Health Information Management

The Health Information Management (HIM) Program is the sole program in British Columbia preparing individuals to manage health information in a variety of settings in the health care industry. This two-year diploma program has been at Douglas College since 1989.

The health information management profession is an allied health career with an exciting future. This career combines aspects of health, computer science, business and research in a unique records and information management program. The profession has a traditional employment base in acute care facilities and expanding opportunities in a variety of nonacute facilities, community health, government agencies and industry.

Department Website

For an overview of this program, including faculty listings and frequently asked questions plus other resources, visit the departmental website.

Health Information Management

Career/Further Educational Opportunities

Health information is a vital resource for the health care industry. As a health information management professional, you contribute to individual and global health through the collection, management and reporting of health information. You provide an essential information support service which contributes to the delivery and evaluation of patient care, administrative decision-making, including financial planning and resource allocation; education of physicians and other health care professionals; protection of health information; and research.

Graduates who demonstrate imagination and initiative can apply their data and database management, record management, information systems expertise and health information classification skills in a variety of settings. Opportunities also exist for health information management professionals to further their education by specializing in health care administration, health informatics, quality management, research, and privacy.

The Health Information Management Program is recognized by the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM). Successful challenge of the national certification examination qualifies the graduate to work across Canada.

Location

Classes are usually held on the Coquitlam Campus. Some lecture/practices are held at a local acute care facility to aid the application of theory in a practical environment.
At this time, second year HIM courses are offered by distance education to qualified students.

Intake Dates/Application Deadlines:

**Application deadlines may be extended.

Intake of students occurs every second September in the even-numbered years. The next intake will be September 2010. The deadline for application is May 1. Interested students do not need to wait until the year of intake to apply as there is a lot of preparatory work that can be done in the interim. Students should contact the Coordinator for further information at 604-777-6422.

The workload for this program is demanding due to the large volume of material condensed into a relatively short period of time.

Students generally have 19 hours/week of scheduled classes including lectures, practice, seminars and labs.

EARLY ADMISSION
Although application and document deadlines may be identified for this program, we encourage all applicants to apply early and to submit all supporting documentation as early as possible. Those applicants who apply early and submit all documents early may be offered early admission.

Other Information

This program offers a free information session.

Practicum

The program includes approximately 37 hours of practicum in Semester I; a two-week coding extramural at the end of Semesters II and IV. The program concludes with an individual five to six-week senior practicum.

Students must be prepared to accept the financial cost of travel and living expenses for the practicum sessions and may be placed throughout the province for their practicum. Special consideration is given to students with families and/or health problems when finalizing practicum placements.

Advanced Placement into Second Year

Advanced placement directly into the second year of the program is available to applicants who have already obtained a health record technician credential. Contact the Coordinator, Health Information Management Program at 604-777-6422 for further information.

Program Costs

In addition to tuition fees (based on 30 credits per year) the following expenses may be expected:

• textbooks cost about $2,000 over the two years
• professional association membership fees of $50-$100 per year
• examination fee of approximately $300 to write the CCHIM national certification examination
• practicum expenses for travel and accommodation (as applicable)
• access to a laptop is mandatory for the coding extramurals

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Health Information Management Program is contingent upon availability of seats, completion of all admission criteria, and applicant ranking as determined by a process of selective admission evaluation. To be considered for a seat in the program, applicants must meet all the required admission criteria.

1. Grade 12 graduation or equivalent with a minimum of "C+" average including Science (Biology or Chemistry or Physics), grade 11 or 12 with a minimum grade of "C+"/Principles of Math 11 with a minimum grade of "C+", Foundations of Math 11 with a minimum grade of "C+", and English 12 or equivalents (see below) with a minimum grade of "B".
2. A signed document indicating completion of a tour of at least one health record/information department in an acute health care facility according to program guidelines in the HIM Program Admission Information Booklet.
3. A personal resume indicating positions you have held, educational background and the name and current phone number of an individual who could provide a recent employment reference.
4. An essay (maximum 500 words). Content should address such issues as what interests you about the health information program as a field of study and career path? What do you perceive are your major strengths and weaknesses? etc.
5. Participation in a group briefing session held by an HIM instructor. See HIM Program Admissions Information Booklet for schedule of dates and times. Individual sessions may be arranged under special circumstances, e.g. applicant from outside of the Lower Mainland.
6. An additional individual interview may be required based on the outcome of the information session and/or essay.
7. Credit for previous post-secondary studies and work experience may be granted as appropriate. As seats are limited, applicants should apply early and ensure that their application is complete with all documentation.

Note: Math and writing assessments are available through Douglas College Assessment Services. Applicants should phone the Assessment Services at 604-527-5501 for an appointment. Math 11 equivalent is the GNUR, HIMP, CSIS Readiness Assessment.

Preferential Admission Requirements:
Applicants who have met the required Program admission criteria will be granted additional points in the preferential admission process. Recommended criteria includes:

• University Degree
• Diploma
• Post secondary education - successful (Certificate/citation/no credential conferred)
• Related work experience - successful (Minimum 6 months)
• Math 12 or higher
• Biology 12 or higher

Refer to the Health Information Management Program Admissions Information Booklet for further information regarding the admission requirement equivalencies, the preferencial admission process and the Program. The booklet can be downloaded from our Web page or is available from the Registrar's Office, Student Services and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Program Duration

This is a two-year, full-time program.

The program can be taken on a part-time basis and it can be completed in three or four years depending on admission date.

Credentials

Students successfully completing program requirements are eligible for a diploma in Health Information Management.

Program Content

Semester I

Course	Title	Credits
HIMP 1120	Health Information Management I (including practicum)	4
HIMP 1170	Introduction to Health Data Classification	3
BIOL 1103	Human Biology I	3
CMNS 1111	Workplace Communications	3
		13
Note: CSIS 1110 (Introduction to Computers) or equivalent is required to be taken prior to commencement of Semester II.

Semester II

Course	Title	Credits
HIMP 1220	Health Information Management II	2
HIMP 1270	Health Data Collection and Classification II	6
BIOL 1203	Human Biology II	3
CSIS 2200	Systems Analysis and Design	3
		14
NOTE:  CSIS 1140	Productivity Software and Client Support has been deleted effective September 2010.

Semester IIA - (Practicum, two weeks)

HIMP 1275

Health Data Collection and Classification Extramural I (37.5 hours/week)

2

Health Information Management, Year Two

Semester III

HIMP 2320	Health Information Management III	3
HIMP 2330	Health Information Reporting	3
HIMP 2370	Health Data Collection and Classification III	6
BUSN 1335	Introduction to Biostatistics	3
		15

Semester IV - (10 classes + 1 evaluation = 11 weeks)

HIMP 2420	Health Information Management IV	2
HIMP 2430	Applied Research and Epidemiology	2
HIMP 2470	Health Data Collection and Classification IV	2.5
CSIS 2300	Data Base Management (new course to be offered Winter 2012)	3
		9.5

Semester V - (Practicum = 8 weeks)

HIMP 2520	Health Information Management Professional  Senior Practicum (5-6 weeks)	4.5
HIMP 2575	Health Data Collection and Classification Extramural II (2 weeks)	1.5
		6

A minimum grade of "C" is required to pass all HIMP and non-HIMP courses.