New Program Request
Program DataValdosta Technical College
State Board Approval: 04/02/2009 Proposed Name of Program: Health Information Technology Degree
Program Development: Institutionally Developed Award Level: Associate Degree Credit Hours Type: Quarter
Credit Hours Total: 107 Proposed Date of
Implementation: Summer 2009 Date Approved by Local
Board: 12/18/2008 Do you want to begin the
program if DTAE state improvement funds are not allocated?
Yes
Existing Program: Yes
Major Code: HIT3 Health Information Technology PAS Program Group: 0250 Business and Office Technology
CIP Code: 510707 Health Info/Medl Records Tech Specializations:
Program Location
Campus Name and Address
Main Campus
4089 Val Tech Road Valdosta , GA 31602
Program Justification Program Description:
The Health Information Technology program combines health care with information technology. Health Information technicians are responsible for maintaining and analyzing data crucial to the delivery of quality patient care. Health Information Technology graduates will have technical skills and knowledge to function in a profession that demands processing, compiling and maintaining health information data for reimbursement, facility planning, marketing, risk management, quality management, utilization management and research.
Statement of Need for Program in the Service Area:
(Examples of topics to be addressed include student interest, employment opportunities, demand for service, & trend analysis. If a survey was used to determine local need, include survey results. If a proposal is for a new program, a description of specific labor market needs to be based upon current data and surveys and projected salaries of graduates should be included.)
A total of ninety-six students in Medical Coding/Insurance and Allied Health responded to an online survey with 54 indicating an interest in the Health Information Technology Associate
Degree program. Four local healthcare facilities have mailed letters in support for the program, and indicate that they would be willing to serve as clinical facilities.
Describe the actual job/career in the college service area or region that a student would be capable of performing following completion of this sequence of courses:
Health Information Technicians or Medical Records Technicians compile, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical,
administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the heath care system. Process, maintain, compile, and report patient information for health requirements and standards. They might supervise medical coding clerks and transcriptionists. Medical Coding Technicians assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure, relying on their knowledge of disease processes. Technicians then use classification systems software to assign the patient to one of several hundred diagnosis-related groups, or DRGs, which determine the amount for which the hospital will be reimbursed if the patient is covered by Medicare or other insurance programs using the DRG system. In addition to the DRG system, coders use other coding systems, such as those required for ambulatory settings, physician offices, or long-term care. Cancer (Tumor)
Registrars review patient records and pathology reports, and assign codes for the diagnosis and treatment of different cancers and selected benign tumors. Registrars conduct annual follow-ups on all patients in the registry to track their treatment, survival, and recovery.
Physicians and public health organizations then use this information to calculate survivor rates and success rates of various types of treatment, locate geographic areas with high incidences of certain cancers, and identify potential participants for clinical drug trials.
Relationship to existing programs or similar programs: (a) At your institution:
Yes. We currently offer the Medical Coding and Insurance Specialist TCC that contains courses that will be in the HIT degree program. The HIT program will also include courses from the Medical Assisting program.
(b) Offered by other institutions in your service area:
Program not currently offered at any adjacent TCSG Colleges.
Program not currently offered at any adjacent DTAE Colleges (c) Offered by public institutions in an adjacent service areas:
This program is offered at Darton College in Albany GA.
(d) Is this an Allied Health Program? Yes
Medical Clinical Sites
Smith Northview Hospital 4280 North Valdosta Road
Valdosta , GA 31604 Lowndes Number of Students: 3 Agreement: N South Georgia Medical Center
P.O. Box 1727
Valdosta , GA 31603 Lowndes Number of Students: 4 Agreement: N Berrien County Hospital
1221 E. Mcpherson Street
Nashville , GA 31639 Berrien Number of Students: 2 Agreement: N Dr. Mike Chiang
Valdosta , GA 31602 Lowndes Number of Students: 2 Agreement: N Azalea Health Innovations, Inc.
100 N. Patterson Street
Valdosta , GA 31601 Lowndes Number of Students: 2 Agreement: N Louis Smith Memorial Hospital
852 W. Thigpen Avenue
Lakeland , GA 31635 Lanier Number of Students: 2 Agreement: N Adel Memorial Hospital
706 N. Parrish Avenue
Adel , GA 31620 Cook Number of Students: 2 Agreement: N Valdosta Family Medical Associates
2412 N. Oak Street
Valdosta , GA 31602 Lowndes Number of Students: 4 Agreement: N
For COE Accredited Schools A completed Employer Program Verification Form signed by three employers is on file at the main campus: COC Only
Program Anticipated Enrollment
Students Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Day 20 20 20
Evening 0 0 0
Describe the process for estimating enrollment:
Enrollment was based on the number of available clinical sites; this number will change as more sites become available.
Program Accreditation
Is Accreditation, License, or Certification Required: Yes
Type Accreditation, License, or Certification Required: The program will seek accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Health Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Are you approved by your accrediting agency to offer programs that are more than 50% online? Description of Accreditation Process:
Completion of a Self-Assessment document; Submission of an Application for Candidacy with required processing fees; accreditation site visit; approval by CAHIIM.
Date Accreditation is expected: July 2011 Program Curriculum Review Curriculum General Education Subj Code Crse Num Title Class Hours Demo Lab Hours Pract Lab Hours Contact Hours Credit Hours Offered Trad- itional Offered Online Course Type
ENG 1101 Composition And Rhetoric 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State Standard
MAT 1111 College Algebra 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State
PSY 1101 Introductory Psychology 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State Standard HUM 1101 Introduction To Humanities 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard
SPC 1101 Public Speaking 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard BIO 2113 Anatomy And Physiology I 5 2 0 7 5 Y N State
Standard BIO 2114 Anatomy And Physiology II 5 2 0 7 5 Y N State
Standard Totals: 35 4 0 39 35 Occupational Core Subj Code Crse Num Title Class Hours Demo Lab Hours Pract Lab Hours Contact Hours Credit Hours Offered Trad-itional Offered Online Course Type
AHS 109 Medical Terminology 3 0 0 3 3 Y N State
Standard SCT 100 Introduction To Microcomputers 1 4 0 5 3 Y N State
Standard
MAS 103 Pharmacology 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard
MAS 112 Human Diseases 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard HIT 201 Introduction to Health Information
Technology 3 0 0 3 3 Y N
State Standard HIT 202 Legal Aspects in Health Information
Management 3 0 0 3 3 Y N
State Standard HIT 193 Health Data Content and Structure 4 1 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard
HIT 210 Computers in Healthcare 2 3 0 5 3 Y N State
Standard HIT 194 Healthcare Delivery Systems 5 0 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard
HIT 204 Healthcare Statistics 4 1 0 5 5 Y N State
Standard HIT 203 Supervisory Principles for Health Inf
Management 5 0 0 5 5 Y Y
State Standard
HIT 205 Performance Improvement 2 2 0 4 3 Y N State
Standard HIT 215 Coding and Classification I 2 4 0 6 4 Y N State
Standard HIT 216 Coding & Classification II 2 4 0 6 4 Y N State
Standard HIT 217 Coding & Classification III 2 4 0 6 4 Y N State
Standard XXX XXX Coding and Classification IV-
Revenue Cycle Mgmt 2 4 0 6 4 Y Y
State Standard HIT 206 Health Information Technology
Practicum I 0 0 12 12 4 Y N
State Standard
HIT 207 Health Information Technology Practicum II 0 0 12 12 4 Y N State Standard Totals: 50 27 24 101 72 Specializations Program Admissions Admission Requirements:
Minimum Required Age: 18 High School Diploma or GED Required: Yes
Minimum Test Scores: (If appropriate, programs requiring no more than 25 quarter hours may be proposed to not require test scores)
Test: ASSET COMPASS Not Required
Reading: 42 81
English: 42 62
Mathematics: 0 0
Algebra: 42 37
Other conditions for Admission (if any): check if yes
Program Faculty
Required Program Faculty Positions Position Name: Allied Health Instructor
Position: Existing Quantity: 1
Qualifications Credentials: Baccalaureate Degree in teaching discipline with verifiable academic coursework, work experience, licenses, certifications, credentials, competencies, or other experiences appropriate for teaching the course content.
Courses to be taught: AHS, MAS, HIT occupational courses
Administrative Duties: Enroll students, maintain student files, market program, monitor internships and clinical sites.
Changes in Current Assignment: None
Number of New Positions: 0 Number of Existing Positions: 1 Total Number of Program Positions: 1
Describe any required additions or modifications to the physical plant or equipment: None
Learning Resources Adequate: No
Explain what New Learning Resources are needed: Electronic medical records software, virtual medical office lab
Program Tuition & Fees
Standard Tuition: Yes $36.00 per Quarter Credit Hour Non-Standard Tuition: $
If proposing nonstandard tuition and fees, justify in terms of recovery of documented unfunded costs.
Explain Non-Standard Tuition: Instructional &
Technology
Support Fee: $ 35per Quarter Miscellaneous Service
Fees: (specify and explain)
NOTE: This document is used to summarize budgetary needs. All items must be entered into the appropriate budget spreadsheets for funding considerations.
Total Cost/Quarter: $600.00(Georgia Resident)
Program First Three Year's Costs
First Year
Funding Source
Additional Costs Perkins% % State % Tuition & Fees % Other Other Salaries: $12,800.00 0 0 0 100 local Fringe Benefits: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Equipment: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Supplies: $1,600.00 0 0 0 100 local Travel: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Library: $500.00 0 0 0 100 local Physical Plant: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Utilities: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Other: $2,500.00 0 0 0 100 local
Total First Year Costs: $17,400.00
Second Year Funding Source
Additional Costs Perkins% % State % Tuition & Fees
Total % Other
Fringe Benefits: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Equipment: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Supplies: $1,600.00 0 0 0 100 local Travel: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Library: $500.00 0 0 0 100 local Physical Plant: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Utilities: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Other: $1,500.00 0 0 0 100 local
Total Second Year Costs: $16,400.00
Third Year
Funding Source
Additional Costs Perkins% % State % Tuition & Fees % Other Other Salaries: $12,800.00 0 0 0 100 local Fringe Benefits: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Equipment: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Supplies: $1,600.00 0 0 0 100 local Travel: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Library: $500.00 0 0 0 100 local Physical Plant: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Utilities: $0.00 0 0 0 0 Other: $1,500.00 0 0 0 100 local
Total Third Year Costs: $16,400.00
Program Executive Summary
Healthcare providers in hospitals, clinics and doctor's offices are increasingly using electronic records instead of paper records to record patient history, symptoms, treatment plans and other necessary information. This ensures the accuracy, efficiency and speed with which personal health information is available at the point of care. This change from paper to electronic records means that well trained professionals are needed to deliver the data in a format that is easy to maintain and use. Accurate coding is essential for optimum reimbursement for healthcare providers, especially in this changing economic environment, and healthcare professionals need qualified medical coding specialists. The Health Information Technology Associate Degree program provides a pathway for graduates to obtain an entry-level position in this growing occupation. Members of the advisory committee for the Medical Coding and Insurance Specialist TCC recommended that Valdosta Technical College pursue the Associate Degree in Health Information Technology to enable graduates to apply to take the American Health Information
Management Association's national examination for certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). The program will seek accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Health Information Management Education (CAHIIM); this accreditation will allow students to sit for this examination. Members of the local medical community indicate that they prefer hiring employees who are certified. They have also indicated that they will serve as clinical sites for students in the program. The starting salary for these
graduates is about $10.00 - $13.00/hour; with experience, up to $18.00/hour. A current full time faculty member will be the coordinator/instructor for this program. Her new responsibilities will necessitate our hiring adjunct instructors to teach the Allied Health core classes that she is currently teaching. We realize that the TCSG standards for this program are undergoing revision at this time. We have submitted a currently approved curriculum, but understand that changes will be made when the new curriculum has been approved.
