Health Care Information Programs

Updated 9/13/09

HCI 228 Medical Coding Practicum

This practicum is done with students coding approximately 100 real medical records from a variety of inpatient and outpatient facilities utilizing online records under the guidance of an HCI instructor.  The student does not go to individual sites to perform this activity.

HCI 179 Clinical Practicum I (Health Information Technology)

The first HIT practicum is at a hospital Health Information Management Department for a total of 32 hours, and is offered in the summer between the first and second years of the program. Students are eligible for placement in Clinical Practicum I only if they have completed (with a grade of 2.0 or higher) all HCI prefixed courses required in the first year of the program and BIOL& 170 Human Biology. In addition, the student must submit a formal plan to complete any remaining first year course requirements during the summer between the first and second years of the program.  This course is available only for those students who have been approved for the second year of the HIT program. 

HCI 234 Clinical Practicum II (Health Information Technology)

The second clinical practicum is a total of 15 seven-hour days plus a one-hour seminar each week, normally completed winter term. Sites are those offering practice in health information technology and include hospitals, long term care facilities, and other non-acute care sites such as clinics, home health agencies, etc.  Students are eligible for placement in Clinical Practicum II only if HCI 179 has been completed and only if the student has received formal admission into the second year of the Health Information Technology Program. In addition, completion with a grade of 2.0 or higher of HCI 173 Coding, HCI 219 Health Care Statistics, and HCI 225 Computers in Health Care, are also required prior to placement into the second practicum. The student must have taken, or be concurrently enrolled in, HCI 220 Quality Improvement in Health Care and HCI 226 Alternative Care Records.  Exceptions must be approved by the college's HCI Programs Director. Normally HCI 234 is completed Winter Term of the second year of the program. If enough clinical sites are not available for placement, students may be placed Spring term or later. Priority assignment for Clinical Practicum II will be according to written program policy.

General Policies

Attendance is required for all assigned hours. Absences must be made up according to written program policy. Prior to placement in HIT practicum sites, HIT students are required to write a resume, sign the Professional Standards Agreement, and obtain a physical examination including a TB test at their own expense. Students will be required to apply for, pay, and pass a Criminal Background Check.  Students who do not pass this check may have difficulty finding clinical practice sites for their internships and may possibly not be able to complete their program.  The Program Director will discuss procedures with students prior to placements at sites.  Most sites require current immunizations and students will be required to provide information on their immunization status.  Students will be assigned, when possible, to sites at their preferred geographic areas. However, due to the volume of students and limited number of sites, it is very probable that students may be required to travel to areas outside their preferred locations. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from clinical sites. Additional expenses related to parking or bus travel and appropriate professional work clothes should be anticipated.

HCI faculty will take the lead in clinical practice site placements for students living in the Puget Sound area.  Students living outside the Puget Sound area will be required to locate their own sites in coordination with the HCI Program faculty.  Please contact Donna Wilde for more information regarding these placements.

Clinical facilities for the Health Information Technology Program

ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS - PUGET SOUND AREA

Children's Hospital, Seattle
Evergreen Medical Center, Kirkland
Group Health Cooperative, Seattle and Redmond
Harborview Medical Center, Seattle
Highline Hospital, Burien
Island Hospital, Anacortes
Northwest Hospital, Seattle
Providence Medical Center, Everett
Stevens Hospital, Edmonds
Skagit Valley Hospital, Mount Vernon
Swedish Medical Center, Ballard Campus, Seattle
Swedish Medical Center, First Hill Campus, Seattle
Swedish Medical Center, Cherry Hill Campus, Seattle
UW Medicine, Seattle
VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle
Valley General Hospital, Monroe
Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle
Whidbey General Hospital, Coupeville

ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS - OTHER (used during 2008-2009)

DuBois Regional Medical Center, DuBois, PA
Glenn Medical Center, Willows, CA
Kaiser Permanente, Atlanta, GA
Kent Hospital, Warwick, RI
Salem Hospital, Salem, OR
University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Greenville, PA

OTHER NON-ACUTE CARE SITES