Overview
MCC-Penn Valley Health Information Management (HIM) program offers evening classes that are on-ground, virtual and online depending on the class. The HIM program evening classes are from 5 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. The HIM coding classes are from 5 p.m.- 9:45 p.m. and offered virtual/hybrid or on-ground.
Classes are held Monday through Thursday depending on the course and the semester.
The Coding Specialist Certificate Program offers evening virtual/hybrid and online classes. Coding evening classes are from 5 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Classes are held Monday and Wednesday depending on the course.
All HIM and coding courses are held at MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute building.
Personal qualities and essential functions
Health information management professionals are at the cutting edge of healthcare technology.
An HIM professional manages all components of the health record through data analytics while assuring the privacy, confidentiality and the security of the data by meeting all state and federal regulatory and requirements.
HIM professionals are also knowledgeable in medical diagnostic and procedural coding and play an important role in the revenue cycle process regarding claims denials and appeals.
Career and salary information
Visit the MoSCORES website for information on MCC's programs, including length, credit hours, and wage and employment data. Search Metropolitan Community College. Note: The historical data listed is informational and can vary based on the number of credit hours students earn, local wage conditions and other factors.
Base salary and outlook
- Median annual earnings: $48,276.80 ($23.21/hour) in May 2021. Median wage $55,560 ($26.71/hour). (US Department of Labor)
- MO Annual Mean Wage: $59,180 ($28.45/hour)
- KS Annual Mean Wage: $51,840
- Demand: Employment of medical records and health information technicians is projected to grow 17% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Professional certification/licensure
The Health Information Management Program is a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree (A.A.S.) where upon graduating from the program the student is eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credentialing exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Joining AHIMA as a student offers many benefits as outlined in the video .
Program admission
There is an application process for acceptance to the program beyond the standard MCC admissions application. There are prerequisites required for the program that must be completed for consideration for acceptance. This is a four semester program offering evening classes on-ground, online, and virtual/hybrid. Virtual classes require the students to log into the class at the assigned time. The program starts in August and accepts approximately 25 students per class cohort.
Steps to apply
- Complete all required prerequisite courses to include: HIM 100 Medical Terminology, HLSC 108 Anatomy and Physiology for Health Professions OR BIOL 109 Human Anatomy and Physiology OR BIOL 110 Human Anatomy AND BIOL 210 Human Physiology, ENGL101 Composition and Reading I and HLSC100 Introduction to Health Professions only if you are not transferring in 12 or more college credits.
- Download the program application packet; HIM Application/Admission Packet (PDF) and follow the directions carefully. Be sure to note all of the program requirements.
- If applicable, apply for financial aid. The federal financial aid application (FAFSA) is also available online.
Program acceptance
The student will be contacted in May advising if the student is accepted into the program. If the student is still in the process of obtaining their prerequisite courses, DO apply by April 30. After the posting of the grades the student will receive the formal program acceptance letter in May.
Students accepted into the program will work directly with the program coordinator to determine next steps. Students not accepted into the program should contact the Student Advising Department or the Health Science Institute to determine next steps.
Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM)
The health information management accreditor of MCC-Penn Valley is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The College's accreditation for an Associate degree in Applied Science in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2027-2028. 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.
Three-year program outcomes
| Graduation Year | Retention Rates | Graduation Rates | Exam Passing Rates | Employed in Healthcare Related Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benchmark 82% |
Benchmark 80% |
Benchmark 80% |
Benchmark 80% |
|
| 2020 | 100% | 100% | 100% those reported | 100% those reported |
| 2021 | 100% | 100% | 75% those reported | 53% those reported |
| 2022 | 100% | 100% | 100% those reported | 63.6% those reported |
Program costs
| Health Info Management A.A.S. | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 75.5-76.5 credit hours |
| In-district: $121/credit hour |
$9135.50 - 9256.50 |
| Out-of-district $237/credit hour |
$17,893.50 - 18,130.50 |
| Out-of-state $320/credit hour |
$24,160.00 - 24,480 |
| Program Fees | total cost - used/new |
| *Textbooks | $1,000 - 1,800 |
| FCSR | $15 |
| Immunizations | Costs will vary |
| Clinical Student Tracking System | $140 |
*Approximate cost
Total approximate cost of the health information management program (in-district):
A.A.S. - $11,089.53
Approximate cost/semester (in-district):
HIM - $2,772.38