Academic Catalog

Health Info Technology (HIT)

HIT 120  Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology  3 Credits (3)  
Introduction to the principles of pharmacology, including drug terminology; drug origins, forms, and actions; routes of administration; as well as the use of generic name drugs, trade name drugs and categories of drugs to treat multiple and specific body systems. Repeatable: up to 3 credits.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Summarize major drug standard and legislation requiring legal responsibilities of the health care practitioner when dispensing medications.
  2. Describe the major drug classification systems
  3. Analyze the sources of drugs and their pharmacokinetic processes and variables that affect drug action and effects
  4. Identify drug forms, routes of delivery, and the supplies and techniques necessary for safe and appropriate administration.
  5. Apply the principals that support the moral, ethical, and legal responsibilities of the health care practioner when administering medications safely and accurately
  6. Assess the four parenteral routes, application of each and specific injection types and sites
  7. Identify precautions that should be taken when administering medications and various demographics, and in particular, for older adults
  8. Identify the primary routes of poisoning and the procedures, therapies and preventive measures involved in patient care and education
  9. Identify commonly used medications 1
  10. Outline the sources, mechanism of action, and indications for specific drug therapies 1
  11. List the appropriate dosages for several drugs 1
  12. Describe the side effects, precautions, contraindications, and interactions for specific medications 1
  13. Identify recent actions taken by government and by manufacturers for specific drugs.

  
HIT 140  Health Information Introduction to Pathophysiology  3 Credits (3)  
Introduction to the nature of disease and its effect on body systems. Disease processes affecting the human body via an integrated approach to specific disease entities will be presented including a review of normal functions of the appropriate body systems. Diseases will be studied in relation to their etiology, pathology, physical signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, complications, treatment modalities and prognosis.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Describe basic disease concepts, including mechanisms of disease, neoplasms, inflammation, and infection
  2. Examine the basic anatomy and physiology of the body systems, etiology of various diseases and conditions, important signs and symptoms of disorders, common diagnostics, typical course and management of disorders, preventive measures, and the effects of aging
  3. Identify the terminology, etiology, signs and symptoms, common diagnostics, typical course and management of disorders, and preventive measures associated with genetic and developmental disorders, childhood diseases, and mental health disorders
  4. Recognize important medical terminology related to the understanding of human diseases
  5. State the drug classifications and examples of medications in each class used to treat diseases, disorders and conditions related to each body system.

  
HIT 150  Introduction to Medical Terminology  3 Credits (3)  
The study and understanding of medical terminology as it relates to diseases, their causes and effects, and the terminology used in various medical specialties. Emphasis will be placed on learning the basic elements of medical words, appropriate spelling and use of medical terms, and use of medical abbreviations. Repeatable: up to 3 credits. Crosslist: NURS 150.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Effective communication skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
  2. Basic critical thinking skills include problem identification, evidence acquisition, evidence evaluation, and reasoning/conclusion.
  3. An understanding of personal and social responsibility.
  4. Apply the fundamental concepts of quantitative reasoning in mathematics and science.
  5. Appropriate information and digital literacy and skills for personal and professional use.

  
HIT 158  Advanced Medical Terminology  3 Credits (3)  
Builds upon the concepts covered in HIT 150 or NURS 150 providing greater understanding of how to properly use and apply medical terminology used in the various health fields. Medical terminology associated with the body system's anatomy and physiology, pathology, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, pharmacology, and abbreviations will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): HIT 150 or NURS 150  

Learning Outcomes
  1. Provide the student with an advanced knowledge and understanding of medical terms.
  2. Prepare the advanced student for a career in the healthcare field.
  3. State the derivation of most healthcare terms.
  4. Use the rules given to build and spell healthcare terms and build singular terms to their plural forms.
  5. Recognize and recall an introductory word bank of prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms and their respective meanings.
  6. Recognize and use terms associated with the organization of the body, positional and directional vocabulary, body.
  7. Recognize and use terms related to the anatomy, physiology, pathology and procedures for: the musculoskeletal system, integumentary system, digestive system, genitourinary system, pregnancy, childbirth, immune system, circulatory system, respiratory system, nervous system, mental health, eyes, ears, and endocrine system.

  
HIT 221  Internship I  3 Credits (3)  
Work experience that directly relates to a student's major field of study that provides the student an opportunity to explore career paths and apply knowledge and theory learned in the classroom. Internships may be paid or unpaid. Students are supervised/evaluated by both the employer and the instructor. C- or better is required for this course. Restricted to: HIT majors.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Recognize a variety of roles and settings, including administrative, clinical, and billing and coding activities in private practice, hospitals and health networks, and Patient Centered Medical Home environments.
  2. Apply the functions of the Harris CareTracker system step by step, using engaging activities, useful FAQs, time-saving tips, annotated screen shots, chapter review questions, and more to make key concepts easier to understand and apply.
  3. Incorporate the features, functions, and workflows of administrative, practice management, clinical, and billing activities using a live electronic medical record (EMR) program.
  4. Produce front office tasks such as appointment scheduling, creating and maintaining a patient medical record, preauthorization, patient registration, and report generation.
  5. Select and categorize CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS codes to office visits and surgeries, and interpret medical documentation to code for multiple specialties.
  6. Compile and classify complete and accurate data for insurance claim reimbursement for private, commercial, and government payers.
  7. Devise pre-bill claim reviews and appeal insurance denials following carrier-specific processes.

  
HIT 228  Medical Insurance Billing  3 Credits (3)  
Comprehensive overview of the insurance specialist's roll and responsibilities. Concepts and applications that will assist the student in understanding the steps necessary for successfully completing the insurance claim filing and reimbursement processes for various insurance carriers, both private and government, will be emphasized.
Prerequisite(s): HIT/NURS 150; OATS 208  

Learning Outcomes
  1. Identify roles and responsibilities of the medical insurance billing specialist;
  2. Demonstrate an understand the requirements of different insurance carriers: HMO’s, Medicare, Medicaid, Government, and State;
  3. Apply the procedure codes (CPT) to diagnostic codes (ICD-9) and generate claims for billing purposes; and
  4. Complete the procedure of processing of insurance claims electronically and manually.

  
HIT 240  Health Information Quality Management  3 Credits (3)  
Introduction to basic concepts of quality improvement and performance improvement as they apply to health record systems and the health care industry. Quality assessment and improvement standards and requirements of licensing, accrediting fiscal and other regulatory agencies will be presented.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Introduce the beginning student to the responsibilities in medical facilities and encourage the development of leadership skills for success.
  2. Expose the student to compliance in healthcare, creation of policies and procedures, medical records, and fundamentals of the Human Resource Department.
  3. Discuss the different employees and their requirements for licensure and registration along with employment qualifications for both clinical and administrative staff in the health care facility.
  4. Explain the role of the human services department in hiring new medical personnel, interviewing and screening potential employees, arranging follow up interviews with appropriate departments, administering background checks, managing benefits, and educating new hires about the rules and regulations of the health care facility.
  5. Discuss how the revenue cycle is essential to the financial success of a health care facility.
  6. Describe how medical records are vital to all health care settings and the role of management in this process.
  7. Explain the purpose and procedure of audits in the health care setting.
  8. Describe the role of regulatory agencies in the health care setting and the importance of compliance.
  9. Discuss how the health care facility depends on advertising and marketing. 1
  10. Discuss the role of the compliance officer and the components of an effective compliance program. 1
  11. Explain the legal and ethical considerations associated with health care compliance. 1
  12. Describe each step of compliance including patient consent, documentation, reporting, creating policies and procedures, education and training, internal and external audits and how to keep the program current. 1
  13. Explain ways to deal with enforcement of compliance and ways to deal with non-compliance.

  
HIT 248  Medical Coding I  3 Credits (3)  
Comprehensive overview of the fundamentals, coding conventions, and principles of selecting the most appropriate ICD-10-CM/PCS diagnostic and procedure codes. The most recent version of ICD-10-CM/PCS and an in depth study of current Official Coding Guidelines for coding and reporting will be emphasized. Repeatable: up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite(s): OATS 228  

Learning Outcomes
  1. Introduce the health student to the skills necessary to assist healthcare professionals in the health medical office and/or facility.
  2. Provide the health professional skills and techniques necessary to assist in the healthcare setting.
  3. Discuss and demonstrate the professional and career responsibilities of an administrative medical assistant.
  4. Communicate effectively as a receptionist in the medical office environment.
  5. Demonstrate appropriate and effective records management including proper filing procedures, handling medical records and drug and prescription records.
  6. Demonstrate proper financial administration including fees, credit and collection; bookkeeping; understanding of health insurance systems and claim submission; and procedural and diagnostic coding.
  7. Demonstrate the ability to properly manage a health care office and perform relevant office managerial responsibilities.

  
HIT 255  Special Topics  3 Credits (3)  
Specific topics to be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Repeatable: up to 6 credits.

Learning Outcomes
  1. See course syllabus.

  
HIT 258  Medical Coding II  3 Credits (3)  
Continuation of Medical Coding I. Comprehensive overview of the coding and reporting guidelines, fundamentals, coding conventions, and principles of selecting the most appropriate CPT and HCPCS procedural codes for all medical specialties. The most recent version of CPT and a continued study of the ICD-10-CM/PCS coding conventions and principles will be emphasized. Designed as a medical coding capstone course. Repeatable: up to 3 credits.
Prerequisite(s): HIT 248  

Learning Outcomes
  1. Provide comprehensive overview of the coding and reporting guidelines; and
  2. Expose the continuing student to fundamentals and coding conventions
  3. Identify and differentiate principles of selecting the most appropriate CPT and HCPCS procedural codes for all medical specialties

  
HIT 268  Health Information System  3 Credits (3)  
Overview of health data management, work planning, and organization principles; an introduction to health care information systems; and review of the fundamentals of information systems for managerial, clinical support, and information systems.

Learning Outcomes
  1. Introduce the student to the health information technology and ensuing professional standards necessary to perform task as assigned.
  2. Provide students with the skills for an applied approach to health information.
  3. Discuss healthcare data management including: the health record, healthcare data sets and standards, use clinical vocabularies and classification systems, reimbursement methodologies, and health information functions.
  4. Explain the importance of health statistics, biomedical research and quality management in health information management technology.
  5. Discuss the different types of health services organizations and delivery along with the legal and ethical issues involved in health information management.
  6. Define the different types of information technology and systems along with information security.
  7. Discuss the principles of organization and work planning