Frequently Asked Questions

This list of questions and answers will assist you in answering any questions you may have after you have visited our website regarding the programs offered.

Question: What programs are offered in the Health Information Programs?

Answer: There are two programs offered in the Health Information Programs (HCI): Medical Coding and Reimbursement (MCRS) Program which is a 15-month (5-quarter) certificate program, or the Health Information Technology (HIT) Program which is a is a 2-year associate degree program.

Question: Are these HCI programs accredited?

Answer: The Health Information Technology Program at Shoreline Community College is Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). It is one of only three HIT programs in the state with this accreditation. The others are at Tacoma Community College and Spokane Community College.

Question: Where do I find a list of courses for programs offered?

Answer: On the program website at www.shoreline.edu/hciprograms there is a list of courses for both full and part time students.

Question: Is there a formal application process to enter the HCI Programs?

Answer: Yes, completion of the online HCI Application and submission of this via mail along with the application fee of $15.00 and official copies of your transcripts are necessary to start the application process. If you have taken the COMPASS test for placement into English and/or math classes, submit a copy of the COMPASS test scores along with your application packet. Applications will be available after January 1, 2010.

Question: Do I need to meet with an advisor prior to applying to a program?

Answer: Yes, all students must speak to an advisor either by phone or in-person prior to applying to a program. If your last name ends with an A-L, contact Donna Wilde at 206-546-4757 or dwilde@shoreline.edu, or if your last name ends in an M-Z, contact Gloria Anderson at 206-546-4707 or ganderso@shoreline.edu.

Question: Are there HCI Program Prerequisites?

Answer: Yes. Go to www.shoreline.edu/hciprograms/ADMISSIONa.htm for this information.

Question: How do I know which level of English or Math to take?

If you have not completed MATH 080 Elementary Algebra, or ENGL 100 Academic Reading and Writing (or ESL 100 Academic Level 3) or higher then you will need to take the COMPASS test to determine your Math/English levels and register for those courses prior to entering the program. Please send a copy of this COMPASS test to us upon completion. Go to the following link for more information on placement testing. http://www.shoreline.edu/assessment_01.html

Both ENGL 100/ESL100 and MATH 080, with a grade of 2.0 or higher, or equivalent on COMPASS test, are required for entrance into the HCI programs.

Shoreline currently does not have the placement exam online, however it is our understanding that most colleges in the country have them and do honor each other’s exams. Please go to your local community college and take the COMPASS test, request that the results be sent directly to the Admissions Office at Shoreline as well as attach a copy of your COMPASS results along with your HCI Program application package.

Question: I have previous college/university experience; will any of those courses transfer into the HCI programs?

Answer: Your advisor will evaluate your transcript(s) to see whether your previous college courses will transfer into one of the two HCI programs. To be considered for transfer to Shoreline Community College, the courses must have been taken from a regionally accredited college or university through the Higher Learning Commission including Middles States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western. For example, Shoreline is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Go to www.shoreline.edu/hciprograms/curriculuma.htm for further information.

Question: If I do not have my prerequisites completed, can I take HCI courses while completing those?

Answer: Yes, there is a list of courses you could take while completing your prerequisites on our program website at: www.shoreline.edu/hciprograms/ADMISSIONa.htm

Question: Are classes online or face-to-face?

Answer: All classes in both the HIT and MCRS programs are 100% online, except for some prerequisites. If you need any prerequisites, and if they are not available online at Shoreline or elsewhere, please check with your local colleges for an on-campus course near where you live or work. Please note, for students interested in taking a few on-campus courses, Human Biology, English, Accounting, and Multicultural Understanding courses are available on campus as well as online.

Question: Since the programs are offered online, are the classes self-paced.

Answer: All the HCI courses are offered online only and each course is comprised of a class schedule, deadlines, and various processes that must be completed by those deadlines noted on each course syllabus. Some aspects of the online course,. e.g., lecture notes may be read at your own pace. All online classes function like a traditional face-to-face setting which progress week-to-week, with lectures, reading assignments, quizzes, and projects according to scheduled due dates.

Question: I have worked in the health field and have work-related knowledge, how do I receive credit for that experience?

Answer: There are challenge exams available for both HCI 134 Medical Terminology and BIOL& 170 Human Biology for those individuals, including health care professionals, who believe they have equivalent knowledge and need not retake these courses again. The exams are $10 per credit, and if the individual passes the exam(s), he/she will have the course listed on his/her transcript as a credit course completed with a Pass grade. Please contact HCI Program Director for additional details if you believe you qualify. Please note: the HCI 134 Medical Terminology Challenge exam may be taken either at the Shoreline campus or at a remote location as long as there is a proctor available. However, BIOL&170 Human Biology challenge exam must be taken at the Shoreline Campus; no remote challenge exam is available.

Some currently practicing health care professionals, including nurses, may possibly have pharmacology and human diseases courses waived; this will be determined by the HCI Program Director after review of appropriate transcripts and discussion with the applicant.

For those working in the HIM departments, you may discuss that experience with your Shoreline HCI advisor and decisions will be made on a case-to-case basis to determine if any classes might be waived, based on that experience. There are also coding challenge exams as well for those wishing to be exempt from any of the coding courses.

Question: I already hold a credential such as a CCA, CCS, CCS-P, or CPC and would like to enter the HIT program, what courses would I be exempt from taking?

Answer: Decisions on which courses may be waived based on a student being credentialed or having work-related experience, will be evaluated by your Shoreline HCI advisor on a case-to-case basis.

Question: Can I attend either part-time or full-time in either program?

Answer: Yes, you can attend either part-time or full-time in either program. For example, a part-time student in the Medical Coding and Reimbursement program could go two years instead of 15 months. A part-time student in the HIT program could go three years instead of two. We do not encourage students to longer than these time frames as it would be harder to remember previous course work when taking the national credentialing exam.

Question: How will I know which courses I should take each quarter?

Answer: Once your application, application fee, and transcripts have been received, and you have noted whether you would like to be part-time or full-time in a program, your advisor will create a detailed curriculum plan outlining the courses you are to follow each quarter. This curriculum plan must be followed to stay on track in the program.

Question: How much will it cost to attend a program at Shoreline Community College?

Answer: Read the information regarding costs (tuition) for attending Shoreline Community College at: http://www.shoreline.edu/costsofattendance01.html

For up-to-date tuition and fee information go to http://www.shoreline.edu/costsofattendance01.html . If you live out of state, tuition may be lower for online courses than for regular out-of-state tuition. Please check with your program advisor. If you do receive a lower rate, the current online registration system does not differentiate between out-of-state and distance learning at this time and it will be necessary for students to contact the registration office (email or a phone call will do) and request that the tuition be adjusted to the distance learning rate. The Registration contact information is: 206-546-4611 regdl@shoreline.edu and they are located in room 5200.

You can apply for financial aid at http://www.shoreline.edu/financialaid01.htm Please note, it takes time to obtain approval for financial aid, so it is important to apply as early as you can, and to plan for the possibility that you may need to pay tuition and textbooks for the first quarter after you have applied, just in case the approvals do not come in time. There is a possibility that you can get reimbursed later for this.

Question: What are the credentials in the health information management (HIM) field?

Answer: To have a better understanding of all the credentials available in the HIM field, go to: http://www.ahima.org/certification/ and http://www.aapc.com/certification/index.aspx

Question: Why should I get certified after I complete an HCI program?

Answer: AHIMA notes, “Certification is a means for showing that a credentialed professional possesses the knowledge and skills necessary for the optimal performance of his or her job. Through credentialing, the practitioner’s employer, peers, and the public are reassured that he or she is both competent and well-informed in the daily and accurate administration of his or her professional duties. Certain professions (for example doctors, lawyers, technicians, and others) require that the individuals be certified, owing to legal or safety reasons or high professional standards. Whatever the reason, credentialing makes a professional a trustworthy and likelier candidate for gainful employment and career advancement.”

Question: Who administers the national certifying exams?

Answer: These are developed by AHIMA at http://www.ahima.org. For those who have successfully completed the HIT program at Shoreline Community College, they may take the AHIMA certifying exam and those that pass it will become Registered Health Information Technicians and can place the RHIT credentials after their names.

National certifying examinations are developed by AHIMA and conducted each year by an outside testing agency under contract with AHIMA for entry level general coders (Certified Coding Association - CCA) and experienced general coders (Certified Coding Specialist, CCS) or those specializing in physician office coding (Certified Coding Specialist - Physician's Office, CCS-P). Those who successfully pass these examinations can place the appropriate credential after their names. Additional certifying exams for privacy and security as well as for health data analysts are also available through AHIMA.

AHIMA provides a number of coding certification examinations. Although specific training is not required (other than a high school diploma), it is almost impossible to pass these exams without formalized training or many years of experience.

Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is designed for the new inpatient coder, recently graduated from a college program. It is considered to test at the same level of coding ability as the RHIT exam, so the CCA credential may not be needed for the RHIT.

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) is designed for an experienced inpatient coder and is considered the most important, relevant credential for hospital coding, at least in the Puget Sound area. Most of the larger hospitals require the CCS, and some require both the RHIT (or RHIA) and CCS for these positions. Some state that they will take individuals with any of the three credentials – CCS, RHIT, or RHIA.

Certified Coding Specialist – Physician’s Office (CCS-P) is designed for outpatient or physician’s office coding. Although it is recommended that only experienced outpatient coders take this exam, Shoreline graduates have been able to take and pass this exam shortly after graduation due to the extensive training they receive.

The American Academy of Professional Coders has four credentials: Go to their website at http://www.aapc.com/certification/index.aspx for additional information.

CPC – Certified Professional Coder which emphasizes billing and coding for physician services.

CPC-H – Certified Professional Coder – Hospital which emphasizes hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center coding.

CPC-P – Payer which emphasizes coding and billing after it’s been submitted to the payer.

CIRCC - Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder which emphasizes specialized areas of interventional radiology and cardiovascular coding and charging

Question: How do I best prepare for the national certifying exams?

Answer: AHIMA publishes a wide variety of books, journals, tapes, CD-ROMs and other materials related to health information management. These are used by faculty and students in the education process. Visit AHIMA at http://www.ahima.org.

AHIMA presents a variety of seminars and workshops related to the profession. These are attended by program faculty in order to obtain information that is then relayed to the students. Students are also welcome to participate in these seminars as desired. Because the profession is changing rapidly with the advent of new information technology, changes in the practice of medicine, new laws related to the profession, etc. it is critical that all HIM professionals attend continuing education programs when possible. This will also be expected of HIT graduates when employed in the field.

Question: How do I purchase my textbooks for online courses, especially if I live out of state?

Answer: To view textbooks and possibly additional material for your course(s), go to: http://www.shorelineccbookstore.com/buy_courselisting.asp?mscssid=RAK7567LWV8K8L2R60KBS1WT0SA7488B

Students may purchase textbooks from Shoreline Community College bookstore or from other vendors; however, purchasing textbooks from other vendors may result in delay of availability of textbooks by the start of the course. For out of state students, a small shipping charge will be added for those purchased from Shoreline Community College.

Students taking the HCI 134 Medical Terminology course must purchase the Online Learning access code. This can either be purchased together with the textbook (bundled) or separately if a student already has the textbook. Students taking CIS 105 Computer Applications from Shoreline should also purchase the textbook here because they bundle additional material with the books.

Question: What type of computer and software will I need to attend an HCI program?

Answer:

Computer should be recently purchased within the last few years and have a sound card and speakers.
Broadband Internet or DSL line access is required instead of dial-up. Wireless access may not work with some of the special lab projects. With current web-browser access such Internet Explorer. Mozilla Firefox is advised for all tests taking in online courses. AOL browser does not with Shoreline’s online software. If you have AOL, you will need to utilize another browser as noted above. Firefox may be needed for Vista users for certain AHIMA applications. You also need to have a current version of Java running on your computer. Go to http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp for a free download.
Computer should have a built in microphone or student can purchase one at a cost of roughly $5-30. In lieu of speakers and microphone, the student can use a headset.
Students should factor in printer, extensive printer paper usage, and ink cartridge costs.
Download Skype at www.Skype.com (free software) to communicate orally through your computer with instructor and/or students if needed in Health Care Information courses (this may be a required or optional component to your courses).
Blackboard is the online software that Shoreline Community College utilizes for its online classes. It is advised that once students have applied and registered for classes, they should complete the Blackboard tutorial located on Blackboard at http://www.shoreline.edu/distance/distlearning13BbTutorial.html
Microsoft Office 2007 is advised; however, Microsoft Office 2003 is satisfactory at this time. Of note, all courses utilize Microsoft Word and not Microsoft Works or other word processing systems.
Students who live near Shoreline Community College may utilize the College’s computer rooms on campus to participate in the HCI program. Students who live outside the Seattle area, without a computer, may utilize computers at a local library; however, those typically have time constraints and may not have adequate software to enable full participation in online courses.

Question: What are the requirements for Clinical Practice for the Health Information Technology Program?

Answer: There are two clinical practice courses for the students in the Health Information Technology (HIT) Program. 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 obtain, 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. Some may find difficulty in employment if they cannot pass this check. Most sites require current immunizations. 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.

Question: Is there a Clinical Practice or outside internship for the Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Program?

There is no separate clinical practice or internship course for students in the Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Program. HCI 228 Medical Coding Practicum is the equivalent of this activity, but instead of going to a clinical site, the student will be required to code 100 “real” medical records which will be available through Blackboard.