Health Information Management
Program Overview
Health Information Management (HIM) blends the sciences of medicine and information
technology and focuses on applied healthcare statistics, information resources, legislative
rules, and quality assurance to ensure that the most up-to-date information is available
to make informed decisions. Health Information professionals are key advocates for
protecting the privacy and confidentiality of patient information and serve as the
critical link between clinicians, patients, policy makers, and others by managing
healthcare information in accordance with administrative, legal and ethical requirements.
Health Information professionals are experts in the field of electronic health records,
patient information, quality assessment, reimbursement, health planning, and applied
research.
Alabama State University’s HIM program will equip its students with information needed
to succeed in the Health Information Management arena. Each student will have a solid
foundation with courses in biology, medical terminology, pathophysiology, healthcare
financial management, informational systems/design, quality assessment and research
methodology. Each student will explore the world of healthcare, and develop entry-level
competencies in the field through year-long clinical affiliations in health information
management departments within healthcare facilities.
A detailed description of the HIM program may also be found in the Undergraduate Catalog
and the HIM Student Handbook. These sources accurately reflect the requirements and
description of the entry-level Health Information Management baccalaureate program.
Program Outcomes: August 1, 2022-July 31,2023
Graduation Rate 100%
Employment Rate 100%
Retention Rate 100%
Accreditation
Accreditation is a mechanism for assuring academic quality in higher education. The institution that sponsors an accredited CAHIIM program is required to have institutional accreditation by a regional or qualified institutional accreditor which must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and must have provisions for Title IV Eligibility. This allows that institution to provide:
- Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid.
- Ability to Transfer Credits: Accreditation provides for establishing the acceptability
of credits from school to school.
- Ability to enroll in Graduate education: If your undergraduate degree was earned at an unaccredited institution you run the risk that the graduate school in which you would like to enroll will not accept your degree.
Professional programmatic accreditation means that in addition to the college or university's
regional or national accreditation, programs in health information and health informatics
may choose to seek CAHIIM accreditation, which is a voluntary peer review process
to evaluate the program of study against CAHIIM Standards.
Graduation from a CAHIIM accredited program is necessary to be eligible for the AHIMA
professional HIM certification exam. CAHIIM accredited programs are quality programs
that provide professionally required knowledge and skills, and employment marketability.
Graduating from a CAHIIM accredited program offers employers assurance that you have
the expected professional knowledge and skills, and have experienced a curriculum
that is relevant to today's electronic health record (EHR) environment.
Alabama State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and
Schools Commission on Colleges. The Health Information Management accreditor of Alabama
State University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information
Management Education (CAHIIM). The College's accreditation for Baccalaureate degree
in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2026. All inquiries
about the program's accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200
East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or
by email at info@cahiim.org.
Accreditation Statement
The Health Information Management/Health Informatics accreditor of Alabama State University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College's accreditation for a baccalaureate degree in Health Information Management/Health Informatics has been reaffirmed through 2026. All inquiries about the program's accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
