Health Information Management (BS) Curriculum

This course introduces students to different types of healthcare delivery systems and how to analyze the organization, financing, regulatory issues, and delivery of different healthcare services. Topics covered include the "continuum of care" concept, and methods and theories in healthcare delivery systems and computer applications in healthcare. Focus is placed on evolution and trends in managed healthcare, including research, statistics, quality management, and integrating information technologies into medical office practices. Other processes such as staffing, productivity, and improving quality are also discussed.

This course teaches the foundation of the language of healthcare. Students will learn how to pronounce medical terms and communicate medical information to both health professionals and patients. Students will also learn the principles of word-building needed for the extensive medical vocabulary used in healthcare. Students will utilize interactive technology to assist with learning, pronunciation and application in Anatomy and Physiology.

This course examines medical billing and coding in medical practice. All basic medical billing and coding issues are discussed, including coding diagnosis, the International Classification of Diseases Manual (ICD-10-CM), coding compliance and legal and ethical compliance. Students extrapolate coding information from the ICD-10-CM manual and examine usage guidelines for Volumes I, II and III.

This course provides an overview of commonly available software tools used in healthcare, including an introduction to encoding tools and computer-assisted coding software used in healthcare data processing. Focus is placed specifically on healthcare software and its many uses, functions and applications in the medical office. Other processes such as medical office billing and information technology are also discussed.

This course provides the student with in-depth coverage of procedural coding utilizing the HCPCS coding system composed of Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) and national codes. The course includes detailed application of the CPT classification system for outpatient services. Emphasis includes Evaluation and Management, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, and Laboratory and Medicine codes, as well as the use of modifiers. Students will apply coding and billing principles through the use of coding exercises and coding simulation software.

This course provides students with a working knowledge of medical insurance and its applications. Emphasis is on understanding insurance essentials, including the role of the medical insurance billing specialist and legal and ethical requirements. Medical documents and coding diagnoses and procedures are discussed. Students comprehend the claims process, focusing on charges, methods of payments, billing and reimbursement. Other topics covered are private payers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Medicaid and Medicare, TRICARE and worker's compensation. Patient billing software is also explored.

This course presents methods in making analytical decisions using statistics. The course focuses on the characteristics of numerical and categorical data, methods of presentation, and descriptive statistics. The course also introduces students to basic methods of sampling and of making inferences using one or two independent samples. NOTE: Credit may not be awarded for both MA215 and MA230.

This course explores the evolution of quality management in healthcare, emphasizing performance improvement, history, models, identification of needs, implementation of change, and evaluation. The explosion of health-related Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data requiring timely and accurate analysis creates a demand for innovative solutions in healthcare quality control and performance metrics. Students explore tools, aggregate and analyzing data, and decreasing risk exposure. Quality metrics specific to healthcare, such as patient satisfaction surveys, improving care provision, and controlling infectious disease, are additional considerations. The course includes terms and concepts related to the privacy and security of health information, threat identification, data security mechanisms, and reporting requirements related to compliance.

This course explores the regulatory issues associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the implications of this Act related to data security and privacy issues in healthcare organizations. Topics examined are identifying and prioritizing information assets and threats to those assets; defining information security strategy and architecture; planning responses to intruders in an information system; and identifying legal and ethical issues and implications of information security.

This course examines concepts related to organizational behavior in a variety of healthcare settings. Understanding the factors that drive human behavior allows leaders to positively influence culture, performance, and job satisfaction. The interrelationship between individual and group dynamics is a key concept for healthcare leaders. Students acquire the skills needed to meet the challenge of redesigning organizations to deliver patient-centered, value-based care. Students learn to apply the concepts of communication, performance management, and conflict resolution when evaluating and improving group performance, resource management, and organizational dynamics. A primary focus will be on enhancing leadership ability to influence organizational behavior through management concepts, theories, and evaluation of organizational effectiveness.

This course focuses on the day-to-day requirements of healthcare systems in the processing and storing of patient information and the medical management systems to facilitate appropriate and safe care. Students examine a broad range of topics including: aspects of the healthcare delivery system in relation to overall management functions, institutional, social and political forces in healthcare, the role of IT in healthcare management and information security, and patient privacy.

This course helps to develop and implement a unique project that demonstrates mastery of the program objectives. Program objectives include applying fundamental systems analysis and design concepts and program solving strategies to information technology problems; applying project management principles to information systems development efforts and analyzing, designing and implementing solutions to healthcare information challenges.

Scholarly Writing for Healthcare Professions is designed to combine the elements of evidence from research and critical thinking into an organized format that demonstrates scholarly academic writing. This course focuses on the skills necessary to develop professional writing that supports ideas and infers relationships. Students progressively expand their capability to produce clear, substantive written communication at the baccalaureate level of education, both in regard to classroom assignments and more globally in their chosen healthcare profession.

This course focuses on ways in which accounting principles are used in business operations. Students learn to identify and use Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), ledgers and journals and steps of the accounting cycle. This course introduces bank reconciliation methods, balance sheets, assets and liabilities. Students also learn about financial statements, including assets, liabilities and equity. Business ethics are also discussed.

This course examines the theoretical concepts of strategic planning as well as applications to health information management. A structured, stepwise approach to execution of strategic planning for management and leadership in health care organizations is provided. Included are methods for assessing critical features of organizational environments such as leadership styles, market analysis of competition, future focused innovation, and processes for ensuring diverse, collaborative planning environments, and monitoring strategies.

This course covers the principles of managing information systems in the context of an enterprise. Topics include coverage of information technology in management, information systems in decision-making, planning of information systems, systems development, controls and security measures, and electronic commerce.

This introductory course provides students with a practical and concrete explanation of the concepts and techniques they will need as managers in today's new organizations. The sequence of topics follows the familiar pattern of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Throughout the course, the manager's role in leading and accommodating change is emphasized. The course also introduces the student to the issues of managing global businesses, especially the ways in which managers need to develop a global perspective in order to be successful. Issues in strategy, diversity, and entrepreneurship are covered extensively.

This course provides an overview of healthcare accounting and financial management principles. Topics include the healthcare financial environment, the financial tools utilized by healthcare administrators for effective financial planning and decision-making, long term financing, and capital investments.

This course provides foundational knowledge on the formulation and application of health law in current practice. The four major pillars of health law will be addressed. These include access to care, financing health care, quality of healthcare and personhood. Specific topics include statutory and common law obligations of healthcare providers, informed consent, standard of care, fairness in rationing of services, abandonment and malpractice, and government programs to finance care for specific populations.

This course promotes development of an appreciation for cultural traditions and practices of diverse populations. The importance and implications of cultural traditions on health outcomes and health status with a focus on aging and nutrition will be examined. Students will develop skills of cultural competence that are essential for today's healthcare professionals.

This general education course is designed to introduce students to a variety of ethical principles. Ethical principles can be used to assist decision-making in a global society experiencing recurrent viral pandemics. During periods of potentially catastrophic health emergencies, autonomy and personal rights may be limited by utilitarian ethics which support the premise that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. In this course, students will develop a good working knowledge of ethical principles to assist with personal decision-making and overall conduct during periods of global stress.

This course introduces the concepts, tools and techniques used in the analysis, design and deployment of information systems which support business requirements. Topics include requirements determination, data and process modeling, various development methodologies, project management, data and user interface design, security, implementation and maintenance, and documentation.

This course draws from theories in the fields of communication, sociology, and philosophy in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the concept of civility. The theories provide a lens through which communication in the digital age, and its impact on individuals and communities, will be examined. Practical tools and techniques offer an opportunity for the application of effective and appropriate civil communication in various social contexts.

Students examine the broad implications of technological applications within society in terms of overall connections and communication with others, career and personal interactions, political, and health care implications. Topics covered include technological progress within society, issues associated with privacy and ethical concerns through technological advancements, positive and negative impacts of technology in maintaining cultural norms and traditions, and technology in the workplace.

This course introduces students to the University of Arkansas Grantham policies and staff, provides information about higher education funding resources, discusses important skills for success in the online learning environment, and provides information about University of Arkansas Grantham student support services. Students practice submitting assignments and navigating the Learning Management System (Blackboard). Students will be required to demonstrate fundamental skills necessary for success in the online learning environment at the University of Arkansas Grantham.

This course covers the process and method of science applied to understanding biological concepts at the molecular, cellular, organismal and community levels. The emphasis of this course is on biological diversity in major groups of living organisms and ecology. This course includes a lab.

This course stresses human systems, with applications to contemporary issues in human health and the environment. The scientific method and social applications of scientific information related to human issues are emphasized. This course includes a lab.

This introductory course provides an overview of current and traditional concerns and methods of macroeconomics. Topics that are covered include: economic growth, unemployment inflation, government deficits, monetary policy, investment and capital, the role and methods of the Federal Reserve, Keynesian and monetarist theories and comparative advantage.

This course emphasizes the writing process. Students will apply principles of good writing practice through various genre (narrative, persuasive, expository writings). Additionally, students will analyze reading material as part of the critical and creative thinking processes associated with written communication.

This course introduces students to terms, concepts, and documents related to Technical Writing (writing in the work environment). The concepts and skills presented in the course are intended to be a foundation for effective writing that combines content and format with knowledge of the target audience. Technical writing covers many document types; the course will provide an overview of documents used in the work place such as visual elements, instructions, reports, and presentations. Students will create a portfolio of technical writing documents including: a proposal, progress reports, feasibility and recommendation reports, visual elements, and descriptions of a mechanism and a process.

This course provides the fundamentals of data aptitude. Through this exploration of quantitative reasoning, emphasis will be placed on how to interpret graphs, charts, and pictorial representations of data, along with an understanding of the principles underlying statistics and financial information.

This course examines critical thinking and the analysis of arguments in terms of premises, reasons, and conclusions. Course topics include obstacles to critical thinking, diagramming arguments, belief and doubt, logical fallacies, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, inferences, and judging scientific theories.

This course is a survey of ethical systems with an examination of how such systems can be applied to business, medical, legal, environmental, and personal issues.

This course provides an introduction to American government and politics. Topics include the concept of a constitutional democracy, federalism, amendment rights and equal rights under the law. Also covered are political culture, political ideology, interest groups, lobbying, and political campaigns and elections.

This course presents an introductory overview of psychology. The course includes topics such as the history of psychology, nature vs. nurture, biological psychology, sensation, perceptions, developmental theories, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, memory, cognition, personality, health, and social psychology.

This course offers a global perspective to help students understand their own lives as well as presenting the most current research in the field of sociology. Students will explore social diversity while critically examining the issues and challenges facing society. Topics covered include the theoretical and empirical foundations of sociology, the major themes of sociological research, and the techniques employed.