Curriculum | M.S. HIM Online

 CIS 6208 - IT Project Management

A discussion of the project management process through the framework prescribed by a project management certifying body. Providing an IT perspective of planning, estimating, leading, and monitoring projects. Students will not only use project management software, but will also explore communication and personnel issues related to project management. (8 weeks)

 HIM 6501 - Technology Appl Health Care

Introduction to current and emerging technology applications and data standards in the healthcare industry and how they relate to the collection of patient data and conversion to health information. Legacy, client server-based, and web-based systems examined, along with emerging technologies that support the creation of the electronic health record (EHR). Emphasis is on systems integration, systems security and the processes for evaluating and selecting applications that address organizational goals and functional requirements. Prerequisite: Admission to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.

 HIM 6502 - Develop Clinical Info Systems

Focused on providing students with the expertise to conceptualize and strategically plan and build the appropriate health information infrastructure for supporting the knowledge requirements of the healthcare organization. Topics to be addressed include information systems theory and strategic planning; clinical information systems applications and operations analysis, data and technical infrastructures for the electronic health records; information system acquisition and implementation and the regulatory, standards and ethical environment and future trends in health information systems. Prerequisites: Fundamentals of HIM and US Healthcare System, or permission of the department.

 HIM 6505 - Database Methods Clin Info Mgt

Addresses database theory, methodologies for database design and issues related to database administration. Emphasis is on requirements and methodologies for assuring data integrity and security in healthcare enterprise information systems, specifically in relationship to the database environment. Prerequisites: Fundamentals of HIM and US Healthcare System, or permission of the department.

 HIM 6506 - Assessing Healthcare Quality

Assess outcomes research activities, exert leadership in implementing clinical outcomes measurement projects/programs within healthcare organizations and systems. The course focuses on the role patient-centered outcomes information plays in assuring that healthcare systems are able to establish cost-effective clinical practices that do improve the health, functional status and well-being of healthcare consumers, and accreditation and legislative initiatives impacting healthcare outcomes activities. Prerequisites: Admission to a HIM graduate program or permission of department.

 HIM 6508 - Decision Support Systems

Covers the techniques, strategies and the need/use of Information Technology (IT) tools for data collection, data analysis, reporting and knowledge management. Offers learners the foundational terminology, concepts, models, processes and tools associated with decision support and knowledge management systems to leverage data into information and knowledge enhance care processes, data quality, cost effectiveness and decision-making, ultimately increasing the strategic acumen of the organization. Prerequisites: Finance or Accounting and HIM 6505, or permission of the department.

 HIM 6509 - Med Vocab & Classif Systems

The representation of clinical data through the use of medical vocabularies and clinical classification systems. Emphasis is on developing expertise in identifying appropriate clinical classification systems and medical vocabularies, identifying their appropriate uses and sources, and applying them within and among health information systems to promote effective communication. Prerequisite: HIM 6501 or permission of department.

 HIM 6511 - Health Info. Security Systems

Strategies for designing, implementing, auditing and evaluating the technical, physical and human components of an information security system that maintains a patient's privacy and adheres to a healthcare organization's legal, ethical and organizational requirements Prerequisites: Acceptance to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.

 HIM 6520 - Applied Proj Research/Writing

The Final Applied Project starts with this course; methods of project research and writing are introduced and practiced. The student develops a project proposal and benchmarks the proposed project against existing applications in the field. Activities include selecting the topic, developing a problem definition/problem statement and the rationale for the selected applied project, developing a literature review, defining a design/solution model for the applied project product, and finalizing a Final Applied Project Proposal. Prerequisites: HIM 6501 and HIM 6502.

 HIM 6522 - Final Applied Project

Working with an assigned Final Applied Project advisor, the student completes the applied project and prepares a project report to be submitted to the department for final approval. The goal of the Final Applied Project is to increase students' cognitive sophistication through an activity that requires reading, thinking, and writing, to only further the student's education, and make a meaningful contribution to HIM practice. Prerequisite: HIM 6520.

 HIM 6523 - Graduate Seminar

A capstone seminar in which students present the results of their Final Applied Projects and explore current issues relative to the field of Health Information Management in a rapidly changing health care delivery system. Prerequisite: HIM 6522.

 HIM 6524 - Strategic Management in Health

Explores the theory and leadership practice of strategy, strategic thinking and strategic management in healthcare for success in changing and turbulent times. Focus is on the phases of environmental assessment, business planning, implementation and evaluation. Prepares students to lead through organizational change, innovation, strategic management and execution. The course serves as a core curriculum capstone for the HIM program and requires students to synthesize and integrate lessons learned in their previous courses.

 HIM 6529 - Change Leadership

Develop a systems-based way of thinking about leadership and how people function in the workplace, self-assess leadership thinking and behavior, establish goals for a higher level of leadership functioning, integrate System-based Leadership and Change Managementâ„¢ with models of change management and transition and identify patterns of behavior that sabotage change in your system and internalize behavior for leading change in your organization. Prerequisites: Admission to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.

 HIM 6530 - Clinical Workflow & Process Re

This course explores how ancillary & clinical processes are designed and integrated together with the flow of information throughout a healthcare facility to bring decision-making value to healthcare professionals though quality information gathered in the most effective and efficient ways. Topics to be addressed include theory of quality and process improvement, workflow redesign, modeling techniques, use case scenario descriptions, clinical process reengineering, relationship to system infrastructure preparation and system build, outcomes measurement, and impact of change on organizational climate. Prerequisites: HIM 6502 or permission of the department.

 HIM 6531 - Best Practices/Implementation

Covers components of EHR implementation as identified through best practices case studies. Examine how the EHR impacts patient care through the availability of information and clinical decision support, create and use rules and clinical protocols/tools for the EHR, and develop training methodologies. Prerequisites: HIM 6502 or permission of the department.

 HIM 6532 - Monitoring & Evaluating Hlth P

Explores methods and processes used to systematically collect and measure information for the purpose of program evaluation. The course integrates several knowledge and skill areas including: research methods, statistics, proposal writing, budget planning, project management, and program evaluation. Prerequisites: Admission to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.

 HIM 6533 - Methods Health Info Exchange

This course explores the concepts of health information exchange across diverse systems and networks. The development, role and future of the National Health Information Network (NHIN) is includes as are other federal, state and national initiatives related to sharing of health information in a secure and confidential manner. The impact of information exchange on seamless delivery of patient care is explored. Case studies are utilized to analyze various methods of data and information exchange. Prerequisites: Acceptance to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.

 HIM 6540 - Revenue Cycle Enhancement

Identify processes and develop strategies to enhance the performance of the healthcare organization's revenue cycle. Investigate each component of the process, along with mechanisms to monitor their efficiency and effectiveness. Learn to identify areas needing improvement, and techniques to implement and sustain those improvements in order to maximize cash flow. Prerequisite: Admission to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.

 HIM 6545 - Corporate Compliance/HlthCare

Addresses a growing need to adequately train health care leaders in the field of health care compliance and various topics in health care compliance, including corporate compliance (fraud and abuse), privacy, risk management and identity theft. Essential elements of a corporate compliance program will be presented as well as primary federal legislation addressing fraud and abuse. Privacy of patient information will be discussed in terms of the HIPPA and HITECH regulations. Risk management concepts will be presented as well as identity theft as relates to medical identity theft. Prerequisites: Admission to a HIM graduate program or permission of the department.