Health Information Management

Before students can begin their practical work experience, most sites require them to pass a drug screen, TB test, Hepatitis B series, MMR vaccination, and a background check. These tasks must be completed beforehand.

Students entering their second year or their last spring term of the HIM program are required to have a criminal history background check and 10 panel drug screen before enrolling in HIM 280 Professional Practicum Experience. Students may be prevented from completing the program if there is a felony on their record. The HIM Program adheres to the Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 409-030-0100 and OAR 409-0303-0150 for clinical facility requirements. Documentation of immunizations is required for professional practice experience (Tdap. MMR, Varicella, TB, Hep B) Influenza and SARS-CoC2 are recommended.

Additional immunizations, background checks, and drug screens may be required by the PPE site at the students expense.

Per KCC policy students should meet with the HIM academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals.

The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be effected when the student does not follow the recommended advising map or has to remediate any of the required classes.

Number of credit hours necessary for completion: 91

In the Health Information Management program you will learn to:

• Demonstrate correct documentation, appropriately manage and use health data in the healthcare setting.
• Evaluate and/or implement the use of clinical quality measures and/or core objectives for patient care by healthcare providers.
• Analyze classification and terminology systems for diagnosis and procedure codes according to current guidelines.
• Collect, report, and interpret database information and computer related health care statistics.
• Research and apply specific scenarios of laws and policies and procedures within the health care delivery system as related to payment systems, healthcare provider information needs, and patient privacy, security, disclosure, and the ethical standards of practice.
• Implement leadership and team collaboration to facilitate change, mentor and engage stakeholders in the healthcare environment.
• Apply professionalism skills in the practicum setting, meeting all HIM learning objectives and competencies.

At Klamath Community College!

Earn your Health Information Management AAS degree, and be prepared to go places!

On June 19, 2014, the Oregon State Board of Education reviewed and approved the application for a new "Health Information Management" Associate of Applied Science degree program at Klamath Community College. The U.S. Department of Education classification designated and approved for this new program is 51.0707 - Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician.

National Healthcareer Association (NHA) - Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist certifications continue to reflect student success.

The following results reflect the last two academic years:

• 2022-2023

  • CEHRS – 80% pass rate

  • CBCS - 90% pass rate

• 2021-2022

  • CEHRS – 100% pass rate

  • CBCS - 80% pass rate

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) - Certified Coding Associate (CCA)

The following results reflect the most recent results:

• 2021-2022
  • CCA -100% pass rate

Degree/Certificates Conferred By Academic Year:

Health Informational Management AAS

Certified Coding Specialist Certificate

Electronic Health Record Career Pathway Certificate

Medical Administrative Assistant Career Pathway Certificate

• The American Health Informationa Management Association: AHIMA
• Oregon Health Information Management Association: OrHIMA
• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society: HIMSS
• American Academy of Professional Coders: AAPC

POLICY: Klamath Community College will publish the CAHIIM prescribed accreditation statement and use the CAHIIM Seal graphic in compliance with CAHIIM standards, limitations and requirements.

PROCEDURE:

1. Annually, prior to the start of fall term the Health Information Management (HIM) Program Lead will verify the current CAHIIM prescribed accreditation statement.

2. The Program Lead is responsible to assure that Klamath Community College will publish and maintain the current CAHIIM prescribed accreditation statement in all materials and online resources that refer to the program’s accreditation status.

3. The HIM Program Lead is responsible to update the CAHIIM prescribed accreditation statement when CAHIIM notifies the program that the statement has been amended.

4. The HIM Program Lead is responsible to update or remove the statement if status of accreditation has changed, been removed or has expired.

5. The current CAHIIM prescribed accreditation statement is:

The Health Information Management accreditor of Klamath Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the AAS degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2020-2021. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 233 N. Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at 312.233.1134; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

6. The Accreditation Statement will also include the CAHIIM Seal graphic in the form provided by CAHIIM. The CAHIIM Seal is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Seal is for accredited program use only and is to be used for announcements and published statements of accredited status.

7. Use of the CAHIIM Seal graphic when in Candidacy status or non-accredited status is prohibited.

8. The CAHIIM Seal Graphic must be used in its entirety and not modified other than in size. Use of any other CAHIIM logo is prohibited.

9. Accredited programs must document the specific recognized campus in all published media.

POLICY: The Klamath Community College (KCC) Health Information Management (HIM) Program shall maintain an open admissions policy.

PROCEDURE:

1. Students shall apply for admission to KCC. Previously admitted Students who have been inactive with Klamath Community College for five terms will need to be readmitted to the College before enrolling in courses.

2. Students may be required to complete a multiple measures placement consideration/testing prior to enrolling in general education math and writing courses.

3. Students are encouraged to meet with a Student Success Advisor (academic advisor), or Program Lead for advising and the development of an academic plan, specific to the HIM program.

4. Student are encouraged to fill out a FAFSA.

5. Students may enroll in any Health Information Management (HIM) course that does not require pre-requisite course completion, and should attempt to follow the academic plan developed for them for best opportunity for success.

6. The College has also established procedures for the admission of minors (persons under the age of 18 on the first day of classes for a given term). Contact Student Services for more information

POLICY: It shall be the policy of the Health Information Management (HIM) program to follow the established policy of Klamath Community College for advanced placement, transfer of credits, and credits for experiential learning.

PROCEDURE:

1. Students must initiate the process for the HIM program to consider advanced placement, transfer of credits, and credits for experiential learning and shall be referred to Student Services/Registrar.

2. The HIM program allows for advanced placement when student have completed (or transferred in) the required pre-requisite courses.

3. The HIM program accepts courses transferred from another regionally accredited institution of higher education per the KCC policy (transcript review and decision by the KCC Registrar’s office).

4. The HIM program considers credit for prior learning per the established KCC policy:

Klamath Community College offers credit for prior learning (CPL) in which credit is granted for formalized learning experiences or job skills training. Types of credit for prior learning include credit by exam (CLEP, DANTES, etc.), industry certification, challenge exam, military credit (ACE Credit Recommendation Service), portfolios, and professional licensure.

A student may seek substitutions or waivers in associate degrees or certificate programs on the basis of prior academic experience or challenge exams. Standards to receive prior learning credit include:

• You must have earned 12 credits at KCC before non-traditional credit can be awarded.
• Up to 25% of a degree’s credits can come from non-traditional credit, except for portfolio CPL.
• Non-traditional credit may not be used to establish KCC’s residency requirement.
• Only those subject areas taught by KCC will be considered.
• Courses taken as community education courses or as part of an industry-recognized certification process may require a prior learning fee.

Some career-technical education programs and lower-division college academic departments may offer a course challenge for specific courses. Contact the program or discipline lead for more information. The course challenge information can be found in the College’s academic catalog.

Credit by certification will be determined by department and articulations housed in the Registrar’s Office. 

Number of credits required for completion of the program

POLICY: It shall be the policy of the KCC HIM program to follow the academic catalog for the year the student started the program to determine number of credits required to complete the program.

PROCEDURE:

1. Academic Advisors (may be Program Lead) will assign the catalog year each student started the HIM program in the student management module.

2. Academic advisors will develop an academic plan based on the courses required to complete the program from each assigned catalog year.

3. Students will be required to complete the number of credits listed in the catalog in the year they were assigned in order to complete the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - HIM degree to successfully complete the program.

4. Students will be conferred the AAS-HIM degree at the end of the term they satisfactorily completed the credits as communicated in the assigned year academic catalog.

5. The academic catalog will serve as the source to communicate required credits for completion, and any change will be reflected in the following year’s academic catalog.

2023-24 Academic catalog number of credit hours required for completion: 91

POLICY: It shall be the policy of KCC HIM program to follow the established costs of the Klamath Community College Admissions, Tuition and Fees, price list and the established prices of the KCC bookstore.

Please note that these are estimated costs and are subject to change.

Fall Term, Year 1

Winter Term, Year 1

Spring Term, Year 1

Fall Term, Year 2

Winter Term, Year 2

Spring Term, Year 2

POLICY: It shall be the policy of the KCC HIM program to follow the college policy for publishing the academic calendar and for withdrawal and refunds of tuition/fees.

PROCEDURE

1. An academic calendar is published each year that communicates to students the term’s start and end dates, registration dates, last day to drop a course for a full refund and last day to add classes, and last date to withdraw from a course with a grade of W on the transcript.

2. For a refund, students must drop a course during the first week of the term. Classes of less than 10 weeks and some programs and courses have unique refund deadlines. Students with documented circumstances beyond their control may appeal for an exception. 

3. For a withdrawal, students must officially withdraw from classes in Student Services by the published deadline, since not attending without officially dropping classes will result in failing grades or a grade that represents what coursework was done. Withdrawals (W grades) show on official transcripts and are preferable to failing grades.

Students who withdraw should meet with Student Services to be sure the withdrawal is recorded.

POLICY: It shall be the policy of KCC HIM Program to follow the KCC college policy for student grievance procedures.

PROCEDURE:

1. Klamath Community College utilizes a “one policy, one process” approach for reporting incidents or complaints. This means the same form and process is available for students, employees, and community members to initiate an investigation or response into an incident or issue.

Incidents of discrimination, harassment or assault should be reported as soon as possible via the link/form at www.klamathcc.edu/complaints, or by contacting the Title IX officer, via one of the following:

• by phone: 541-880-2364; or
• by email: titleIX@klamathcc.edu;
• Once submitted, the information will be reviewed by the Title IX officer and the student conduct officer to determine the appropriate steps, which may include referring the complaint to Student Affairs, Human Resources, or an academic dean as appropriate.

2. For more minor difficulties, KCC encourages individuals to resolve conflicts or concerns at the lowest, most direct level, as this is good practice for work and life. We encourage the use of open and honest communication, following the student code of conduct, to promote a safe learning environment.
3. When faced with a disagreement or conflict, attempt to discuss the matter first directly with the individual (except in cases of sexual misconduct).  If the matter is not resolved from that effort, then speak with the individual’s immediate supervisor (if the issue is with a college employee), or seek a mediator (if the issue is with another student) such as a faculty member, advisor or campus counselor.

If the matter still cannot be resolved and you wish to submit a formal complaint, you may do so with the campus incident/complaint reporting form referenced above.

4. In the event that direct resolution and/or communication is not an option, or poses an immediate threat, complete a campus incident/complaint reporting form at klamathcc.edu/Safe-Campus. The form can be submitted online, or turned in to the receptionist in Founders Hall.
5. Students are advised to use the college grade appeals process for concerns about assigned grades.
6. Students are advised to use the financial aid appeals process for concerns about financial aid decisions.

POLICY: It shall be the policy of the KCC HIM Program to follow the information published in the academic catalog to determine criteria for successful completion.

PROCEDURE:

1. Students must successfully pass (C grade) each course required in the degree as published in the academic catalog.
2. Upon completion of the required courses and required credits, an Associate of Applied Science- HIM degree will be conferred.

POLICY: It shall be the policy of KCC HIM Program to publish results of one or more of the programs measurable outcomes, including but not limited to program completion rate and student satisfaction.

PROCEDURE:

1. Annually, the HIM Program Lead will gather data from graduates of the HIM program on program completion numbers and student satisfaction.

2. Annually, fall term, the Program Lead will make arrangements for program data to be updated on the program webpage reflective of the previous academic year’s completion rates and student satisfaction, and any other measurable data of interest to prospective students