NEW

PROGRAM PROPOSAL

WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY

Submission Date: October 26, 2009

College: Health Professions

Department: Health Administrative Services

Program Title: Health Information Management, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

1.   Complete Program Description

Present the complete, formal program description.

This program focuses on health care data and the management of health care information resources. The program addresses the nature and structure of health data and the translation of that data into usable forms of information which support the health care of individuals and populations. HIM professionals collect, integrate, and analyze primary and secondary collections of data and manage information resources related to the research, planning, provision, and evaluation of health care services. This post-baccalaureate certificate provides students that already have a Bachelors degree the ability to build on previous education to develop the skills necessary to be an effective leader in health information management. The program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to become self-directed learners who possess critical-thinking skills and problem-solving abilities, communication and interpersonal skills, a commitment to life-long learning, and important ethical values. The HIM emphasis is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education, making students eligible to write the national credentialing exam of the AHIMA, the Registered Health Information Administrator.

2.   Purpose of Degree

Summarize why the institution should offer this degree and the expected outcomes.

The purpose of this Institutional Certificate in Health Information Management is to provide an avenue for individuals with an existing bachelors degree or higher to be eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).  This post-baccalaureate certificate program in HIM will also allow displaced workers with a BS/BA degree from other industries to transition into the healthcare industry with a minimal amount of retraining. 

3.   Institutional Readiness

Describe how the existing administrative structures support the proposed program and identify new organizational structures that may be needed to deliver the program.  Describe how the proposed program will or will not impact the delivery of either undergraduate or lower-division education.

The intention is to deliver this program through continuing education and independent study allowing for self-supported funding.

4.   Faculty

Identify the need for additional faculty required in each of the first five years of the program.  State the level of preparedness of current faculty and the level of preparedness that will be needed by the fifth year.  Clearly state the proportion of regular full-time, tenure track faculty to part-time and non-tenure contract faculty.  Describe the faculty development procedures that will support this program.  See Requirements in the Institutional Readiness Section.

At first, the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM will draw on the faculty resources currently available through the HAS department.  The Post-Bac Certificate in HIM will be housed in the Department of Health Administrative Services (HAS) in the Dumke College of Health Professions at Weber State University. HAS and College faculty have been preparing themselves for the certificate program in HIM over the past few years.  The HIM program director has served on the Board of Directors for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for the past three years.  AHIMA is the parent organization for the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).  CAHIIM is the accrediting organization for the HIM programs in the United States.

Because this program is being designed for independent study delivery the faculty need for the program are challenging to estimate. HIM faculty, Pat Shaw, M.Ed, Heather Merkley, M.Ed, and Darcy Carter (will complete an MHA degree in Spring, 2010) will be able to cover the majority of the courses.   Ms. Carter currently holds a half time position.  HAS faculty Lloyd Burton, D.M., David Wyant, Ph.D., Richard Dahlkemper, Ph.D., and Cory Moss, ABD or other existing program adjuncts will be used to teach courses as needed in the certificate program.  If the program grows faster than our projections, the first step will be to bring Ms. Carter up to a fulltime position and then possibly add another fulltime faculty member in year four or five. Additional faculty members will be covered by the revenue generated by the program.

5.   Staff

List all additional staff needed to support the program in each of the first five years; e.g., administrative, secretarial, clerical, laboratory aides/instructors, advisors.

In order for the needs of the students and faculty to be met, one individual will be hired within the second or third year of the program to advise students on admissions, financial aid and tuition, course scheduling and registration, internships, and other significant needs.  The HAS department enjoys the services of one fulltime secretary.

6.   Library and Information Resources

Describe library resources required to offer the proposed program.  Does the institution currently have the needed library resources?

The program has a dedicated resource lab that features nine PC workstations.  Each of these workstations has discipline-specific software for student use.  These software programs are also available via Internet access with the use of Citrix connection software.  The Internet access allows up to 20 students at any one time to access these programs. 

      Due to the nature of the program, library resources and online databases are more than adequate.

7.   Admission Requirements

List admission requirements specific to the proposed program.

        Bachelors degree and completed application to the program.

8.   Student Advisement

Describe the advising procedure for students in the proposed program.

The student advisement process used currently for bachelors’ students will be adapted for the Post-Bac HIM students.  Upon receipt of program application, student transcripts will be reviewed and an academic contract will be developed for each student.  Students will be advised on which of the courses they will need to take based on their previous degree.

9.   Justification for Graduation Standards and Number of Credits

Provide graduation standards. Provide justification if number of credits or clock hours exceeds 63 for AA or AS, 69 for AAS, 126 credit hours for BA or BS; and 36 beyond the baccalaureate for MS.

This institutional certificate program requires a maximum of 30 credits, post bachelors degree to be awarded.  A minimum of 10 semester credit hours must be completed in residence at Weber State University. Military credit, special examination, experiential credits and credits awarded by department decision will not qualify for residential hours.


 

10. External Review and Accreditation

Indicate whether any external consultants, either in- or out-of-state, were involved in the development of the proposed program, and describe the nature of that involvement.  For a career and technical education program, list the members and describe the activities of the program advisory committee.  Indicate any special professional accreditation which will be sought and how that accreditation will impact the program.  Project a future date for a possible accreditation review; indicate how close the institution is to achieving the requirements, and what the costs will be to achieve them.

No external consultants were involved in the development of this proposal. 

      Members of the HIM program advisory committee include:

Nancy Baxter, RHIA

Director, Health Information Management

Intermountain Medical Center

Tifini Corbin, M.Ed, RHIA

HIM Manager, Ogden Regional Medical Center

Larry Dean, RHIT

Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

Health Information Department

University of Utah Health Sciences Center

Xydell Hobbs, RHIT

Director and Privacy Officer, Health Information Management

Ogden Regional Medical Center

Lori McCrary, RHIA

Director, Health Information Management

Davis Hospital and Medical Center

Stephani Scott, RHIT, CPC

Director, Collaboration and Design

NextGen Healthcare Systems

Mary Staub, RHIA

Corporate Director, Health Information Services

Intermountain Health Care

Marcus Trinite, MHA, RHIA

Director, Health Information Management

Evanston Regional Medical Center

This post-baccalaureate certificate program will be automatically included in the existing BS degree HAS Health Information Management program accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

11. Projected Enrollment

12. Expansion of Existing Program

If the proposed program is an expansion or extension of an existing program, present enrollment trends by headcount and by student credit hours (if appropriate) produced in the current program for each of the past five years for each area of emphasis or concentration.

      This is a new program.

Need

13. Program Need

Clearly indicate why such a program should be initiated.

The industry demand for health information management professionals is on a steady incline and there has been significant interest from individuals with a BS/BA degree already that are interested in earning the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification.  Students must graduate with a post-baccalaureate certificate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited bachelors program to be eligible for the RHIA certification.  The HAS Health Information Management (HIM) program’s only option at this time is to offer them a second degree, however because of the way our curriculum is configured (2 +2) this is considerably more credits than the University requirement of 30 additional credits.  Weber State University offers the only accredited associate and bachelor degree programs in Health Information Management in the state of Utah.   The student’s previous BS/BA degree, work experience along with this certificate program will adequately prepare them for the RHIA certification exam and the HIM work environment.

14. Labor Market Demand

Include local, state, and national data, and job placement information, the types of jobs graduates have obtained from similar programs.  Indicate future impact on the program should market demand change. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA Public Law 111-5) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), the “Stimulus Law” was signed on February 17, 2009 by President Obama and provides $19.2 billion in spending on health IT.  Because of this increased attention by federal government, the demand for certified health information management professionals is greater than ever.  A very conservative estimate is that we will need at least 75,000 more health information management professionals over the next four years. That number multiplies greatly once you include the more technical professions (health information technologists) and extrapolate through end of the next decade (2019). This is an urgent matter. These well-paying, professional jobs cannot be exported overseas or concentrated into a couple of geographic marketplaces.

This post-baccalaureate certificate program in HIM will also allow displaced workers with a BS/BA degree from other industries to transition into the healthcare industry with a minimal amount of retraining. 

Program graduates have earned positions as hospital HIM department directors, corporate compliance managers, corporate HIM manager, workflow implementation specialist, and project managers.

Community leaders of the health information management industry, including those who sit on the advisory committee of the Health Information Management programs, have indicated their support for and interest in a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM. Note letters of support attached to this proposal.

15. Student Demand

Describe evidence of student interest and demand that supports potential program enrollment.

The HIM program director has been contacted by numerous potential students requesting this program in the past two years.  Interest has been high from professionals with others bachelors degree wanting to obtain their Registered Health Information Administrator credential without earning a second bachelors degree.  In the past six months alone the program director has been contacted by over 12 individuals who would be interested in this program if approved.

The HIM program advisory committee was very supportive of this program development.  Each of the members of this committee was aware of individuals who would benefit from this program.

16. Similar Programs

Are similar programs offered elsewhere in the state or Intermountain Region?  If yes, cite justifications for why the Regents should approve another program.  How does the proposed program differ from similar program(s)?  Be specific.

Weber State University offers the only accredited associate and bachelor degree programs in Health Information Management in the state of Utah.  This Post Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM program would also be the only one offered in the state.  Western Governors University is in the candidacy stage for a bachelor’s degree in HIM program, but not a post-baccalaureate certificate program.  There are currently 52 accredited bachelor degree programs in the United States, 15 of which have post-baccalaureate certificate programs. There is only one other program in the planning stages of developing a post-baccalaureate certificate program, and the other 35 programs with no plans to offer or develop a post-baccalaureate certificate program.

Other bachelors degree programs in the Intermountain West include:

Regis University, Denver, CO

Other post-baccalaureate programs in the Western US include:

Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

17. Collaboration with and Impact on Other USHE Institutions

Describe discussions with other USHE institutions that are already offering the program that have occurred regarding your institution’s intent to offer the proposed program.  Include any collaborative efforts that may have been proposed.  Analyze the impact that the new program would have on other USHE institutions.

None at this time.  This program should not have any impact on other USHE institutions as Weber’s program is the only accredited program in the state.

18. Benefits

State how the institution and the USHE benefit by offering the proposed program. 

Weber State University and USHE will benefit from this program as it will offer a flexible delivery option for students to achieve this education and ultimately professional certification as a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) at the student’s own pace. Because it will be offered through continuing education as a web-enhanced independent study program, it is funded through self-support and available to students in any location at any time. This program will help fulfill a significant need for more credentialed health information managers in the region.

19. Consistency with Institutional Mission

Explain how the program is consistent with and appropriate to the institution’s Regents’ approved mission, roles, and goals.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management (HIM) is certainly a fit with Weber State University. Currently, WSU offers an associate and bachelors degree in health information management. These undergraduate degrees are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and are the only such degree in the State of Utah. The HIM degrees are offered through the Dumke College of Health Professions at WSU, a college that is known throughout the United States for its quality education programs in allied health and health information management.

Faculty members currently working in the HIM/HAS program have significant experience in health care education as well as time spent as industry leaders, with specific experience in health information management and hospital administration.

Ultimately, the WSU Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM will be designed to support individuals with a previous BS/BA degree that interest in or are already working in the health information management field.  These individuals also have a esire to earn the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential to advance in their careers.

Program and Student Assessment

Program assessment and performance standards information, which is required for Regents’ review, will serve as information only during University Curriculum Committee review.

20. Program Assessment

State the goals for the program and the measures that will be used in the program assessment procedure to determine if goals are being met.

Program Goals:

1.  To provide a pool of qualified students with entry-level knowledge & skills defined by AHIMA for Health Information Administrators.

2. Faculty will demonstrate current HIM knowledge and skills as teaching expertise and professional role models.

3. To build strong alliances with its diverse HIM community of interest.

Program Measures:

A. 80% of all HIM graduates taking the RHIA certification examination will pass on the first writing.

B. 80% or more of the responses on the HIM graduate/exit surveys will show good to excellent preparation for their current position.

C. 80% or more of the subject areas of the graduate/exit surveys will show that instruction was satisfactory.

D.  Employers will express adequate to excellent competence or unimportant regarding HIM skills expected of entry-level health information administrators.

E. 100% of professional practice experience sites selected will demonstrate good to excellent in instruction and adherence with instructional objectives.

F. 90% of HIM Course Evaluation forms will indicate HIM faculty performance is good to excellent.

G. Director/faculty teaching HIM courses will attend relevant professional development activities to keep knowledge and skill current.

21. Expected Standards of Performance

List the standards and competencies that the student will have met and achieved at the time of graduation.  How or why were these standards and competencies chosen?  Include formative and summative assessment measures you will use to determine student learning.

Students completing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in HIM are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification examination.  This exam consists of these six major domains or entry-level competencies:  Health Data Management; Health Statistics and Research Support; Information Technology and Systems; Organization and Management; Privacy, Security, and Confidentiality; and Legal and Regulatory Standards.  The entire certificate program has been designed with these domains in mind.  Faculty will use a mock certification exam as part of the students’ last course in the program to assess their mastery of these competencies.  Within each course, faculty will use quizzes, projects, skill-building application assignments and examinations to assess students.

Program Curriculum

22. All Program Courses

List all courses, including new courses, to be offered in the proposed program by prefix, number, title, and credit hours.

23. New Courses to be Added in the Next Five Years

New courses will not be added unless there are curricular changes from the external accrediting program.

INFORMATION PAGE

Did this program proposal receive unanimous approval within the Department? _yes___   If not, what are the major concerns raised by the opponents?

Explain how this program will differ from similar offerings by other departments.  Also explain any effects this proposal will have on program requirements or enrollments in other departments including the Bachelor of Integrated Studies Program.  In the case of similar offerings or affected programs, you should include letters from the departments in question stating their support or opposition to the proposed program.

Note email correspondence of support from Marie Kotter, Chair, Health Sciences and Greg Anderson, Chair, Computer Sciences for specific courses that overlap their curriculum.

A Master’s Degree program must have a minimum of 30 credit hours with a maximum of 36 credit hours.

 Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Integrated Studies must have a minimum of 120 credit hours with a program maximum of 126 hours (This is a state system-wide requirement). Exceptions for the maximum number of program hours are allowed if accreditation issues require a set number of courses within a given program, i.e. Dental Hygiene, Nursing, Radiology.

An Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science must have a minimum of 60 credit hours with a program maximum of 63 credit hours. An Associate of Applied Science must have a minimum of 63 credit hours with a program maximum of 69 credit hours.

Major programs that require a minor will consist of not fewer than 30 credits and not more than 48 credits in the major field. Major programs that do not require a minor shall consist of not more than 63 credits in the major field.

A minor is a program of study generally selected to complement and strengthen a student’s major  and/or enrich the student’s overall educational program.  A minor consists of not fewer than 15 credits.  Courses that are used to satisfy the general education requirements can be used as part of the minimum number of hours needed for the minor requirements, unless prohibited by a particular college or department.

Indicate the number of credit hours for course work within the proposed program. (Do not include credit hours for General Education, SI, Diversity, or other courses unless those courses fulfill requirements within the proposed program.)     _____30______