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University of Hawaii Community Colleges
Instructional Annual Report of Program Data (ARPD)

College: Leeward Community College Program: Health Information Technology

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The last comprehensive review for this program was on None.

Program Description

“Health Information Management may be one of the hottest healthcare careers in the coming decade, with up to 50,000 new jobs anticipated in the field,” according to the Journal of AHIMA, October 2010.  There will be many jobs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) HITECH and International Classification of Diseases, 10^th revision, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS) requirements. 

The Health Information Technology (HIT) Program at Leeward Community College provides the academic preparation and the clinical experience required to train health information professionals to manage health care data and resources in a variety of health care settings.  Health Information Technology combines a profession in health care with information technology.  HIT professionals play a key role in planning, implementing, and managing the electronic health record (EHR).

The Health Information Technician is responsible for ensuring the quality of medical records; checking it for completeness, accuracy, and appropriate entry into computer systems; in a multitude of health care settings.  The Technician can specialize in (1) coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for billing and reimbursement or (2) research.  The HIT Program includes clinical experience at a health care facility.

Many employers of Health Information Technicians either limit their hiring, or give hiring preference, to candidates who are Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT).  In order for a student to become a RHIT upon graduation, the student must pass a certification examination for RHIT administered by the Commission on Certification for Health Informatics and Information Management (the "Certification Exam").  In order for a student to be allowed to take the Certification Exam to become a RHIT, the student must:  (a) graduate from a program of study in Health Information Technology that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM); and (b) pay an examination fee, for which the student is solely responsible.  At this time, the Leeward CC HIT Program is in “Candidacy Status” with CAHIIM.  This means that upon achieving full accreditation all students registered under the “CAHIIM Candidacy Status” umbrella will be eligible to take the RHIT exam. 

Part I. Quantitative Indicators

Majors Included: HIT     Program CIP: 51.0707

Part II. Analysis of the Program

Introduction:  The Health Information Technology (HIT) Program received provisional program status by the University of Hawaii Board of Regents in May 2012.  The HIT Program started at Leeward CC in Fall 2012 with 28 majors, which exceeded the expectations of 10 majors as indicated in the Authorization to Plan a new program.

Demand (Healthy, 2012-2013)

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm#tab-6), there is a 21 percent increased projected for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians (SOC Code:  29-2071; 2010-2020).  CareerOneStop (www.careerinfonet.org), also sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, reports the trend for Hawaii is an 11% increase in the 2010-2020 period, with an average annual job openings number of 20. 

Efficiency Indicators (Cautionary, 2012-2013)

The first instructor hired for the HIT Program started in Spring 2013.  During the semester, the instructor taught two courses and was released to work on the Program accreditation.  In addition, she was tasked with assisting OCEWD with its non-credit Coding Program Accreditation.  The Program is expected to be “Healthy” in next year’s report due to a full-time faculty member

Effectiveness Indicators (Cautionary, 2012-2013)

This is the first year HIT is being offered and most of the students are part timers.  Only one student earned a certificate.  However, the extraordinarily high persistence rate bodes well for the coming year, and we expect most of the current 28 majors to earn at least a certificate.

Perkins IV Core Indicators

The 1P1, 2P1, 3P1, and 4P1 were not met because HIT is a new Program of Study.

Action Plan No. 1:  The HIT Program currently has two dedicated teachers.  The Program looks forward to expanding its tenure-tracked faculty as the program grows.

Action Plan No. 2:  The HIT Program is currently under the Business Technology Program.  When the HIT courses were created, the HIT Program had not been approved; therefore, the curriculum had to be “housed” under the Business Technology Program.  Since HIT is now an approved, provisional program, the accreditation consultant has advised giving HIT courses the appropriate “HIT” course identification.  The Curriculum Committee chair has been consulted; and this action will take place this year.

Action Plan No. 3:  The HIT Program would like to create a HIT simulation classroom with all the facilities of a real health information management department

Part III. Action Plan

Action Plan No. 1:  The HIT Program currently has two dedicated teachers.  The Program looks forward to expanding its tenure-tracked faculty as the proram grows.

Action Plan No. 2:  The HIT Program is currently under the Business Technology Program.  When the HIT courses were created, the HIT Program had not been approved; therefore, the curriculum had to be “housed” under the Business Technology Program.  Since HIT is now an approved, provisional program, the accreditation consultant has advised giving HIT courses the appropriate "HIT" course identification.  The Curriculum Committee chair has been consulted; and this action will take place this year.   

Action Plan No. 3:  The HIT Program would like to create a HIT simulation classroom with all the facilities of a real health information management department.

Part IV. Resource Implications

The largest resource is needed to fund a tenure-track, full-time HIT faculty member that has the required RHIT or RHIA and can be a back-up to the current Program Director.

A C3T Round 4 grant will be reviewed as a possible means of funding for the HIT simulated classroom.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

For the 2012-2013 program year, some or all of the following P-SLOs were reviewed by the program:

A) Evidence of Industry Validation

This was the first year of the new HIT Program.  No courses or program were assessed in AY 2012-2013.
 

B) Expected Level Achievement

Since this was a new program, the number of majors far exceeded our expectations.  There is an accredited HIT program on Oahu; however, it is at a private school; therefore, we expected students to come to Leeward CC but were not sure if they would wait until we received accreditation ourselves.  In Spring 2013, the HIT Program did receive CAHIIM Candidacy Status for accreditation.

C) Courses Assessed

None.

D) Assessment Strategy/Instrument

None.

E) Results of Program Assessment

None.

F) Other Comments

The HIT Program is in the Business Division and its courses are part of the Division's Assessment Plan.  Two courses will be assessed in AY 2013-2014.

G) Next Steps

The most important issue facing the HIT Program is the CAHIIM Accreditation which is expected to take place in either Summer 2013 or Fall 2014.  The HIT specifric courses will change its acronym from BUSN to HIT in Spring 2013.