Health Information Management Associate in Applied Science
Program Description
This program represents a continuum of practice concerned with health-related information and the management of systems to collect, store, process, analyze, disseminate and communicate information related to the research, planning, provision, financing and evaluation of health care services.
Mission Statement
The Health Information Management (HIM) Program at Greenville Technical College transforms students’ lives and helps our community thrive by providing students with the skills and knowledge that they need to become accredited HIM professionals, thus providing our community with an educated, engaged workforce committed to life-long learning.
Entrance Requirements
High school diploma or GED
See “Program Requirements” Section for additional requirements.
Type of Program
This program is designed as a One-Plus-One program. Phase I includes all of the general education and related course work and may be completed at Greenville Tech or any articulating college, or other regionally accredited institution. Students may apply for Phase II as they near completion of Phase I courses. Phase II includes all of the Health Information course work.
- Phase I: Day, evening, weekend or online, full time or part-time;
- Phase II: Day with online component or all online, full time or part-time
Location
Phase II is available at Greenville Tech’s Benson Campus and online.
Employment Opportunities
Acute care facilities, ambulatory health care facilities, industrial clinics, state and federal health agencies, long-term health care facilities, insurance companies, law practices
Professional Credentials
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) subject to passing national certifying examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association
Program Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Visit our web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/him/.
Phase II eligibility requirements
- Have completed CPT 170 Microcomputer Applications within five years of anticipated entrance into Phase II.
- Phase I (general education) course work must be completed before the final acceptance into Phase II.
- Students must be enrolled in or registered for remaining Phase I course work upon applying to Phase II.
- Have completed Health Information Career Talk (available online).
- Attain a minimum cumulative technical GPA of 2.50 for all Phase I courses and have passed all Phase I courses with a grade of “C” or higher.
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Complete and submit the weighted admission form for Phase II designating your intent for the program type; full-time or part-time. The weighted admission form is available online and must be submitted during the published window period. Instructions for completion and submission of this printable form are included on the application.
Phase II Admissions Requirements
- Attend the mandatory HIM new student orientation via webinar.
- Submit a physical exam form with documentation of required immunization. (See details in the School of Health Sciences admissions requirements.)
- Submit a signed criminal background release form.
- Have a negative 10-panel drug screen.
- Have an approved criminal background report. Students may be subject to more than one background check during the program based on affiliate requirements.
- Students are selected based upon weighted admissions score. Weighted admission criteria is available during Career Talk and is available at the program web page https://www.gvltec.edu/him/.
Before beginning the Professional Practice Experience, clinical students must
- Attend mandatory Professional Practice Experience Orientation for HIM 163 Supervised Clinical Practice I via webinar.
- Be able to attend all Professional Practice Experience clinical experiences.
Requirements for Completion
Professional Practice Experience clinical assignments are required in Phase II and may require travel outside the Greer/Greenville area.
- The Health Information Management program includes two Professional Practice Experience courses: HIM 163 Supervised Clinical Practice I and HIM 164 Supervised Clinical Practice II.
- The Professional Practice Experience courses require that students spend 40 hours in a health care setting.
- Professional Practice Experiences are arranged by the program faculty and are completed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.
- Students are expected to be able to travel to and arrange accommodations for the Professional Practice Experience assignments if needed.
Listed below is the ideal grouping of courses in order by semester. This plan assumes a full-time schedule. Note, however, that many variables can affect this plan, and not every course is offered every semester. Please see your advisor to map out your own personalized progression toward graduation.
Note: Please contact your assigned HIM advisor for other program and progression options.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | ||
| First Semester | ||
| AHS 102 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BIO 210 | Anatomy & Physiology I 1 | 4 |
| CPT 170 | Microcomputer Applications | 3 |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| College Algebra With Modeling 1 | ||
| Probability and Statistics 1 | ||
Higher Math | ||
| Second Semester | ||
| AHS 147 | Clinical Pharmacology | 3 |
| BIO 211 | Anatomy & Physiology II 1 | 4 |
| ENG 102 | English Composition II 1 | 3 |
| PSY 201 | General Psychology 1 | 3 |
| or SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | |
| SPC 205 | Public Speaking 1 | 3 |
| Humanities Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Phase II | ||
| Full-time progression will vary from online progression | ||
| Traditional full-time day with online component format | ||
| Third Semester | ||
| HIM 110 | Health Information Science I | 3 |
| HIM 135 | Medical Pathology | 3 |
| HIM 216 | Coding and Classification I | 3 |
| HIM 265 | Supervisory Principles | 3 |
| HIM 266 | Computers in Healthcare | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| HIM 115 | Medical Records and the Law | 2 |
| HIM 215 | Registries and Statistics | 3 |
| HIM 120 | Health Information Science II | 3 |
| HIM 163 | Supervised Clinical Practice I | 3 |
| HIM 225 | Coding and Classification II | 3 |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| HIM 130 | Billing and Reimbursement | 3 |
| HIM 141 | Current Procedural Terminology II | 3 |
| HIM 164 | Supervised Clinical Practice II | 3 |
| HIM 227 | Senior Professional Competencies | 3 |
| Total Required Credit Hours | 76 | |
- 1
General education course