Health Care Information Programs

Please note:  when prerequisites are listed, it means that the student must have passed the course with a 2.0 or higher prior to the current course.   All HCI courses have a prerequisite of acceptance into one of the HCI programs prior to enrollment except for HCI 120 and HCI 134.  Another exception is for HCI 174 and HCI 175:  if there are any spaces available after HCI students have enrolled, then others may sign up for these courses if they have completed HCI 134 and BIOL& 170 (or equivalent). Two   other courses may be available for non-HCI majors:   HCI 170 and HCI 225 if appropriate prerequisites are met.  For HCI 170, HCI 174, HCI 175, HCI 225, non-accepted HCI majors must obtain an HCI Program Advisor approval prior to enrollment.

HCI 120 Survey of Health Care Delivery (4 credits)

Hospital ownership and organization, long term care, home health agencies, hospices, mental health treatment facilities, ambulatory care centers, social service agencies. Medical staff, educational preparation of health care professionals, medical ethics. Roles of government in health care. Health care financing. Prerequisites: ENGL/ESL 100 or Asset/Compass test showing readiness for ENGL&101. Mandatory decimal grading.  Fall.

HCI 125 Introduction to Hospital Records (5 credits)

Uses, content, interpretation, evaluation and basic processing procedures of hospital, physician office, and dental medical records. Overview of paper record storage and access systems. Electronic health records for the hospital setting. Personal health records. Medical identity theft prevention procedures. Prerequisite: ENGL/ESL 100 or Asset/Compass test showing readiness for ENGL&101.  Also HCI 134 or BIOL&170. Mandatory decimal grading. Winter.

HCI 134 Medical Terminology (5 credits)

Study of word elements (prefixes, suffixes and roots), terms in anatomy and physiology, selected diseases, symptoms, procedures, x-ray and laboratory tests in common usage, and commonly used medical abbreviations. Accurate spelling, meaning of terms and word elements, and pronunciation.  Prerequisite:  ENGL 100/ESL 100 or Asset/Compass test showing readiness for ENGL& 101.  Mandatory decimal grading.  Fall, Winter Spring, Summer.

HCI 154 Medical Reimbursement Systems (5 credits)

Overview of inpatient/outpatient health insurance plans, revenue cycles, health insurance claims, health insurance terminology, reimbursement methodologies for professional services, completion of billing forms, fraud and abuse/HIPAA issues, processing, various prospective payment systems. Prerequisites: HCI 171and HCI 172 or concurrent enrollment. Mandatory decimal grading. Spring.

HCI 170 Legal Aspects of Health Care (4 credits)

This course provides an introduction to legal concepts, court functions, and legal practices related to health care practitioners. Confidentiality/release of information standards with practice including HIPAA requirements are covered including confidentiality, security of data, and fraud/abuse issues.  Prerequisite:  ENGL 100/ESL 100 or Asset/Compass test showing readiness for ENGL& 101. Mandatory decimal grading.  Spring.

HCI 171 Basic ICD-9-CM Coding (5 credits)

Instruction and practice with ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, Clinical Modification) and ICD-10 coding systems. Introduction to Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) and their relationship to coding assignment and financing health care. Prerequisite: HCI 134, BIOL& 170.  Also, HCI 174 and HCI 175 or concurrent enrollment. Mandatory decimal grading.  Winter.

HCI 172 CPT Coding (4 credits)

Instruction and practice in outpatient coding using CPT and HCPCS coding systems. Ethical and legal coding practices stressed. Reimbursement methodologies related to APC's and RBRVS. Prerequisites: HCI 171. Also, 174, 175 or concurrent enrollment.  Mandatory decimal grading.  Spring.

HCI 173 Intermediate Coding (5 credits)

Diagnosis and procedure coding (50 medical records) using ICD-9-CM/ICD-10 and CPT. Coding/abstracting, entering data into computerized encoder/grouper/abstracting system. Utilize DRGs and APCs. Other Coding Systems, fraud and abuse and compliance issues discussed.  Prerequisites: HCI 125, 154, 171, 172.  Mandatory decimal grading.  Summer.

HCI 174 Pharmacology (3 credits)

Terminology for medication ordering, dosing, administration. Effective use of drug references. Classes of drugs and common drugs in each class. Effect of drugs on living organs and tissues, Side effects of drugs, contraindications, drug-drug interactions, controlled substances and schedules, common drug regimens.  Prerequisites: HCI 134 or BIOL& 170.  Mandatory decimal grading. Fall, Winter.

HCI 175 Human Diseases (5 credits)

Introduction to principles of general mechanisms of diseases including etiology, prognosis, signs and symptoms. Relationship of normal body functioning to the physiologic changes that occur as a result of illness. Rationale for common therapies, laboratory tests & drugs for selected diseases.  Prerequisites: BIOL& 170 and HCI 134. Mandatory decimal grading.  Winter.

HCI 179 Clinical Practicum I (1 credit)

Experience in a hospital setting applying theory acquired in the first year of the Health Information Technician program. Filing, record retrieval, assembling records, performing discharge analysis, observing Admitting Office activities, evaluating and preparing release of information requests. Formal acceptance into second year of Health Information Technology Program. Completion with a grade of 2.0 or higher or concurrent enrollment in HCI 125, 170,171. Mandatory P/NC grading.  Summer.

HCI 219 Health Care Statistics (4 credits)

SReview of basic mathematical functions, measures of central tendency & variability, principles of manual & computer graphic display. Census calculations/reports. Health facility patient averages and rates. Public health statistical data collection and reporting. Institutional Research Review Board processes.  Prerequisites: completion of Math 080 or Compass test showing equivalent knowledge. Successful completion HCI 125; HCI 120 or concurrent enrollment.  Mandatory decimal grading.  Fall.

HCI 220 Quality Improvement in Health Care (5 credits)

Evaluation of medical care and its relationship to the credentialing process in health care facilities. Utilization review requirements & procedures. Patient safety and risk management principles. Joint Commission and National Committee for Quality Assurance. Completion with a grade of 2.0 or higher or concurrent enrollment in HCI 219, 225, and 228. Mandatory decimal grading.  Winter.

HCI 224 Management for Health Information Supervisors (5 credits)

Health Information Department management. Written/oral communications, legal aspects of supervision, job analysis/descriptions, interviewing, hiring, new staff orientation, staff education, motivation, problem employees, performance evaluations, unions, policies, procedures, office safety/layout, planning, budgets. Prerequisites: Formal acceptance into the second year of the HIT program, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in all courses required in the HIT program. Mandatory decimal grading.  Spring.

HCI 225 Computers in Health Care (5 credits)

This course provides an overview of health care industry computer applications and technology; systems interoperability; health care facility databases/repositories; patient electronic health records; computer security; legal aspects of electronic records; networking; Internet issues in health care; PubMed.  Prerequisites: Computer 105 (or equivalent knowledge), and HCI 125 (or experience with health records - instructor evaluation and permission required). Mandatory decimal grading.  Fall.

HCI 226 Alternative Care Record Systems (4 credits)

Health record content requirements, information systems, and regulations in skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, physician offices, hospital outpatient settings, prison health care, occupational health clinics, mental health settings. Cancer registries. Medical staff office. Health record consulting. Prerequisites: Completion of HCI 219, 225, 228 with a grade of 2.0 or higher. Mandatory decimal grading.  Winter.

HCI 228 Medical Coding Practicum (2 credits)

Diagnosis and procedure coding using ICD-9-CM/ICD-10 and CPT. Coding/abstracting health records and entering data into computerized encoder/grouper/abstracting system. Utilize Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) and Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs). Coding compliance in relation to fraud and abuse in coding/billing.  Students code100 records online. Prerequisite:  HCI 173.  Fall.

HCI 234 Clinical Practicum II (4 credits)

Practice in coding, abstracting, calculating statistics, capturing and reporting tumor registry data, releasing patient information, entering and retrieving computer data, analyzing records for deficiencies, and evaluating department systems in a variety of clinical health care facilities. Prerequisites: Formal acceptance into the second year of the Health Information Technology program, completion of HCI 219, 225 and 228. Completion of HCI 220 and 226 or concurrent enrollment. Mandatory decimal grading.  Winter. 

HCI 235 Health Information Technology Capstone Course (4 credits)

Student teams research and present business plans for a new clinic health information department Investigate, select and present department functions, job descriptions, supplies/equipment list, policies, procedures, flow charts, layout, and budget according to team-developed planning time table.  Prerequisites: Formal acceptance into the second year of the HIT program, and completion of or concurrent enrollment in all courses required in the HIT program. Mandatory decimal grading.  Spring.