Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market Health Information Technology Program 3213 S. Park Avenue Herrin, IL 62948 618-942-6902 Dear Prospective Student: Thank you for your interest in the Health Information Technology Program at Rend Lake College. The college has an open-door admission policy, however, there are some programs which have additional requirements. We are forwarding you a packet of information to get your application process started. All applicants are required to submit an application for admission, high school transcript or G.E.D. scores, college transcripts, ASSET test scores, and in-district proof of residency if applicable. Enclosed in this packet is: - a description of the SICCM HIT Program - the admission procedure - expenses encountered in the program - HIT Course Curriculum and Descriptions - HIT Program Brochure Further information concerning the general application procedures is enclosed. It is very important that you follow all of the instructions. Please feel free to contact one of the respective individuals listed on the next page, if you should have any questions that have not been answered by the enclosed information. Again, thank you for your interest and best wishes in your educational endeavors. Sincerely, Chris Froemling, RHIT, CCS Assistant Director, Health Information Technology Program Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market Enclosures
SICCM/Health Information Technology Program (Medical Record Technology) The Health Information Technology (two-year) Associate Degree of Applied Science Program is offered through the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market (SICCM). SICCM is a cooperative program with John A. Logan College, Kaskaskia College, Rend Lake College, Shawnee Community College, and Southeastern Illinois College. Each fall, a maximum of five students are admitted from each campus. Entrance requirements are based on the ASSET test (limit of two ASSET tests a year) taken by interested students. Test scores are compiled and top ranking students are admitted until the allotted six slots are filled. If a campus does not fill all student slots, the vacant slots are given to the remaining campuses to utilize. Students register for all courses, both general studies and health information, at his/her home campus. The program curriculum includes general studies, which are all taken at the home campus, and health information courses (professional). It should be noted that medical terminology, advanced medical terminology and medical transcription are all required courses that the home campus offers. Also, each individual campus total HIT program credit requirement is slightly different based on differences in credit requirements of general study courses. Some professional courses are taught in the evening and some during the day based on part-time faculty availability. No professional courses are taught on the weekend. Only one section of the professional courses in the health information program is offered in a semester. Generally, the professional courses are taught at the SICCM centralized lab. For any given semester, courses at each campus are scheduled one after the other in order to reduce student transportation requirements. This requirement means that some students may be required to travel an hour or more in order to take classes. (Many students of the program carpool.) Clinical practicums are required in the second year of the program. These consist of two full days a week spent in health information departments of area hospitals. Students will be assigned to clinical sites as close to their home as possible, but students may have to travel considerable distances. The SICCM HIT Program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management of the American Health Information Management Association. Students who have completed the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association. The certified graduate may then use the title Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
Admission Procedure Students should apply for admission to the HIT program through their home community college. Contact the college's Admission Office to begin the process. Students must fulfill admission policies for the college through which they apply. Each participating institution has their own admission procedures. Applicants must have graduated from an approved high school or demonstrate equivalent competency (G.E.D. examination). Each college Admission Officer or counselor of Allied Health Professions will provide the applicant with an admission packet and dates for application and required testing. Applicants must have satisfied all general entrance requirements and been admitted by the college to which they have applied prior to consideration for admission to the Health Information Technology Program. Expenses Admitted HIT students will be responsible for the following expenses: 1. Tuition and books. 2. College fees will include -Program fees (20.00/HIT Course) 3. Transportation costs to HIT courses and clinical practicum sites. 4. Physical exam and TB test. 5. Drug test and Background check Questions regarding the admissions process may be directed to:
John A. Logan College Tom Cardwell Director of Assessment Assessment Office, C205 700 Logan College Road Carterville, IL 62918 Phone (618) 985-3741 1-800-851-4720 Kaskaskia College Micki Adams Enrollment Specialist 27210 College Road Centralia, IL 62801 Phone (618) 545-3046 Rend Lake College Shelly Kuhns Chair of Allied Health Division 468 North Ken Gray Parkway Ina, IL 62846 Phone (618) 437-5321 1-800-369-5321 Shawnee Community College Mindy Reach Registrar 8364 Shawnee College Road Ullin, IL 62992 Phone (618) 634-2242 1-800-481-2242 Southeastern Illinois College Gina Sirach Acting Director, Nursing and Allied Health 3575 College Road Harrisburg, IL 62946 Phone (618) 252-5400 ext. 2330 1-866-338-2742 REND LAKE COLLEGE Health Information Technology Program Curriculum Guide Students entering the HIT program will be tested for typing abilities based on the following scale: Based on a 3 minute timing - students must be able to type 30 words per minute with 3 errors allowed. If the student passes the typing test, he/she would not be required to take OFTC 1201. However, if the student fails the typing test, he/she would be required to complete the typing course.
Pre-requisite OFTC 1201 Keyboarding I 3 First Year, Fall Semester Semester Hours ORIE 1101 Orientation HIT 1201 Introduction to Health Information 3 ZOO 1105 Anatomy and Physiology I 4 CSCI 1101 Introduction to Computers 3 OFTC 1280 Medical Terminology 3 MATH 1105 Basic Concepts of Statistics 3 Total 17 1 First Year, Spring Semester HIT 1202 Health Records Systems 3 HIT 1203 Health Records Systems Lab 1 HIT 2215 Fundamentals of Medical Science 4 ZOO 1106 Anatomy and Physiology II 4 ENGL 1101 Rhetoric and Composition I 3 OFTC 1281 Medical Transcription I 3 Total 18 Second Year, Fall Semester HIT 2201 Health Data and Statistics 2 HIT 2202 Clinical Practicum I 2 HIT 2203 Management in Health Care 3 HIT 2204 Coding 5 HIT 2211 Medico Legal Aspects 2 OFTC 1282 Advanced Medical Terminology/Transcription 3 Total 17 Second Year, Spring Semester HIT 2216 CPT Coding 3 HIT 2217 Quality Management 3 HIT 2213 Clinical Practicum II 2 HIT 2214 Health Information in Non-Traditional Setting 2 HIT 2218 Reimbursement Management 2 COMM 1101 Principles of Effective Speaking 3 Elective (Humanities/Fine Arts or Social/Behavioral Sciences) 3 Total 18 Students must maintain C overall average plus C or better in HIT 1201, 1202, 1203, 2203, 2204, and 2215. Students wanting to transfer to SIU-C in Healthcare Management must complete ECON 2102. ECON 2101 is a prerequisite of ECON 2102. These courses would satisfy the required elective. *Elective in Humanities/Fine Arts or Social/Behavioral Sciences must be an IAI (Illinois Approved Initiative) course. Updated 09/10 Health Information Course Descriptions
Introduction to Health Information A course that will initiate the student to the field of Health Information Technology. An overview of the functions and responsibilities of the technologist and orientation to the technical skills held by the technologist, including skills necessary to maintain competence of health record systems consistent with the medical administrative, ethical, legal, accreditation and regulatory requirements of the health care delivery system. Medical Terminology This course stresses the learning and use of medical roots, prefixes, and suffixes needed in medical transcription. In addition, students will learn abbreviations, pathological conditions, and tests relating to body systems. Health Record Systems Study of the content, format, evaluation and completeness of the medical record; licensing, accrediting, and regulatory agencies; numbering systems; patient index; filing systems; and record retention storage and retrieval. Health Record Systems Lab This course allows the student the laboratory hands-on experience in evaluating content, format, and completeness of actual medical records. Also included in this lab experience are numbering systems, patient indexes, filing systems and record retention, storage and retrieval. Computer experience will be utilized as a teaching method. Advanced Medical Terminology This course provides continued development of medical terminology pertaining to body systems, pharmacology, radiology and other related areas. In addition, a background in the anatomy of the body and how it relates to transcription skills will be included. Medical Transcription An introductory course in developing skills needed for transcribing medical reports and forms similar to those used by the medical profession. Actual case histories of patients are transcribed using transcription equipment. Accuracy is stressed on the transcription equipment with increasingly higher standards required as the student progresses through case studies and other related medical material. Health Data and Statistics Study of the sources and uses of health data; computation of rates and percentages; vital records registration and reporting and display. Clinical Practicum I Clinical experience in the areas of patient registration; registration procedures in the medical record department; storage and retrieval of medical records; technical analysis of the medical record; coding and indexing; and medical transcription, with related experiences.
Management in Health Care The study of management principles as applied to the Health Information Department. Includes an introduction to management; the functions of planning; organizing; controlling; actuating/supervising; problem solving; and quality assurance in the medical record department. Coding Study of classifications and nomenclatures, with in-depth coverage of ICD-9-CM indexing. CPT Coding This course covers the principles of coding with CPT. Students will develop an understanding of coding and classification systems in order to assign valid CPT/HCPCS procedures codes used to report reimbursable services. Medico Legal Aspects Study of the basic concepts and principles of law and their application to the health care field, and specifically to the health information department; laws dealing with confidentiality and release of information; liability of health care providers, and other topics. Quality Management The study of quality improvement systems. Includes the purpose and philosophy and quality improvement; utilization management, performance improvement, and risk management in the acute care facility; coordination of quality management activities with physician credential/reappointment and employee performance evaluation; quality management requirements for acute care facilities in specific program areas; quality management in the non-acute facility; confidentiality of quality management information; and the expanding quality management function. Clinical Practicum II Clinical experience in the areas of the medical staff: JCAHO; quality improvement; utilization review; QIO; Medicare; DRG's; coding reinforcement; and health information systems. Health Information in Non-Traditional Setting Study of health information services in health care institutions other than acute care hospitals. Includes regulating agencies reporting systems, controls, the health record system and other related topics. Fundamentals of Medical Science The introduction to general principles of disease with emphasis on the etiology, symptoms, signs, diagnostic findings and treatment. Reimbursement Management Study of reimbursement as it relates to the healthcare field and specifically to the Health Information Department. Includes an overview of reimbursement methodologies, government sponsored healthcare programs, coding compliance, charge description master maintenance, and revenue cycle management.