Health Information Management Option (A.S.)
Associate in Science
Program Advisor: Kevin Bechard, Dean of Business & Outreach
413-236-2109 • kbechard@berkshirecc.edu
This flexible program is designed for students seeking a higher credential toward a first-level management position in a professional field requiring a knowledge of Health Information Management systems. In addition to the knowledge and technical skills required for a successful career in Health Information Management, students also study accounting, computer literacy, economics and oral and written communications to provide them with the broad-base skills needed for a successful career in the growing field of health records management and informatics.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates of this program should be able to:
- Have a basic understanding of the workplace;
- Recognize, analyze and calculate financial data to make informed decisions;
- Possess excellent communication skills in the workplace;
- Demonstrate ethical and social responsibility as they go to work in the real world;
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of the human body;
- Demonstrate proficiency in use of ICD and CPT coding systems;
- Demonstrate computer skills;
- Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery system, health care reimbursement and health occupations;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of disease process in relationship to the human body, including pharmacology;
- Describe the functions of health information services; and
- Be eligible to take the CCA and CCS credentialing examinations.
Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.
Program Courses
| AHS-115 | Fundamentals of Human Disease | 3 |
| AHS-121 | Essentials of Pharmacology | 3 |
| BUS-107 | Fundamentals of Business | 3 |
| BUS-111 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| BUS-112 | Principles of Accounting II | 3 |
| BUS-247 | Business Communications | 3 |
| CIS-102 | Fundamental Computer Literacy | 4 |
| HIM-102 | Basic Procedure Coding | 3 |
| HIM-105 | Medical Coding I | 3 |
| HIM-106 | Medical Coding II | 3 |
| HIM-132 | Reimbursement Methodologies | 3 |
| HIM-144 | Introduction to Health Information Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 37 |
General Education Courses
| BUS-105 | Business Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| - | | |
| COM- | Communication | 3 |
| ECO-211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO-212 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 6 |
| - | General Education Elective | 3 |
| - | Humanities & Fine Arts | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
MAT Mathematics : See footnote 1
General Education Elective : See footnote 2
Additional Requirements
| Core Competencies Portfolio |
4 items |
| FORUM |
4 units |
| Health/Fitness |
30 hours |
Minimum Cumulative Average
| Overall |
2.000 |
| All Required HIM Courses |
2.000 |
Footnotes
- Mathematics to be chosen from any MAT course with the “MA” General Education code.
- General Education elective chosen from History (HI), Natural or Physical Science (SC), or Environmental Studies (ES)