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 1 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None This course provides a study of content, storage, retrieval, control, retention, and maintenance of health information. Topics include: health data structure, content and standards, healthcare information requirements and standards.

2
HIMT 1360

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): ALHS 1090 or BUSN 2300 Co-requisite(s): None Introduces drug therapy with emphasis on safety, classification of drugs, their action, side effects, and/or adverse reactions. Also introduces the basic concept used in the administration of drugs. Topics include: introduction to pharmacology, sources and forms of drugs, drug classification, and drug effects on the body systems.

3
HIMT 1400

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): (BIOL 2113/2113L and BIOL 2214/2114L: or ALHS 1011) and (ALHS 1090 or BUSN 2300) and HIMT 1350 Co-requisite(s): MAST 1120 Pre/Co Requisites Beginning Fall 2021 Pre-requisite(s): (BIOL 2113/2113L and BIOL 2214/2114L: or ALHS 1011) and (ALHS 1090 or BUSN 2300), HIMT 1100, and HIMT 1360 Co-requisite(s): None This course provides the student an introduction to Medical Coding + Classification of diseases, injuries, encounters, and procedures using standard applications of Medical Coding Guidelines to support reimbursement of healthcare services.

4
HIMT 1410

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): HIMT 1400 Co-requisite(s): None This course is a continuation of HIMT 1400 (Coding and Classification Basic). This course provides the student with case studies for in-depth review of inpatient and outpatient record formats as found in current healthcare settings. Advanced coding skills and use of industry applications to apply coding and billing standards will be the focus to develop auditing and compliance strategies in the work setting.

3
HIMT 2400

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 1 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Pre/Co Requisites Beginning Summer 2016 Pre-requisite(s): HIMT 1400 Co-requisite(s): None This course provides the student an introduction to Medical Coding + Classification of diseases, injuries, encounters, and procedures using standard applications of Medical Coding Guidelines to support reimbursement of healthcare services. This course provides an introduction to, and application of, codes using CPT/HCPCS system. Codes will be applied to workbook exercises, case studies, and actual outpatient charts. Codes will be assigned manually as well as by an encoder.

3
HIMT 2410

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): HIMT 1400 Co-requisite(s): None This course focuses on how the revenue cycle is impacted by various departments within the facility such as patient access/registration, case management/quality review, health information management, and patient accounting. Subjects include insurance plans, medical necessity, claims processing, accounts receivable, chargemaster, DRGs, APCs, edits, auditing and review. ICD and CPT coding as they relate to the billing function will be reviewed. The importance of revenue cycle management for fiscal stability is emphasized.

3
HIMT 2500

Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None This course provides students with the opportunity to review for the certification exam. Students are also afforded the opportunity to develop a portfolio as they seek to make the transition into the workforce. Topics include: searching the job market; preparing the portfolio; stress management and burnout; test-taking strategies; and reviewing for the certification exam.

4
Faculty
Advisor

Area Director/Health Information Technology Program Coordinator
Valdosta Campus

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