Health Information Management
Mission Statement
To provide the opportunity for students to develop skills and abilities that will allow them to become competent Health Information Professionals and managers with entry-level skills and the resources needed to acquire, analyze, maintain, and report accurate and complete health information. In addition, the program provides an environment for lifelong learning.
The East Central College Health Information Management (HIM) program trains students to fill a pivotal role within the medical environment – connecting clinical, operational and administrative functions. Skilled HIM professionals ensure an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed.
HIM professionals are responsible for the quality, integrity, and protection of patient’s health information.
The online-based degree is available for full-time and part-time students.
What do HIM professionals do?
Professionals in this field work across a vast array of positions from analytical roles to project management roles to healthcare system management including:
- Ensuring the accuracy, usefulness, integrity and protection of patient health information throughout a healthcare organization
- Applying leadership skills toward the implementation of electronic health information systems
- Assessing and strategically planning for healthcare data and information needs to both manage and improve the quality of clinical and business operations
- Managing many new and exciting operational and technology-related projects related to HIM
The Health Information Management accreditor of East Central College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for associate of applied science degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through academic year 2024-2025. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
A degree in HIM prepares HIM professionals to work in a variety of settings including:
- Acute and long-term care hospitals
- Physician offices and clinics
- Nursing homes
- Home healthcare agencies
- Community mental health clinics
- Health plans
- Insurance companies
- Government agencies
- Outpatient diagnostic facilities
US Salary Survey Report: HIM Professionals in 2019
The demand for an HIM degree isn’t going away, especially as health records continue to move into the digital space. Hear from one ECC graduate who landed his dream job in Health Information Management.
Degrees & Certificates
Health Information Management, AAS
Program Description
Students enrolled in East Central College’s Health Information Management (HIM) program are trained to fill a pivotal role within the medical environment – connecting clinical, operational, and administrative functions. Skilled HIM professionals ensure an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed. HIM professionals are responsible for the quality, integrity, and protection of patients’ health information.
Program Format
The Health Information Management degree is a 65 credit-hour two-year program that prepares the student to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification.
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) Duties
While most RHITs work in hospitals, they are also found in other healthcare settings including office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, and public health agencies. RHITs may also be employed in any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors.
RHITs:
- Ensure the quality of medical/health records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems.
- Use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs.
- Often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. An additional role for RHITs is a cancer registrar — compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Credentials/Certifications: The student is prepared to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam.
- Professional/Technical Skills: The student learns advanced skills and will be able to apply entry level HIM competencies achieved at the degree level.
- Critical Thinking: The student will be able to utilize different strategies to make decisions and solve complex problems through the application of HIM skills.
- Ethical/Legal Concerns: The student will understand the implications of legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks related to health care industry.
Health Information Management, Certificate of Achievement
The HIM Certificate of Achievement is an online 30 credit hour certificate. The ECC Health Information Management certificate program prepares students to demonstrate entry-level competency in medical coding and insurance billing with an emphasis on physician offices and outpatient settings.
The certificate track includes instruction in medical records, health information software applications and data entry, coding, and classification. Coursework also includes the fundamentals of medical science and treatment procedures, medical terminology, and basic anatomy and physiology. All courses with the HIM prefix are fully online.
In addition, students learn about the regulations pertaining to coding, billing, health information documentation, Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
At completion, students are eligible to sit for a national certification exam to earn their Certified Coding Associate (CCA) credential. CCA professionals can demonstrate the entry-level competencies necessary to be successful in a health billing and coding environment.
Program Outcomes
- Professional/Technical Skills: The student learns foundation HIM skills and will be able to apply entry level HIM competencies achieved at the certificate level.
- Critical Thinking: The student will be able to utilize different strategies to make decisions and solve complex problems through the application of HIM skills.
- Ethical/Legal Concerns: The student will understand the implications of legal, ethical, and regulatory frameworks related to health care industry.
Transfer Options:
The East Central College Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Management is designed for students seeking employment immediately upon graduation.
However, many of the credit may qualify as transfer credit at four-year schools! Students seeking to transfer should contact the institution of their choice for more information.
Articulation Agreements:
East Central College has entered into an Articulation Agreement with Stephens College, Columbia, MO. At Stephens College, they offer a pathway for ECC HIM graduates to earn their B.S. in Health Information Administration.
East Central College has entered into an Articulation Agreement with Maryville University, St. Louis, MO. At Maryville U, they offer a pathway for ECC HIM graduates to earn their B.S. in Healthcare Practice Management.
By these agreements, East Central College, Stephens College and Maryville University express a shared commitment to increasing opportunities for student access to and success in a 4-year institution of higher education.
Helpful Links:
Program Faculty
Kimberly Daman-Scheel
Program Director, Health Information Management
BSN/RN, RHIA, CDIP, CCS
kim.daman-scheel@eastcentral.edu
636-584-6662
Dr. Nanette Sayles
Professor, Health Information Management
EdD, RHIA, CCS, CHPS, CHDA, CPHI, CPHIMS, FAHIMA, CDIP
nanette.sayles@eastcentral.edu
Health Information Management Courses
Program Outcomes
| RHIT Exam Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Period | ECC Pass Rate | Number of First Time Test Takers | National Pass Rate |
| 2022–2023 | 83% | 6 | 68% |
| 2021–2022 | 40% | 5 | 68% |
| 2020–2021 | 91% | 11 | 78% |
| 2019–2020 | 47% | 15 | 67% |
| HIM Retention | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year to Academic Year | |||
| AY 2019 to AY 2020 | AY 2020 to AY 2021 | AY 2021 to AY 2022 | |
| HIM Majors | 73 | 64 | 55 |
| Number of Graduates | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Still Enrolled | 32 | 26 | 21 |
| Retention Rate | 61.6% | 62.5% | 63.6% |
| Dropped/Switched Majors | 28 | 24 | 20 |
| Attrition Rate | 38.4% | 37.5% | 36.4% |
- HIM Majors – This is determined by counting the unduplicated number of students with an HIM major at the end of the summer, fall or spring term within that academic year. For example, if you were looking at AY2018, you would be looking at the 17/SU, 17/FA and 18/SP terms.
- Number of Graduates – This is determined by counting the number of students from "HIM Majors" who graduated with an HIM certificate OR degree within the same academic year.
- Still Enrolled – This is determined by counting the "HIM Majors" who were still enrolled in an HIM program at the end of the summer, fall or spring term within the next academic year.
- This table does not represent the way ECC typically calculates student retention.
| HIM Employment Rate | |
|---|---|
| Period | Employment Rate |
| 2021–2022 | 50% |