Program Description
The Health Information Management Coding Diploma program prepares students to be medical coders to classify medical records according to accepted standards. The classification of diagnoses and treatments is required for Medicare and insurance reimbursement in hospitals, outpatient clinics and medical offices. The program offers training in diagnoses/procedural coding with courses in anatomy and physiology and medical terminology.
Career Information
Occupation
Health Information Technologists, Medical Coding Specialists, and Billing and Coding Specialists
Career Projections
The number of jobs in this field is expected to increase by 19.1% nationally and 24.1% in the State of Georgia over the next several years. Estimated salaries in this field start at $40,000 a year.
Labor market data was compiled using Economic Modeling Specialists, international and is updated annually.
Careers
To learn more about HIM careers visit: https://careerassist.ahima.org/
Career Coach
Please select the following link to review additional career information on Career Coach.
Admission Requirements
General College Admissions Requirements
Program Admissions Requirements
• Must be 18 years of age.
• Official high school or GED transcript is required to apply.
• Achievement of minimum program admission scores in Reading, Language, and Math.
• Transfer of previous post-secondary credits will be determined by the Enrollment Services and HIMT Program Director.
HIMT Program Entrance Requirements
• Must ensure that transfer courses from other approved institutions of higher education are no more than five (5) years old; these include MATH 1012, Math 1013, ALHS 1011, ALHS 1090, and (CAHIIM) HIMT occupational courses.
• Maximum transfer credits to accept from other approved institutions and/or CAHIIM accredited programs of higher education is 25%. Only 6 transfer credits from another CAHIIM will be accepted, excluding HIMT 2500 course.
• The Health Information Coding Diploma program requires students to complete ALL required pre-requisites and have a minimum of CGPA 2.0 or higher.
• HIMT Information Session is required prior to starting the HIMT occupational courses. Virtual information sessions are scheduled once a month, on the 4th Thursday at 4:30pm. To register for the virtual sessions, students must email their first and last name with student 900# to aspence@atlantatech.edu to receive access information.
Student Performance/Graduation Requirements
• Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and complete all required courses with a “C” or better to graduate
Blood and Airborne Pathogens
Students enrolled in Category I and II programs at Atlanta Technical College will be performing tasks in which there is a normal occurrence for exposure to blood, other potentially infectious body materials, and airborne pathogens.
These tasks will be performed in the classroom, laboratory, and clinical activities for each occupational training program/course. Students will be required to present documentation of Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis immunizations as a result of potential occupational exposure. Students should contact their program directors for more information. Policies and procedures regarding blood and airborne pathogens may be reviewed at https://tcsg.edu/tcsgpolicy/tcsg_policy_manual.pdf.
Program Contact Information
Lois Hunter, RHIA, MS, MBA, MHA
Program Coordinator
404.225.4558
lhunter@atlantatech.edu
Program Length and Cost
Minimum Program Length in Semester Terms: 4-5 terms
Program Credit Hours: 50-51
Estimated Program Cost: $9,023
Required Courses
General Education Courses - (9 Credits)
English Requirement - (3 Credits)
Math Requirement - (3 Credits)
| Select one of the following Math Courses | |
| MATH 1012 | Foundations of Mathematics | 3 |
| Or | |
| MATH 1013 | Algebraic Concepts | 3 |
Social/Behavioral Science Requirement - (2-3 Credits)
| Select one of the following Social-Behavioral Science Courses | |
| PSYC 1010 | Basic Psychology | 3 |
| Or | |
| EMPL 1000 | Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development | 2 |
Non General Education Degree Courses- (10 Credits)
| FYES 1001 | First Year Experience Seminar | 3 |
| ALHS 1011 | Structure and Function of the Human Body | 5 |
| ALHS 1090 | Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences | 2 |
Occupational Courses (32 Credits)
Total Credit Hours: 50-51
Program Outcomes
1. The graduate will be able to classify medical records according to accepted standards.
2. The graduate will be able to demonstrate understanding of etiology, pathology, symptoms, signs, diagnostic studies, treatment modalities, and prognosis of diseases and procedures for coding.
3. The graduate will be able to assign correct code and classification of diagnoses and procedures.6. The graduate will be able to capture accurate medical data for billing.
4. The graduate will be able to capture accurate medical data for billing.