Ozarka College

Philosophy
Successful completion of the requirements of the associate degree program in Health Information Management will prepare the student for entry-level employment as a health information manager by providing the basic knowledge,understanding, and skills required to transcribe medical dictation with accuracy, clarity, and timeliness, code diagnosis and procedures of the medical office and hospital setting by applying the principles of professional and ethical conduct.

Objectives
Upon completion of the program, students will

1. Possess the skills in English grammar, spelling, and usage to meet entry-level job requirements in a health care institution.
2. Be competent to operate computers and software applications relative to job performance.
3. Possess a large medical vocabulary and understand thehuman anatomy, physiology, diseases, diagnostic indications, drugs, and surgical and other procedures underlying that vocabulary.
4. Be able to recognize, evaluate, and interpret inconsistencies, discrepancies, and inaccuracies in medical dictation and make appropriate corrections.
5. Be able to accurately code diagnoses and procedures according to ethical and professional standards.
6. Possess skills to accurately submit claim forms to various insurance companies for reimbursement.
7. Maintain patient confidentiality according to HIPPA standards.
8. Conduct themselves ethically and professionally in handling health information and records.

The students' practicum experience may be at regional medical centers and/or physician’s offices in the four county area under supervision of medical record personnel.

Admission Criteria
Eligibility requirements for admission into the Health Information Program is the ability of keyboarding at least 50 words per minute and be computer literate-know how or be familiar with word processing and spreadsheets.