Health Information Technology & Clinical Coding

Health Information Technology & Clinical Coding

Earn an Associate of Science Degree in Health Information Technology and a Certificate in Clinical Coding!

Program Philosophy

The program’s philosophy is based on the belief that health information professionals play a vital role in making the healthcare system work.  As an integral part of the medical team, health information professionals provide a very important service to patients and other healthcare professionals by competently collecting accurate data to aid in rendering patient diagnoses and treatments. We believe that the success of our students in learning the skills of managing data that doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers rely on to deliver quality healthcare is dependent on the continuing process of hands-on training coupled with structured comprehensive instruction. The program is committed to supporting the professional and personal development of each individual seeking this as a career in health information management. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Health Information Technology/Clinical Coding Specialist Program is to attract, educate, and increase the pool of qualified individuals entering the profession of health information management, with a commitment to becoming experts in managing patient health information, administering computer information systems and collecting data for health care services provided to the medically underserved and other communities. 


Programs Goals

  • Educate health professionals who are highly-skilled, knowledgeable and committed to improving the lives and health of individuals in society.
  • Provide didactic theory to prepare students to successfully become credentialed professionals through the American Health Information Management Association
  • Provide practical theory and hands-on application opportunities that will allow students to demonstrate competency in collecting, retaining, and reporting health information data. 


HIT/CCS Graduates will possess the technical skills necessary to:

  • Protect all confidential information and promote the obligation to respect privacy of patient information including personal, health, financial, genetic, and outcome information.
  • Identify and interpret health information content in reference to its value, purpose and importance.
  • Organize and revise data to place value on how it is defined, understood, analyzed, and interpreted for use in the healthcare environment. 
  • Ensure quality health information is secure and accessible for healthcare interdisciplinary team and other organizations that create and make use of it.  

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe important terms and concepts in Health Information/Coding
  • Collect, validate, store and retrieve health care data
  • Covert diagnoses and procedures to numeric codes
  • Manage related data, personnel, and release of information
  • Utilize appropriate computer programs to manage data
  • Create a Process Improvement Plan
  • Create a Financial Management Plan
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in health care facilities
  • Apply concepts of health information to observation of professional practice
  • Demonstrate knowledge, skills, ethical conduct, and professional behavior

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program is designed to prepare students to play a leading role in the effective management of health data and medical records in the healthcare delivery system. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be awarded an Associate of Science in HIT. Additionally, they will be eligible for the national accreditation examination given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and upon successful passing of that exam, receive the RHIT credentials (Registered Health Information Technician).

Role of Health Information Technicians and Clinical Coding Specialists

  • Responsible for keeping accurate records on patients’ diagnosis and treatment histories
  • Assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure performed
  • Consult classification manuals and rely on knowledge of disease processes
  • Assign patient to a DRG (diagnosis-related group), by using software programs, to determine reimbursement amount
  • Apply computer skills and programs to tabulate and analyze data to help improve patient care, costs, and assist in preparing legal actions and in conducting research

Accreditation

Charles Drew University’s Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Application

Please click here for instructions on how to apply for the program. You  may also send inquiries to admissionsinfo@cdrewu.edu or call the Office of Admissions at (323) 563-4838.

Requirements for the Major:  75 Units

Program  Required Courses (37 Units)
HIT100  Healthcare Delivery System
HIT110  Legal and Ethical Issues
HIT115 Pathophysiology
HIT121  Basic Medical Coding IDC-10-cm (part I)
HIT122  Basic Medical Coding IDC-10-cm (part II)
HIT126  Intermediate Medical Coding
HIT127  Billing and Reimbursement
HIT130  Fundamentals of Health Information Technology
HIT136  Introduction to Pharmacology
HIT172  Application Skills and Virtual Simulation Lab I
HIT175  Professional Practice Experience I
HIT219  Computers and Technology in Healthcare
HIT221  Advanced Medical Coding
HIT250  Statistics in Healthcare
HIT260  Quality Improvement/Risk Management/Utilization
HIT270  Management and Supervision
HIT272  Application Skills and Virtual Simulation Lab II
HIT225  Professional Practice Experience II

General Education Required Courses (35 Units)

Community Service: 50 hours

See page 61 in the CDU CATALOG 2009-2011(PDF)