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Division of
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Faculty
Gail Winkler
Director and Associate Professor of Health Information Technology Program
423-585-6990
Health Information Management, A.A.S.
The Health Information Management Program is a two year associate of applied science degree designed to prepare individuals to manage and code the medical information obtained in medical records, organize the coded information from the medical records for reimbursement purposes, abstract other data to meet administrative and governmental requirements, and manage medical and legal inquires for medical record information. Employment of individuals with these skills is essential for healthcare providers whether the provider is a hospital, clinic, physician's office, nursing home, or other healthcare agency. Graduates of this program will be prepared for a variety of positions in the health information services market, such as technicians, supervisors, coordinators, assistant directors, and directors. The program is designed to offer a wide variety of learning experiences including classroom lecture, use of computers, and software designed for health information technology, and professional practice experience in various medical settings.
The Health Information Management accreditor of Walters State Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for Associate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2028-2029. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL 60601; by phone at 312.235.3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
A.A.S. in Health Information Management Curriculum and Admission Requirements
HIM Program Outcomes
| Time Period | AHIMA National Mean Pass Rate |
WSCC HIM Program Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 70% | 100% |
| 2019-2020 | 73% | 80% |
| 2018-2019 | 75% | 100% |
| Time Period | Placement Rate |
|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 83.33% |
| 2019-2020 | 83.33% |
| 2018-2019 | 80% |
| Time Period | Retention Rate |
|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 78.04% |
| 2019-2020 | 88.89% New definition of retention rate calculation |
| 2018-2019 | 83.3% |
| Time Period | First-Time, First-Year Undergraduates Only includes first time Walters State students first time attending college completing HIM program within 3 years |
All HIM Graduates Includes HIM graduates with previous college courses completed at any college |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 | 100% | 100% |
| 2019-2020 | 0% | 83.33% |
Admission Retention and Graduation Requirements
Any student desiring to pursue an associate of applied science degree in Health Information Management must:
- Apply, meet admission requirements and be accepted by WSCC.
- Indicate Health Information Management as the desired major on WSCC Application form.
- See an advisor from the Health Information Programs department or division of Health Programs and obtain clearance to register.
- Complete all required developmental education courses prior to making application for the Health Information Management program.
- In addition, admission into an allied health program requires the following:
- a completed physical health form;
- evidence of malpractice liability insurance;
- a signed and dated acknowledgement of the Drug/Alcohol Abuse Policy and Consent forms. The physical health form, malpractice insurance, and Tennessee Professional Assistance fees are at the student's expense.
- Each student enrolled in the Health Information Management program will be monitored, advised and counseled. Students' grades will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the director of the program. A student must maintain the following standards or be dismissed from the program:
- a grade of "C" or better in each course;
- complete designated prerequisite/corequisite courses.
- Program graduation requirements include the successful completion of the courses listed below with a minimum grade of "C" in each course.
- Successful completion of BIOL 2010/2011 and BIOL 2020/21 with a grade of "C" or better is a prerequisite to HIMT 2307.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Beginning salary ranges from $20,000 - $30,000 annually.
- Pay is better in larger cities such as Knoxville and Johnson City than in the more rural areas.
- Students will be qualified for supervisory positions in Health Information Management departments in hospitals and supervisory positions in physician office settings.
- If students have further questions about the profession, pay, etc. refer to www.hicareers.com
Estimated Expenses
Textbooks | $800-$1,000 per semester
Professional Liability Insurance | $40
Medical Coding, Technical Certificate
The Medical Coding Technical Certificate program prepares individuals to understand coding principles and guidelines, medical terminology, and regulatory changes for coding at entry-level competencies for coders in various healthcare settings.
Medical Insurance Specialist, Technical Certificate
The Medical Insurance Specialist Technical Certificate program prepares individuals to follow billing procedures, basic coding, insurance guidelines, medical terminology, and regulatory changes for insurance billing at entry-level competencies for insurance billers in various healthcare settings. Employment of individuals with these skills is essential for healthcare providers, whether the provider is a physician, clinic, hospital or nursing home. A concentrated amount of time is dedicated to those skills to provide the students with optimal knowledge and skill to function in the marketplace. The program is designed to offer a wide variety of learning experiences including classroom lecture, computerized software and clinical practicum.
