Program Description
This program focuses entirely on the training for administrative positions in health care settings. The business of health care increasingly relies on the skills of the front office manager such as interpersonal, communication and technical skills.

Curriculum Components
The program consists of the following courses:

Diagnostic and Procedural Coding
This course will discuss the ICD-9-CM coding system designed to classify patients' illness and death information for hospital records and billing. The course will also cover the CPT coding system designed by the American Medical Association to convert descriptions of medical, surgical and diagnostic procedures to effectively communicate with insurance companies about patient services and the medical reasons necessitating them. In the process, students will gain an appreciation for the importance of clinical documentation.

Medical Office Administration
This course will cover such topics as the foundations of health information management, patient scheduling, reception and registration, medical law, office operations and human resource management.

Medical Terminology
This course will instruct students on how to divide words into component parts, recognize basic combining forms, suffixes and prefixes and learn their meanings.

Insurance for the Medical Office
This course will orient the student to the process of filing clean claims using payor-specific rules, and will train them to be aware of correct reimbursement policy. Topics will include interpretation of health insurance language, medical claim cycle, managed care, HIPAA and government regulations.

Human Biology
This two-semester course will provide topics on the organization and complexity of the human body in health and disease. This course will cover, but is not limited to, such topics as structure, function, systems, growth, pathology and genetics.

Workplace Communications
This course introduces students to essential study and life management skills through practical applications. Topics such as conflict resolution, interview skills, stress management techniques, networking strategies and customer service excellence will all be incorporated in the coursework.

Transcription
This course emphasizes the rules of the American Association of Medical Transcription. Topics include proof reading, abbreviations, attention to detail and transcribing of both medical reports and business documents.

Microcomputer Applications
This course will introduce students to Microsoft Office, the World Wide Web and proper keyboarding techniques. Keyboarding competency and speed are essential skills for the successful completion of this program content. Students will need to pass a Vermont Technical College final to receive college credit.

Business English
This course contains an extensive English grammar and punctuation review in addition to work-based reading and writing assignments such as resume development and report preparation.


Career Work Experience
This mandatory 30-hour unpaid work experience in the health care environment is designed to introduce the students to the many facets of the industry. Examples of current work experience placements are the following:
Fletcher Allen Health Care:
• Radiology Communications
• Registration
• Health Information Management
• Hospital Coding
• Transcription Support
• Patient Financial Services
• Medical Group Management
• Given Health, Essex
• Colchester Family Practice

Visiting Nurse Association:
• Medical Order Processing Department
• Medical Records Department

Community Health Center
• Insurance Billing
• Front Office

Veterans' Affairs Outreach Clinic
• Front Office

Thomas Chittenden Health Center
• Front Office

Employment in the field
Former students are working in the field of health care in the following positions: compliance, medical orders processor, medical records clerk, health information clerk I & II, charge specialist, clinical assistants, patient account representatives, transcription support, scheduling specialists, department assistants, film librarian, implementation specialist, and staff assistant.

College Connection
Upon completion of this program, students who achieve a grade of B or better in the Health Information Management Program, complete the assessment from the Vermont Technical College, can transfer 3 credits. VTC credit is awarded for the following components of the HIM Program:
Information Processing : 3 Credits


High School Credits Awarded:
• Mathematics Credit
• English Credit
• Four Elective Credits

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