Health Information Management

Laurinda B. Harman, Ph.D., RHIA, Chair
3307 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140
(215)-707-4811
http://www.temple.edu/HIM/

Note: Department chairs frequently change at the beginning of the academic year.  Students should contact departments for updated information.

A career as a Health Information Management (HIM) professional allows students to combine interests in health care, business, and information technology. HIM professionals have expertise in health informatics, which requires knowledge of clinical medicine; the computer-based patient record; healthcare database administration; and computerized clinical information systems. This individual also has expertise in coding and classification systems, quality and human resource management, the legal aspects of health information systems, and legal, regulatory, and accrediting agency requirements that affect the health information system. Clinical internships are scheduled at several health care institutions.

The HIM professional works closely with all other health professionals to collect and disseminate the information needed to provide high-quality patient care. The health information system supports the needs of patients, health care professionals, administrators, the community, and those involved in research and education. Job opportunities include positions with hospitals and other health care institutions, research and pharmaceutical firms, and governmental agencies. Career opportunities for the HIM professional include: Information Security Officer, Director of Integrated Health Information Systems, Research and Decision-Support Analyst, Clinical Data Specialist, Data Resource Administrator, Patient Information Coordinator, Director of Medical Records, and Clinical Coding Specialist.

Certification

Following satisfactory completion of all course requirements, the graduate is awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and is eligible to write the examination of the American Health Information Management Association for certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), which is nationally recognized.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate program in Health Information Management at Temple University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Requirements

This is an upper level program, and students are admitted in the fall of the junior year and must have 55 credits completed by the fall semester of admission to the program. Transfer students must have their transfer credits evaluated by the admissions office and must meet core and prerequisite requirements of the program.

1. University requirements – Temple core requirements for American Culture, The Arts, English Composition, Intellectual Heritage, Individual and Society, International Studies or Language, Studies in Race, and one Writing Intensive.
2. Program requirements - Health Information Management prerequisites. The prerequisites for the Health Information Management curriculum include courses that fulfill the CORE requirements.
Quantitative Reasoning: QA: Math C055 – College Mathematics and
QB: Statistics C021 – Statistical Methods and Concepts or Mathematics C067 – Elements of Statistics or Psychology C067 – Foundations in Statistical Methods.
Science and Technology: Kinesiology C100 and C101 or Anatomy & Physiology I and II and Computer and Information Sciences C055 – Computers and Applications.
3. Electives: 7-8 credits. Strongly recommended electives include HIM 0101(Medical Terminology) and computer science, business, and writing intensive electives.

 Course Requirements for Health Information Management