Mar 28, 2024  
2016-17 Academic Catalog 
    
2016-17 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Health Information Technology - HIIM.AS


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HIT professionals manage a wide variety of healthcare information needs, ensuring that medical records are complete and accurate and maintained in accordance with the law and governmental regulatory bodies. Graduates from our new program will have strong technical knowledge of health care delivery systems and electronic health record systems, as well as the skills to process and prepare health information for insurance submission, quality assurance compliance, and reporting. Our new program is designed to integrate the latest medical record coding systems, computer technology, and the proper management of health information data.    

Health Information Management professionals will hold increasing value in the healthcare industry.  The transition to ICD-10, federal mandates regarding electronic health records implementation, and the ever increasing demands from insurance and reimbursement stakeholders, all affect the need for these credentialed professionals.

The associate’s degree program of Health Information Management at Springfield Technical Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Enrollment is limited for this program.

Student must achieve a “C” (73%) or better in all HIT, MED, and BIO courses. Students unable to meet the minimum requirements will be withdrawn from the program.

A laptop computer may be required for certain courses.

Upon successful completion of requirements for this program, the degree of Associate in Science in Health Information Technology will be awarded.

Applying to this Program


The Health Information Technology program has special admission requirements and limited enrollment. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all admission requirements are met, and all documents and scores are submitted before the application deadline for this program of April 30 of the application year. Only complete application files will be reviewed for admission.

Documents to be Submitted for a Complete File

  • Springfield Technical Community College application for admission by April 30 of the application year.
  • Official high school transcript showing date of graduation (or a GED certificate).
  • Official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended (if applicable)

Minimum Academic Requrements

  • One year of high school algebra, or MAT-087  or higher in Math at STCC (or an equivalent course at another college) with a grade of “C” or above.
  • Keyboarding proficiency of 30 words per minute
  • A minimum grade point average of 2.0 based on a four-point system. The high school GPA will be used only if students have attempted fewer than 12 college credits. A GPA of 2.5 will be assigned if the student completed a GED rather than graduate from high school.

Strongly Recommended

  • Completion of Medical Terminology (MED-100 ), with a grade of C or better or its equivalent.
  • Completion of Computer Basics (CMP-106 ), with a grade of C or better, or its equivalent. 

Program Goals


This education and training enables the graduate to work in the healthcare field and perform the following functions:

  1. Plan, direct, control and manage health information in various healthcare settings.
  2. Compile, process and maintain medical records in a manner consistent with various administrative, legal, regulatory, or accreditation standards.
  3. Ensure that patients’ healthcare information is complete, accurate, protected, and readily available to healthcare providers when needed.
  4. Analyze medical information vital to quality medical care, using and understanding both traditional and electronic records.

Once you are accepted into the HIIM Program


A Professional Practice Experience (PPE) is required of all students in their final semester of the program.  Sites may vary in their requirements; however, students must be prepared to provide or perform the following requirements to be cleared to participate in a PPE.

  • All health requirements must be met for both Commonwealth of Massachusetts and individual PPE site (where you go for hands on experience)
  • A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI) or a National seven-year background check including all aliases will be performed prior to PPE assignment.  These checks will be performed prior to being assigned to a site.  A site may perform a second background check through their facility.
  • Sites may require a drug test.
  • PPE activities will be scheduled according to the site and program needs. That means your site may be outside of Springfield, including but not limited to Western or Central Massachusetts or Northern Connecticut and in some special circumstances, out of Massachusetts. The actual hours of the experience will be during the day and mutually agreed upon between the site and the facility coordinator. The cost of traveling to a site is your responsibility.
  • Sites have the right to refuse your participation if you have not met all their requirements, including but not limited to immunizations, background checks, flu vaccinations, PPD, non-smoking status and drug testing.
  • Malpractice insurance may be required at your cost and will be arranged with the College.
  • Sites will have a dress code typically business casual, they may have additional requirements like having to use their identification badge.
  • Visible body piercings and tattoos are generally not allowed at sites.

Health Information Technology Program Outcomes


Graduating Class of:

Graduation  Rate

Job Placement Rate

Certification Exam Pass Rate

Graduate   Satisfaction Rate

Employer Satisfaction Rate

 2016

100%

 

 

90%

 


 

(HIIM.AS) Curriculum


Total (HIIM.AS) Curriculum Program Credits: 61


Notes


Student must achieve a “C” (73%) or better in all HIT, MED, and BIO courses. Students unable to meet the minimum requirements will be withdrawn from the program.
 

Department Personnel


 

Name Title Office Phone Email
Tracey McKethan, MBA, RHIA, CCA Professor/Department Chair/HIIM Program Director - Health Information Technology 02/231 413-755-4680 tmckethan@stcc.edu
Marie Auclair, MSW, CCA, CPC Assistant Professor 02/224 413-755-4126 mauclair@stcc.edu
Louise Corcoran, MBA, RHIT, CCS Adjunct Faculty     lgcorcoran@stcc.edu
Laura Piquette, MHA, RHIA, CDHP, CDIP Instructor 02/224 413-755-5461 lpiquette@stcc.edu

 

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