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 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, and learn the basic functions and the use of the technology for the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Medical clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices, in all types of facilities, and in various locations within a facility offer various employment settings for an Electronic Health Record 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 health information, identify 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, doctors’ offices, private coding agencies, consulting firms, and home offices offer various employment settings for Coding Specialist. Coders may pursue a certified coding specialist rating by passing the National Certification Examination that measures proficiency and competency in the standards set by the American Health Information Management Association. Medical Coding Specialists pursue a lifelong program of continuing education.

*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

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://nah.southtexascollege.edu/hmas.
Be admitted to the college as a high school graduate or GED equivalent, except for dual credit students.
AAS Degree Option: Meet TSI College Readiness Standards, or meet TSI exemption standards.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for all courses completed at STC
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.
Meet the NAH Functional Abilities Standards available on the NAH Clinical Affairs website at https://nah.southtexascollege.edu/clinical_affairs.html.
Submit a completed program application by the stated deadline. For more information, access the website at https://nah.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. The student will be able to accurately apply medical terminology to the content and development of the medical record.

2. Students will be able to apply diagnosis and inpatient procedure codes according to current guidelines.

3. Students will be able to apply outpatient procedure codes using CPT/HCPCS (Current Procedural Terminology/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System).

4. Students will be able to demonstrate leadership skills that result in effective collaboration with other health care personnel.

Medical Coding Specialist

1. The student will be able to accurately apply coding documentation and data to the content and development of the medical record.

2. The student will be able to utilize current coding software in the completion of the Health Information Management process.

3. Students will be able to apply diagnosis and inpatient procedure codes according to current guidelines.

4. Students will be able to apply outpatient procedure codes using CPT/HCPCS (Current Procedural Terminology/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System).

5. Students will be able to apply diagnostic/procedural grouping (e.g. DRG, MSDRG, APG, RUGS) to patient medical records.

Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science

1. Students will be able to analyze a medical record for accuracy and completeness.

2. Student will be able to demonstrate leadership skills that result in effective collaboration with other health care personnel.

3. Students will be able to apply diagnosis and inpatient procedure codes according to current guidelines.

4. Students will be able to apply outpatient procedure codes using CPT/HCPCS (Current Procedural Terminology/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System).

5. Students will be able to utilize basic descriptive, institutional, and healthcare statistics for patient information audits.

6. Students will be able to evaluate the revenue cycle management processes.

Advisory Committee Members

Margarita "Maggie" Alvarez, Office Manager, El Milagro Clinic
Rosie (Mendiola) Balderas, RHIA, CHPE, Regional Director, South Texas Health Systems
*Monte Bivens, RHIT, Tumor Registry Manager, DHR Health Advanced Care Center
Elisa Christina Chavez, Data Entry Supervisor, Valley Care Clinics
Elizabeth Gonzales, RHIT, Director of HIM Dept., Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Itzel J. Hernandez, HIM Supervisor, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Cyndi Lara, Office Manger, Complete Family Foot Care
Beatriz A. Lopez, Human Resources Director, Shah Eye Center
Sandra Naranjo, Medical Records Director, Mission Valley Nursing
Marivel Perez, RHIT, HIM Operations Manager, South Texas Health Systems
Veronica Ramirez, RHIT, Director, HIM Dept., Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Claudia P. Tovar, Cancer Registry Specialist, DHR Health Advanced Care Center

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
POFM 1317	Medical Administrative Support	3
HITT 1341	Coding and Classification Systems	3
HITT 2371	Current Procedural Terminology Coding CPT-4	3
HITT 1211	Health Information Systems	2
HITT 1253	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information	2
HITT 1167	CAPSTONE: Practicum	1
	Credit Hours	20
	Total Credit Hours	20

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
NURA 1407 or VNSG 1420	Body Systems or Anatomy and Physiology for Allied Health	4
POFM 1317	Medical Administrative Support	3
	Credit Hours	13
Spring
HITT 1341	Coding and Classification Systems	3
HITT 2371	Current Procedural Terminology Coding CPT-4	3
HITT 1211	Health Information Systems	2
HPRS 2301	Pathophysiology	3
HITT 2231	Advanced Medical Terminology	2
HITT 1349	Pharmacology	3
	Credit Hours	16
Second Year
Fall
HITT 2372	Advanced CPT Coding-CPT4	3
HITT 2335	Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies	3
HITT 1253	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information	2
HITT 1166	Coding Practicum	1
	Credit Hours	9
	Total Credit Hours	38

Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science

TSI LIABLE

Plan of Study Grid
First Semester (Summer)		Credit Hours
HITT 1211	Health Information Systems	2
BIOL 2401	Anatomy and Physiology I ¹	4
HITT 1305	Medical Terminology I	3
	Credit Hours	9
First Year
Fall
ENGL 1301	Composition I ¹	3
BIOL 2402	Anatomy and Physiology II	4
HITT 1301	Health Data Content and Structure	3
MATH 1332 or MATH 1414	Contemporary Mathematics ¹ or College Algebra	3
	Credit Hours	13
Spring
HPRS 2301	Pathophysiology	3
HITT 1253	Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information	2
HITT 1341	Coding and Classification Systems	3
HITT 2231	Advanced Medical Terminology	2
HITT 1349	Pharmacology	3
	Credit Hours	13
Second Year
Fall
HITT 2166	Practicum I	1
HITT 2335	Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies	3
HITT 1345	Health Care Delivery Systems	3
PSYC 2301	General Psychology ¹	3
	Credit Hours	10
Spring
HITT 2371	Current Procedural Terminology Coding CPT-4	3
Humanities Elective ¹		3
Select one of the following recommended electives:
PHIL 2306	Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 2303	Introduction to Logic
HUMA 1301	Introduction to Humanities I - Western
HITT 1255	Health Care Statistics	2
HITT 2343	Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement	3
HITT 2339	Health Information Organization and Supervision	3
HITT 2167	CAPSTONE: Practicum II	1
	Credit Hours	15
	Total Credit Hours	60

Identifies courses to fulfill minimum 15 credit hour General Education requirement