Health Information Technology Program Code 105301

Employment Potential

A graduate of this program will have the potential for employment in the following settings: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, mental health facilities, home health agencies, state and federal health agencies, and private industry as a (an):

. Coding Specialist

. Release of Information Specialist

. Health Information Technician

. Insurance/Business Specialist

. Reimbursement Coordinator

. Data Quality & Integrity Monitor

. Privacy and/or Security Officer

. Data Analyst

. HIM Supervisor

. Cancer Registrar

Program Outcomes

. Manage health data.
. Apply coding and reimbursement systems.
. Use information technology systems to process information.
. Apply organizational management techniques.
. Model professional behaviors and ethics.

Wisconsin Caregiver Law

NWTC is required to comply with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law (1997 WISCONSIN ACT 27). The completion of a caregiver background check includes the review of criminal records for convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behavior. Students accepted into this program must complete a background check through www.CertifiedBackground.com. Information regarding this process is provided to students immediately upon acceptance into the program. Students with a criminal history may be denied access to placement at the discretion of the clinical or practicum site. Consequently, should a student have a history of convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behaviors, NWTC cannot guarantee clinical/practicum placement or guarantee graduation within typical program timing.

Professional Practice Experience

. Students will be required to provide their own transportation to assigned sites, and cover any other expenses related to professional experiences. Students may be expected to travel distances to assigned sites.
. Students will be required to submit immunization documentation. A fee is charged for this service. Additional information will be provided upon acceptance into the program.
. Students are required to petition for a professional practice assignment. Students may petition by submitting a "Petition to Enter Professional Practice" form to the Health Sciences Department office according to the following schedule:
-Spring semester Professional Practice deadline is September 30
-Fall semester Professional Practice deadline is February 28
. NWTC will make every effort to place students in the semester they request. However, NWTC cannot guarantee an assignment in the semester being requested.
. Students will be required to show proof of an annual flu vaccine.

Accreditation

The Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Board/Certification Examinations

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national accreditation examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

Requirements for Program Application

. Completed application.
. High school transcript or equivalent. (For a list of equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
. Admission Assessment or equivalent or ACT assessment taken within the last five years. (For a list of equivalents, please contact a Counselor.)
. Two semesters in High School, or one semester in College of Biology, or equivalent, with a grade of "C" or better.
. Typing proficiency of 30 words per minute (mandatory preadmission typing test to be taken at the NWTC Assessment Center).

Requirements for Program Entry

. As a requirement for program entry, an Academic Skills Assessment (Accuplacer) with appropriate benchmark scores is necessary. Program benchmarks are Arithmetic, 65; Reading Comprehension, 78; Sentence Skills, 90. Students not meeting these benchmarks or the equivalent will be granted pre-program status and will be required to establish an individualized academic plan. Upon completion of the plan, full program or waitlist status will be granted. Students may have the opportunity to enroll in selected program core courses while completing their individualized plan. However, higher test scores will lead to greater success in core program courses. To learn more about these assessments and program benchmark scores, please contact a counselor at (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.
. Attend mandatory spring program orientation.
. Complete caregiver background check. A fee is charged for this service. Additional information will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

Flexible Learning Option

. A majority of the Health Information Technology program courses are offered in an on-line format.
. This program may be completed in a part-time or full-time format.

Note

. A candidate who does not meet the requirements for program entry should meet with an NWTC counselor to develop a learning plan to make up any deficiencies through testing or course work.
. Students considering going on to a 4-year HIA Degree or Cancer Registrar Certification should consider taking General Anatomy & Physiology in place of Basic Anatomy.

Curriculum

The Health Information Technology Associate Degree is a two-year, four-semester program. Upon graduation, a student will have completed 66 credits.

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

THIRD SEMESTER

FOURTH SEMESTER

Curriculum Note

* No final grade lower than a "C" is acceptable in any of the courses marked with an asterisk. A student who withdraws or receives a grade lower than a "C" in a program course may apply for re-entry into the program. Consideration for re-entry will be at the discretion of the re-entry team and will be dependent on clinical availability.
. The following courses are offered only in the Fall semester and in person:
10-530-177, Healthcare Stats & Research
10-530-160, Healthcare Informatics
. The following courses are offered only in the Spring semester and in person:
10-530-161, Health Quality Management

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

These courses provide an opportunity for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for employment in this field.

10-103-111 MICRO: WINDOWS/COMPUTER BASICS ...Windows desktop elements, help features, folder and file management (create, delete, move, find file), and Search strategies. Blackboard, internet, and e-mail usage.

10-103-121 MICRO: WORD-INTRODUCTION ...word processing basics including creating, revising, formatting, printing; sections, tabs, multiple-page numbering; manipulating text; creating headers/footers; creating/formatting tables, graphics; and merging documents. Windows experience improves success; consider 10-103-111, Windows/Computer Basics.

10-103-131 MICRO: EXCEL-INTRODUCTION ...creating a worksheet, enhancing worksheet appearance, moving and copying data, using formulas and functions, creating charts and using clip art. Windows experience improves success; consider 10-103-111, Windows/Computer Basics.

10-103-141 MICRO: ACCESS-INTRODUCTION ...creating/modifying database tables, compacting a database, managing records, defining table relationships, creating queries, calculations, and aggregate functions, sorting, and using form/report wizards. Windows experience improves success; consider 10-103-111, Windows/Computer Basics.

10-103-151 MICRO: POWERPOINT-INTRODUCTION ...presentation skills using: graphics, diagrams, design themes, sounds, animations, slide transitions, and integration with other software. Windows experience improves success; consider 10-103-111, Windows/Computer Basics. (Corequiste: 10-103-121, Micro: Word-Intro)

10-501-101 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY ...focuses on the component parts of medical terms: prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Students practice formation, analysis and reconstruction of terms. Emphasis on spelling, definition and pronunciation. Introduction to operative, diagnostic, therapeutic and symptomatic terminology of all body systems, as well as systemic and surgical terminology.

10-530-160 HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS...emphasizes the role of information technology in healthcare through an investigation of the electronic health record (EHR), business, and health information software applications. Learners will develop skills to assist in information systems design and implementation. (Prerequisites: Accepted into the Health Information Technology Program; 10-530-178, Healthcare Law & Ethics; 10-530-182, Human Disease for Hlth Profes; 10-530-197, ICD Diagnosis Coding; 10-530-184, CPT Coding; 10-103-111, Micro: Windows Intro; 10-103-121, Micro: Word Intro)

10-530-161 HEALTH QUALITY MANAGEMENT...explores the programs and processes used to manage and improve healthcare quality. Addresses regulatory requirements as related to performance measurement, assessment, and improvement, required monitoring activities, risk management and patient safety, utilization management, and medical staff credentialing. Emphasizes the use of critical thinking and data analysis skills in the management and reporting of data. (Prerequisites: Accepted in the Health Information Technology Program; completion of 10-530-XXX third semester coursework)

10-530-176 HEALTH DATA MANAGEMENT...introduces the use and structure of health care data elements, data sets, data standards, their relationships to primary and secondary record systems and health information processing. (Corequisite: 10-530-181, Intro to Health Record)

10-530-177 HEALTHCARE STATS & RESEARCH...explores the management of medical data for statistical purposes. Focuses on descriptive statistics, including definitions, collection, calculation, compilation, and display of numerical data. Vital statistics, registries, and research are examined. (Prerequisites: acceptance in Health Information Technology program; 10-530-176, Health Data Management; 10-530-178, Healthcare Law & Ethics; 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Hlth Profes; 10-530-197, ICD Diagnosis Coding; 10-530-184, CPT Coding; 10-103-131, Micro: Excel-Intro)

10-530-178 HEALTHCARE LAW & ETHICS ...examines regulations for the content, use, confidentiality, disclosure, and retention of health information. An overview of the legal system and ethical issues are addressed. (Prerequisite: 10-530-176, Health Data Management; accepted in the Health Information Technology program, Health Care Business Services program or Medical Coding Specialist certificate)

10-530-181 INTRO TO THE HEALTH RECORD ... illustrate the flow of health information in various health care delivery systems and within the health information department; retrieve data from health records; professional ethics; confidentiality and security of information.

10-530-182 HUMAN DISEASE FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS ...this course focuses on the common diseases of each body system as encountered in all types of health care settings by health information professionals. Emphasis is placed on understanding the etiology (cause), signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatment (including pharmacologic) of each disease. (Prerequisites: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 10-806-189, Basic Anatomy; accepted in the Health Information Technology Program, Health Care Business Services Program or Medical Coding Specialist Certificate)

10-530-184 CPT CODING...assign CPT codes supported by medical documentation at entry level; apply CPT instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines; case studies and actual medical record documentation. (Prerequisites: Accepted in the Health Information Technology program or Medical Coding Specialist certificate10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 10-806-189, Basic Anatomy; Corequisites: 10-530-181, Intro to Health Records; 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions)

10-530-185 HEALTHCARE REIMBURSEMENT...compare and contrast health care payers, illustrate the reimbursement cycle, comply with regulations for fraud and abuse. Assign Diagnosis Related Groups, Ambulatory Payment Classifications, and Resource Utilization Groups at entry-level. (Prerequisites: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 10-530-176, Health Data Management; 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions; 10-806-189, Basic Anatomy; Corequisites: 10-530-181, Intro to Health Records; 10-530-197, ICD Diagnosis Coding; 10-530-199, ICD Procedure Coding; 10-530-184, CPT Coding)

10-530-194 HIM ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES ...a study of the principles of management to include planning, organizing, human resource management, directing, and controlling as related to the health information department. (Corequisite: 10-530-161, Health Quality Management)

10-530-195 APPLIED CODING...assign ICD and CPT/HCPCS codes supported by medical documentation at intermediate level. Prepare appropriate physician queries in accordance with compliance guidelines and assign codes to optimize appropriate reimbursement. (Prerequisites: 10-530-184, CPT Coding; 10-530-185, Healthcare Reimbursement; 10-530-197, ICD Diagnosis Coding; 10-530-199, ICD Procedure Coding)

10-530-196 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1 ...this supervised clinical provides application of previously acquired skills and knowledge with experiences in the technical procedures of health record systems in a health care facility, discussion of clinical situations. (Prerequisites: 10-530-178, Healthcare Law & Ethics; 10-530-184, CPT Coding; 10-530-197, ICD Diagnosis Coding; Corequisites: 10-530-177, Healthcare Stats & Research; 10-530-199, ICD Procedure Coding; 10-530-160, Healthcare Informatics)

10-530-197 ICD DIAGNOSIS CODING ...prepares students to assign ICD diagnosis codes supported by medical documentation with entry level proficiency. Students apply instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning ICD diagnosis codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation. (Prerequisites: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 10-806-189, Basic Anatomy; Corequisites: 10-530-181, Intro to Health Records; 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions; accepted in Health Information Technology program or Medical Coding Specialist certificate)

10-530-198 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 2 ...this supervised clinical provides application of previously acquired skills and knowledge, discussion of clinical situations, preparation for the certification examination and pre-graduation activities. (Prerequisites: 10-530-196, Professional Practice 1; 10-530-160, Healthcare Informatics; 10-530-199, ICD Procedure Coding; Corequisites: 10-530-161, Health Quality Management; 10-530-195, Applied Coding; 10-530-194 HIM Organizational Resources)

10-530-199 ICD PROCEDURE CODING ...prepares students to assign ICD procedure codes supported by medical documentation with entry level proficiency. Students apply instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning ICD procedure codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation. (Prerequisites: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; 10-806-189, Basic Anatomy; 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions; 10-530-181, Intro to Health Records)

10-801-136 ENGLISH COMPOSITION 1 ...learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills =75 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759; BE Communication Prep IIB OR 10-831-103, Intro to College Writing with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-806-189 BASIC ANATOMY ...examines concepts of anatomy and physiology as they relate to health careers. Learners correlate anatomical and physiological terminology to all body systems. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Reading=55 OR ACT-Reading =15 OR 77-858-759, BE Reading Prep IIB OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-801-196 ORAL/INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION ...the communication process, perception and self-concept, language, listening, nonverbal communication, interpersonal relationships, communication in groups and public communication; prepare and deliver an oral presentation. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer- Reading =55 OR ACT- Reading =15 OR 77-858-759, BE Reading Prep IIB with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-804-123 MATH W BUSINESS APPS ...real numbers; basic operations; proportions/one variable; percents, simple/compound interest; annuity; apply math concepts to purchasing/buying process, selling process; and basic statistics with business/consumer applications. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Arithmetic=65 OR ACT-Math=15 OR 10-834-109, PreAlgebra OR 77-854-759, BE Math Prep IIB with "C" or better OR equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-198 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY ...survey of theoretical foundations of human behavior such as sensation and perception, motivation, emotions, learning, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, stress, and human diversity in personal, social and vocational settings. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills =60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better or equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-172 INTRO TO DIVERSITY STUDIES...basic American values of justice and equality by teaching vocabulary, history of immigration/conquest, transcultural communication, legal liability, multicultural majority/minority relations, ageism, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, the disabled/ADA. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better or equivalent) 3 cr.

10-809-195 ECONOMICS ...scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment, and global economic issues. (Prerequisite: Accuplacer-Sentence Skills= 60 AND Accuplacer-Reading =55 OR ACT-English =16 AND ACT Reading =15 OR 77-851-759 BE Communication Prep IIB OR 77-858-759 BE Reading Prep IIB w/ a "C" or better or equivalent) 3 cr.