Degree Requirements
BS in Health Information Management
A minimum 2.5 GPA is required for admission to the professional phase (junior and senior levels) of the health information management curriculum. See health information management admission packet for specific admission information. Majors must earn a minimum grade of C in all foundations, cognate and core courses before progressing on to subsequent courses in the HIMA curriculum. A student earning a D in any of these courses must petition the Department of Health Services and Information Management for probationary continuation and may be required to repeat the course. Three D or F grades will result in dismissal from the HIMA program. Appeals of dismissals must be made in writing to the Student Affairs Committee of the Department of Health Services and Information Management. Minimum degree requirement is 126 s.h. of credit as follows:
- Foundations curriculum requirements (For information about courses that carry foundations curriculum credit see Liberal Arts Foundations Curriculum) including those listed below 42 s.h.
- BIOL 2130. Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy (4) (F,S,SS) (FC:SC) (P: BIOL 1050, 1051; or BIOL 1100, 1101)
- BIOL 2131. Survey of Human Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory (1) (F,S,SS) (FC:SC) (P/C: BIOL 2130)
- MATH 1065. College Algebra (3) (F,S,SS) (FC:MA) (P: Appropriate score on mathematics placement test)
- Recommended:
ECON 2113. Principles of Microeconomics (3) (F,S,SS) (FC:SO)
- Core - 71 s.h.
- HIMA 3000. Medical Terminology for Health Professionals (3) (F,S,SS)
- HIMA 3032. Record Documentation Systems (3) (S) (P: HIMA major; HIMA 3120)
- HIMA 3113. Applied Medical Sciences I (3) (F) (P: BIOL 2130, 2131; HIMA major; or consent of instructor)
- HIMA 3118. Applied Medical Sciences II (3) (S) (P: HIMA 3113)
- HIMA 3120. Health Care Delivery Systems (3) (F) (P: HSMA 2000; P/C: HSMA 3030 or consent of instructor)
- HIMA 3142. Diagnostic and Procedural Coding (3) (S, SS) (P/C: HIMA major; BIOL 2130, 2131; HIMA 3118)
- HIMA 3148. Health Service Coding (3) (F) (P: HIMA 3120, 3142)
- HIMA 4030. Quality Management in Health Care (3) (S) (P: HIMA 3113, 3120, or consent of instructor)
- HIMA 4075. Applied Health Services Research (3) (WI) (F) (P: BIOS 1500; HIMA 3120)
- HIMA 4081. Directed Independent Project (1) (F,S,SS) (P: HIMA major; consent of instructor)
- HIMA 4138. Health Data Structures (3) (S) (P: HIMA 3120)
- HIMA 4153. Management of Health Information Services Department (3) (WI) (F) (P: HSMA 3050, 4055)
- HIMA 4160. Concepts in Health Information Technology (3) (F) (P: MIS 2223)
- HIMA 4165. Health Information Systems (3) (S) (P: HIMA 4160)
- HSMA 2000. Professional Roles and Environments in Health Care (3) (SL*) (F,S,SS)
- HSMA 3020. Health Care Payment Systems (3) (S) (P: HSMA 2000; P/C: HIMA 3120; HSMA 3030 or consent of instructor; HSMA 3035)
- HSMA 3025. Professional Ethical Codes and Law in Health Care (3) (F) (P: HSMA 2000; P/C: HSMA 3030; or consent of instructor)
- HSMA 3030. Written Communication and Documentation in Health Care (4) (WI) (F) (P: HSMA 2000)
- HSMA 3035. Interpersonal Team Skills for Health Care Supervisors and Practitioners (3) (S) (P: HSMA 2000; P/C: HSMA 3030 or consent of instructor)
- HSMA 3050. Leadership in Health Care (3) (F) (P/C: HSMA 3030)
- HSMA 4010. Health Information Management (3) (F) (P: HIMA 3120; HSMA 3035)
- HSMA 4050. Personnel Management and Supervision in Health Care (3) (S) (P: HIMA 3120; HSMA 3035; or consent of instructor)
- HSMA 4055. Health Care Finance and Accounting (3) (F,SS) (P: HIMA 3120; HSMA 3035)
- HSMA 4905. Allied Health Management Experience (5) (S) (P: Senior standing, consent of advisor, and within 15 s.h. of completing degree program)
- Cognates - 7 s.h.
- MIS 2223. Introduction to Computers (3) (F,S,SS)
- BIOS 1500. Introduction to Biostatistics (3) (F,S) (P: MATH 1065 or equivalent or consent of instructor)
- Electives to complete requirements for graduation.
During pre-registration in fall semester of the sophomore year, students interested in the HIM major should seek advisement from Dr. Paul Bell or Mrs. Myra Brown.
Orientation
A one-day orientation is held on the ECU campus at the beginning of fall semester. Its date is sent to the accepted majors during the summer. While this orientation is optional, the students' attendance is strongly recommended because the information shared at orientation contributes to the students' success. All students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to begin to build their professional network.
Internet Delivery
Professional-phase courses of the HIM program, including the capstone experience, are offered face-to-face and/or via the Internet. On-campus students must have a laptop (see ACE http://www.ecu.edu/ace/ ) and distance students must have access to a computer. All students must be very fluent in using the Internet, communicating through e-mail, downloading information from the Internet, and using the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Faculty members only accept assignments done in applications of Microsoft Office Suite. Faculty members also only use students’ official ECU e-mail accounts.
Professional Practice Experiences (PPEs) and Capstone
GENERAL INFORMATION
All activities required in the program are educational and students are not substituted for paid staff.
However, after demonstrating proficiency, students may be permitted to undertake certain defined activities with appropriate supervision and direction (CAHIIM Standards, Section V. D.3.).
Students may incur expenses during the professional practice experiences and the capstone experience. These expenses are the students’ responsibility. Examples of expenses are:
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Housing: Students are responsible for locating housing and all associated costs. The course instructor maintains tiles with limited information about potential housing.
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Travel: Students are responsible for all travel costs.
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Parking: Students are responsible for all costs incurred for parking.
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Meals: Students are responsible for all costs incurred for meals.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE EXPERIENCES (PPEs)
During professional practice experiences, students will be introduced to activities that involve managing health data across the continuum of care. Based on academic considerations, faculty members will make the final determination of assigned activities.
CAPSTONE
The capstone provides opportunities for both the on-campus students and the DE students to learn more about the administrative responsibilities of the health information manager. Based on academic considerations, faculty members will make the final determination of assigned activities.
