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 Health Information Management - FAQs Question 1: When and where are classes for this program offered? A: General education courses (those courses without the HIM prefix) are taught at varied times (days, evening, weekends, online) at most campus locations. All HIM Program courses are offered only on the North Campus in the Health Science Building either day, evening or online. All courses are offered in sequence and must be taken in the order they are shown in the college course catalog.
Question 2: Are uniforms required? A: No. Professional and Business Casual dress is required when attending a Professional Practice Experience site.
Question 3: Do I need to take a licensing examination after I graduate? A: HIM professionals are not required to be licensed. Instead, after graduation, you are eligible to take the AHIMA's national credentialing examination for Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and the Clinical Coding Associate (CCA). You can not use either of these credentials behind your name unless you have successfully passed the credentialing examinations.
Question 4: How many credits is the program? A: The HIM Program requires 67 credits for the AS Degree.
Question 5: What are the requirements for admission into the Broward College HIM Program? A: Please check the Health Science Admissions site for specific application information which includes the application period for the program. Admission to the program requires:
Question 6: Can I pick and chose the courses I take? A: No, the program is designed to be taken in sequential order to promote skills building.
Question 7: When does the program begin? A: The program begins once a year in August (Fall semester). If you have been accepted to the program and are waiting for the Fall semester, you can take courses without the HIM prefix to get a head start on your degree.
Question 8: Do I have to be accepted into the program to take the HIM courses? A: Yes, only students who apply, meet all the requirements and are accepted into the Program are allowed to register for HIM courses.
Question 9: Is there a separate program for just coding and billing? A: No, BC elected to discontinue the certification program for coding and billing since there are several vocational programs in the area. We also found, that more and more facilities are looking for coding staff that also have the RHIT credentials. The programs were blended. The HIM Program includes coding training. We also teach our students on the 3M coding software. After the required coding classes, the student should be eligible to sit for the coding credentialing exams or the AAPC offered by AHIMA.
Question 10: If I have worked in the health information management department for several years, does any of my work experience count towards my degree? A: It’s possible depending on what type of work you’ve been doing. Anyone interested in work experience credits should discuss this with an Advisor and then make arrangements to discuss options with the HIM Program Manager.
Question 11: What is articulation and what does it mean to me? A: BC has articulation agreements with limited educational organizations in the community which allow us to accept the degree or certifications received from that program to be counted (credits awarded) towards your degree at BC. We currently have agreements with Sheridan and Atlantic Tech Vocational Centers for their students graduating from the Medical Transcription and the Medical Coder/Billing Certification Programs. If you have graduated from either program, please be sure to inform the Admissions Department and/or your Advisor when discussing your HIM Program application. This option could shorten the time it takes for you to complete the AS degree HIM Program at BC.
Question 12: If I decide I want to get my bachelor’s degree in health information management, are my courses at BC transferable? A: Yes, BC is an accredited college and therefore credits will transfer. You’ll need to review your course work with the admission’s department of the 4 year college you’re considering. To find out where the RHIA programs are located within the state or the country, access AHIMA or CAHIIM for approved programs in the area you desire.
Question 13: Is there financial aid available? A: The Student Financial Services office located on each campus offer financial counseling to you and may be able to provide needed funds. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. If you currently work in a healthcare setting, inquire about tuition assistance from your Human Resource department. You can also review scholarships through AHIMA, FHIMA and location HIMA groups. In the South Florida area, refer to Sun-Coast Health Information Management and South Florida Health Information Management. (Contact information is available in the Links section).
Question 14: What type of degree do I receive? A: Upon successful completion of the 2 year program in Health Information Management you will be awarded an Associate of Science degree.
Question 15: Is this program accredited? A: Yes, the HIM Program is accredited by CAHIIM through AHIMA and the college is SACS accredited. | ||
