Health and Medical Administrative Services

This program is a Selective Program. Application requirements are included in the description below.

Electronic Health Record Specialist

Certificate

The Electronic Health Record Specialist (EHR/EMR) is a one semester certificate that will prepare the students for entry-level positions with knowledge and skills required to transition from a paper based record to an electronic health record. Students will apply basic non-clinical functions and administrative tasks with the use of the Electronic Health Record (EHR/EMR) software in the documentation of patient care. Medical clinics, hospitals, physician offices, in a variety of health care facilities, offer various employment settings for an Electronic Health Record (EHR/EMR) Specialist. The Electronic Health Record Specialist can pursue a lifelong program of continuing education.

Medical Coding Specialist

Certificate

Medical Coding Specialist Certificate prepares students to access and retrieve health information to identify medical diagnoses, and assign appropriate medical codes to narrative descriptions of health diseases and procedures required for reimbursement, medical research, quality assurance, or risk management.

Medical clinics, hospitals, physician offices, private coding agencies, consulting firms, and home offices offer various employment settings for Medical Coding Specialists. Medical Coders may pursue national coding credentials by passing the certification examination that measures proficiency and competency in the standards set by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)*. Medical Coding Specialists pursue a lifelong program of continuing education. As part of the degree plan, students will complete a practicum to obtain experience.

*Students are eligible to participate for the national examination that qualifies them for a certificate as a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-P).

Health Information Technology

Associate of Applied Science

The Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology prepares students for careers as Health Information Technicians.

Health Information Technicians are responsible for maintaining components of health information systems consistent with the medical administrative, ethical, and legal, accreditation, and regulatory requirements of the health care delivery system.  In all types of facilities, and in various locations within a facility, the Health Information Technician possesses the technical knowledge and skills necessary to process, maintain, complete and report health information data for reimbursement, facility planning, marketing, risk management, utilization management, quality assessment and research; abstract and code, clinical data using appropriate classification systems; and analyze health records according to standards.

As part of the degree plan, students will complete an internship that enables them to gain real-world experience. In addition, students are prepared for a national exam that measures proficiency and competency in the standards set by the American Health Information Management.

*The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) has accredited the program in cooperation with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Students are eligible to participate for the national examination that qualifies them for a certificate as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

Application Requirements

1. Participate in the required Prospective Student Information Session at the Nursing & Allied Health Campus. For the session schedule, access the information on the Health and Medical Administrative Services program website online at https://www.southtexascollege.edu/hmas.
2. Be admitted to the college as a high school graduate or GED equivalent, except for dual credit students.
3. AAS Degree Option: Meet TSI College Readiness Standards, or meet TSI exemption standards.
4. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all courses completed at STC
5. Pass a criminal background check, 10-panel drug screen through approved providers, and complete all required immunizations including Hepatitis B series. For more information on these requirements, access the Clinical Affairs website: https://nah.southtexascollege.edu/clinical_affairs.html.
6. Meet the NAH Functional Abilities Standards available on the NAH Clinical Affairs website at https://nah.southtexascollege.edu/clinical_affairs.html.
7. Submit a completed program application by the stated deadline. For more information, access the website at https://www.southtexascollege.edu/hmas.

NOTE: For up-to-date program information, admission requirements and registration see: http://nah.southtexascollege.edu/

Nursing and Allied Health Graduation Requirements

To earn the Electronic Health Record Certificate, the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate or an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology, a student must meet all college graduation requirements and complete all coursework as prescribed in the specific degree plan with a minimum grade of “C.”

Program Learning Outcomes

Electronic Health Record Specialist

1. Graduates will be able to utilize health information technology skills to work with electronic health records systems in the completion of the patient medical record.
2. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy and physiology to accurately collect, review, and document clinical documentation for accurate data capture.
3. Graduates will be able to navigate the electronic health record to create a claim and verify patient demographic and insurance information for effective claims processing.

1. Graduates will be able to review health record documentation and apply the coding conventions and guidelines for inpatient and outpatient diagnoses and procedure codes.
2. Graduates will be able to apply legal principles, policies, and standards to ensure patient privacy and confidentiality and maintain a secure work environment.
3. Graduates will be able to differentiate between the different types of health insurance plans and explain the types of compensation used in health care reimbursement.

1. Graduates will be able to apply medical record requirements for accuracy and completeness of healthcare information as defined by organizational and regulatory standards.
2. Graduates will be able to apply legal principles, policies, and standards to protect the privacy, confidentiality and security of health information.
3. Graduates will utilize and manage data to consolidate, manipulate, and use data visualization techniques to effectively represent health care management concepts.
4. Graduates will be able to apply the components of the revenue cycle guidelines for compliance with healthcare regulations.
5. Graduates will demonstrate effective leadership skills by participating in a project with a team using industry best practices and methods.

Advisory Committee Members

*Monte Bivens, RHIT, ODS-Certified, CTR, Cancer Registry Consultant, Medovent Solutions
Rosie (Mendiola) Balderas, RHIA, CHPE, Regional Director, South Texas Health Systems
Elisa Christina Chavez, CCA, Clinical Supervisor Lead for South Texas, ASAS Health Group
Elizabeth Gonzales, RHIT, Director of HIM Dept., DHR Health
Cyndi Lara, Office Manger, Complete Family Foot Care
Beatriz A. Lopez, BBA, Human Resources Director, Shah Eye Center
Itzel J. Hernandez, MS, HIM Operations Manager, South Texas Health Systems
Sandra Naranjo, Medical Records Director, Mission Valley Nursing & Transitional Care

*

Interim Advisory Committee Chair

• Electronic Health Record Specialist Certificate
• Medical Coding Specialist Certificate
• Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science

Electronic Health Record Specialist Certificate

TSI Exempt

Plan of Study Grid

Fall		Credit Hours
HITT 1305	Medical Terminology I	3
HITT 1301	Health Data Content and Structure	3
HITT 1213	Coding & Insurance	2
HITT 1211	Health Information Systems 1	2
HITT 1253	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information	2
VNSG 1420 or NURA 1407	Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health or Body Systems	4
	Credit Hours	16
	Total Credit Hours	16

¹

CAPSTONE: Successfully passing HITT 1211 Health Information Systems

Medical Coding Specialist Certificate

TSI Exempt

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credit Hours
HITT 1305	Medical Terminology I	3
HITT 1301	Health Data Content and Structure	3
VNSG 1420 or NURA 1407	Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health or Body Systems	4
HITT 1213	Coding & Insurance	2
HITT 1211	Health Information Systems	2
HITT 1253	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information	2
	Credit Hours	16
Spring
HITT 1341	Coding and Classification Systems	3
HITT 1342	Ambulatory Coding	3
HITT 2330	Pathophysiology and Pharmacology	3
HITT 2335	Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies	3
	Credit Hours	12
Summer
HITT 2346	Advanced Medical Coding	3
HITT 1166	Coding Practicum	1
HITT 2145	Coding Certification Exam Review	1
	Credit Hours	5
	Total Credit Hours	33

Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science

TSI Liable

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Credit Hours
HITT 1305	Medical Terminology I	3
HITT 1301	Health Data Content and Structure	3
HITT 1213	Coding & Insurance	2
HITT 1211	Health Information Systems	2
HITT 1253	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information	2
VNSG 1420 or NURA 1407	Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health or Body Systems	4
	Credit Hours	16
Spring
HITT 2330	Pathophysiology and Pharmacology	3
HITT 1341	Coding and Classification Systems	3
HITT 1342	Ambulatory Coding	3
HITT 2335	Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies	3
	Credit Hours	12
Summer
COSC 1301	Introduction to Computing 1	3
ENGL 1301	Composition I 1	3
	Credit Hours	6
Second Year
Fall
HITT 2166	Practicum I	1
HITT 2343	Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement	3
HITT 1345	Health Care Delivery Systems	3
MATH 1342	Elementary Statistical Methods 1	3
HITT 2225	Public Health Information Technology	2
	Credit Hours	12
Spring
Humanities Elective 1		3
HITT 1255	Health Care Statistics	2
HITT 2339	Health Information Organization and Supervision	3
HITT 2167	CAPSTONE: Practicum II	1
PSYC 2301	General Psychology 1	3
HITT 2249	RHIT Competency Review	2
	Credit Hours	14
	Total Credit Hours	60

¹

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement