Curriculum | M.S. HIM Online

An examination of information technology's influence on ethical, legal, and social issues. In this course, students investigate current adoptions of information technology and the management strategies of these systems, apply a decision-making model to evaluate these systems, and develop solutions to better serve, protect, and benefit our society.

A discussion of the project management process through the framework prescribed by a project management certifying body. Provides 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)

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 environments and future trends of health information systems. Prerequisites: Fundamentals of HIM and US Healthcare System, HIM 6501, or permission of the department.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Examines health in the global society with a specific focus on the U.S. Explores the meaning of population health, the culture of health and how that interacts with community culture. Covers the history, development, and future of the healthcare system in the United States including types of healthcare institutions, services, payment systems, the government’s role and the people and professions that staff this industry.

Focuses on the concepts, principles, tools and strategies utilized in managing operations within a performance improvement model. The course includes tools and techniques for planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and improving productivity and performance in Health Information Management. All of these concepts are addressed through the lens of various leadership theories and strategies.