Request More Information

Download the degree guide for details on admission requirements, tuition, and courses.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

UW-Green Bay
UW-Parkside
UW-Stevens Point

Health Information Management and Health IT in One Online Degree 

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology (HIMT) is one of the only 100% online programs that includes courses in health information management (HIM) and health information technology (HIT). New regulations and technologies are changing the roles and educational requirements of health information professionals to include not only the governance of health information but the use and application of technology. As a student in the UW HIMT program, you’ll learn the skills needed to succeed in today’s technology-focused healthcare environments. 

 Gain skills in: 

  • Human resources management
  • Financial and resource management
  • Strategic planning and organizational development 
  • Programming and data structures 
  • Data, information, and storage structures
  • Data security 
  • Information and communication technologies 

Ultimately, you’ll learn how to expertly manage electronic health data and build the software and systems needed to manage, retrieve, and analyze that data to improve the future of healthcare delivery and patient care. 

RELATED: HIM or HIT: Which Path is Right for You?

HIMT: A Degree in Demand 

The career outlook for health information management and health IT professionals is bright. Advancements in technology have led to an evolution and expansion of the health information workforce. 

Employment opportunities for medical records and health information specialists are expected to increase 17 percent between 2021 and 2031, while medical and health services manager jobs, which includes health information management, is expected to increase 28 percent. Combined, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts nearly 75,000 job openings in related occupations each year over the next decade

Who Should Apply?

The UW HIMT program is a smart choice for busy adult learners who want to advance their careers in health information while balancing work, family, and other commitments. Courses are 100% online and can be completed on your schedule and from anywhere in the world. As a bachelor’s completion program, the HIMT degree is a great option for anyone with existing, transferable college credits who wants to complete their degree. Find more information on transferring credits here.

Interested in earning your Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) credential? The UW HIMT degree program is CAHIIM accredited, which qualifies graduates to sit for the RHIA exam. 

Discover Exciting, High Paying Career Opportunities 

A UW HIMT degree can be the foundation for a variety of positions, such as: health information manager, supervisory health system specialist, informaticist, director of analytics, coding specialist, data management and analytic specialist, medical staff services specialist, and clinical documentation improvement specialist, just to name a few.  

RELATED: Our HIMT Students

UW System Collaboration

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology is a partnership of UW Extended Campus and UW-Green Bay, UW-Parkside, and UW-Stevens Point, giving you access to the best talent and resources of the UW System. You will take courses taught by esteemed faculty from each partner campus, who contribute diverse expertise from fields including nursing, public health, information systems, biology, economics, and computer science. Learn more about our campus partners and choosing a home campus.

Accreditations 

University of Wisconsin institutions offering the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Higher Learning Commission. The program has been approved by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

CAHIIM 

The UW HIMT degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) at UW-Green Bay, UW-Parkside, and UW-Stevens Point. Completing a CAHIIM-accredited program qualifies you to sit for industry credentialing exams such as the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) offered by American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). 

RELATED: CAHIIM Accreditation and its Benefits for Students: Explained 

HIMSS 

As a result of meeting the Healthcare Information and Management System Society’s (HIMSS) rigorous standards for quality health IT or healthcare education, the UW Health Information Management and Technology program has been named an Approved Education Partner and Academic Organizational Affiliate of HIMSS.

To be eligible for the UW Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology students must meet the following requirements:

  • Approximately 45-60 transferable general education credits with a 2.0 minimum grade point average (GPA). There are options available for those who do not meet this general education requirement, such as potentially taking them through your chosen home campus or through one of these associate degrees.  Please contact an enrollment adviser for more information.
  • Prerequisite coursework in college algebra, communications, and biology; anatomy and physiology suggested but not required
  • Official college transcripts

Application Deadlines

All application materials need to be completed two weeks prior to the semester start to be considered for admission. Starting your application early will help ensure you have plenty of time to gather required materials (such as transcripts), transfer credits, apply for financial aid, and complete the University of Wisconsin System Online Admission Application.

How to Apply

While you are free to apply on your own, many prospective students find it helpful to speak with an enrollment adviser first.

Step 1. Select a “home” campus: UW-Green Bay, UW-Parkside, or UW-Stevens Point. Learn more about our campus partners and choosing a home campus. 

Step 2. Apply to your preferred home campus using the University of Wisconsin System Online Admission Application. Choose the “Health Information Mngt&Tech-Collaborative” program. There is no application fee for all undergraduate degree seeking applicants (domestic and international).

Step 3. Send official college transcripts from all institutions attended directly to the home campus admissions office to which you are applying.  If you have an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or equivalent coursework, the ACT or SAT is not required.

Formal admission to the program will be determined by the campus to which you apply. 

International Guidelines

This program welcomes online students from around the world. Online students do not qualify for an F-1 Student Visa to travel to the U.S. but instead can participate in our online courses remotely. If your native language is not English and/or you attended school outside of the U.S., you will likely need to provide proof of English language proficiency and an official translation or evaluation of academic transcripts. Requirements will vary based on a student’s academic history and home campus policies. For guidance about these requirements and how they apply to your specific situation contact your preferred home campus admissions office.

If you would like to apply as an International Student for an on-campus program in the UW System please refer to these resources through UW-HELP.

The UW HIMT Program Curriculum 

The 100% online Health Information Management and Technology program is a bachelor’s completion program, which means you can combine existing, transferable general education credits with the required HIMT courses, to complete your bachelor’s degree. 

Two Tracks. One Degree. 100% Online. 

The HIMT curriculum offers two tracks: Health Information Technology and Health Information Management. All HIMT students take 15 core courses, 4 track courses, a 1 credit capstone prep course and final capstone project course to finish the program, completing 21 courses for a total of 61 credits. There are no electives. Graduates will earn a concentration in Health Information Technology OR Health Information Management. 

  • 15 core courses (3 credits each)
  • 4 track courses (3 credits each)
  • 1 Capstone prep course (1 credit)
  • 1 Capstone project course (3 credits)

>>Take a look at UW HIMT course: HIMT 430: Quality Assessment and Improvement 

Core Courses

CourseCredits

This course provides an overview of medical clinical workflow, with emphasis on inter-professional electronic documentation and functionalities of the electronic health record (EHR). Through hands-on experience, this course advances the students’ understanding of the electronic health record, health IT policies, data and database management systems in support of the EHR.

HIMT 301 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course provides an overview of how healthcare and public health are organized and how their services are delivered in the United States. Topics to be covered include public policy (including U.S. health reform initiatives); organization of healthcare systems; components and operation of healthcare organizations, including e-health delivery; professional roles and accreditation; and legal and regulatory issues, including licensure requirements.

HIMT 310 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course surveys essential healthcare information technologies that are used for delivering and documenting healthcare services. Popular healthcare information systems include electronic medical record systems that keep record of patients’ history; the computerized provider order-entry systems that record the history of the procurement of medications and other services; telemedicine, which allows doctors to deliver patient care from a distance; telehealth e-prescribing, which prescribes medicine electronically; medication administration, which keeps information for medical doctors and other hospital staff members; and nursing and ancillary service systems.

This course requires the purchase of  EHRGo, a certified electronic medical records system.

HIMT 320 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course will examine specific terminology and vocabulary used healthcare providers and support staff. The focus of this course is on medical terminology which covers human anatomy and physiology, body systems, and diagnoses and procedures. The structure of medical terms will be examined—such as prefixes, suffixes, roots, and combined forms. Topics will also include healthcare taxonomies and nomenclatures (ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, etc.).

Prerequisite(s): College biology or equivalent

HIMT 330 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course introduces three broad subjects: (1) evidence-based medical ethics pertaining to healthcare information management; (2) framework of healthcare information security management, including security principles, policies and procedures, security management models, risk assessment, and protection mechanisms; (3) healthcare regulations and compliance with focuses on the legislative systems, policies, and legal environment of healthcare in the U.S. and the existing health information laws, regulations, and standards. Also addressed are the elements and development of compliance programs.

HIMT 340 course syllabus

3 Credits

This is an introductory course in statistical methods for the health sciences. The course will emphasize the principles of statistical reasoning, underlying assumptions, hypothesis testing, and careful interpretation of results. Some topics covered: major study designs, descriptive statistics, graphical displays of data, probability, confidence intervals and tests for means, differences of means, sample size and power, differences of proportions, chi-square tests for categorical variables, regression, multiple regression, and non-parametric statistics.

Prerequisite(s): College algebra or equivalent

HIMT 350 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course further investigates the topics covered in HIMT 330 Health Care I: Terminology and Body Systems. On the basis of each body system, the course will further expand into the topics of human disease, human health issues, and classification of disease/health issues, including diagnostics, treatment, and clinical procedures that are currently in practice. In addition, the course will incorporate pharmacotherapeutic concepts (drugs and therapies to treat/prevent/control human disease/health issues), investigating the variety of drugs used for disease treatment for each body system. This will include the current biologicals that are used for treatment. Topics will include how the drugs and biologicals work, their limitations, and the current diversity of available drugs and biologicals.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 330 Healthcare I: Terminology and Body Systems

HIMT 360 course syllabus

3 Credits

This is the first course in a two-course sequence that addresses methods and techniques of healthcare information system analysis and design as performed within the system development life cycle. Included will be techniques for problem definition, requirements gathering, analysis, logical design, and selection and evaluation of alternative healthcare information systems solutions from the point of view of the health provider and user. An emphasis is placed on analysis, selection, and evaluation of information systems as they relate to healthcare.

This course requires the purchase of EHRGo, a certified electronic medical records system.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301

HIMT 370 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course examines the coding and reimbursement connection; topics include managed care plans, prospective payment systems, Medicare-Medicaid reimbursement, Resource-Based Relative Value Scale, case mix management, and revenue cycle management.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 330 Healthcare I: Terminology and Body Systems; and HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 380 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course explores the sources and data contents of healthcare information as well as the proper presentation of it for different usage levels. Topics addressed include: (1) data structure and use of health information (individual, comparative, and aggregate), (2) type and content of health record, (3) data quality assessment, (4) secondary data sources, (5) healthcare data sets, (6) health information archival systems, and (7) National Healthcare Information Infrastructure (NHII). The course will also cover topics in bioinformatics.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 400 course syllabus

3 Credits

Covers the back-end stages of healthcare systems development life cycle through the procurement route: development of technical design specifications, procurement procedures (RFP, RFQ, vendor evaluation and selection, and contracting), systems configuration and integration, installation, conversion, operation, and maintenance. Pre-installation testing and post-conversion auditing and monitoring will be emphasized to address the upcoming requirements of federal certification of EHR systems.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301 and HIMT 370 Healthcare Systems: Analysis and Design

HIMT 410 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course addresses the phenomenal impact information system (IS) projects have had on healthcare delivery. Students learn how healthcare IS projects affect organizations, doctors, patients, and chronic-illness treatments, as well as individuals interested in managing their own healthcare. Concepts and tools for effective healthcare IS project management, process re-engineering, and work redesign are introduced. The purpose of this course is to expose students to IS project management activities in healthcare settings. Topics covered include recent healthcare IS project trends, budgeting, scheduling, resource management, scope, risk analysis, and deployment controls. The genesis of healthcare project management is covered using specific cases and examples.

HIMT 420 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course examines the quality assessment and quality improvement cycle (plan, do, check, act) and the role of the HIT/HIM professional in the process. Tools used in quality and risk management processes will be examined.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 350 Statistics for Healthcare

HIMT 430 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course introduces students to the necessary group/team processes that are at the root of building, developing, and maintaining medical/healthcare work teams and the effective functioning of such teams. The course also provides an overview of leadership development techniques. Also included is a focus on the uses of various communication technologies in the team-building and functioning processes.

HIMT 440 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course will be an introduction to healthcare information technology standards, including standards and regulations for documentation, and will cover health information standards. The course will also investigate software applications and enterprise architecture in healthcare and public health organizations.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 400: Healthcare Information and Technology—Data

HIMT 450 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course is designed to help each student prepare for the capstone course and complete all required paperwork for submission in a timely manner. In addition to being an orientation to the capstone, the pre-capstone course serves as an RHIA/CAHIMS exam prep course. View our map of capstone sites for a list of participating capstone organizations.

Capstone Project ideas

Prerequisite(s): At least one semester prior to being eligible to enroll in the capstone

HIMT 489 course syllabus

1 Credits

This course is the capstone course for both tracks of the degree program. Students are required to find an internship site that is related to healthcare and set up a semester-long project from which they can gain hands-on experience in the areas of their concentration. Project setup will be jointly done by the student, site sponsor, and the faculty of this course, whereas internship supervision will be performed by the site supervisor and the course instructor.

For inspiration and ideas, explore past capstone projects.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 420 Healthcare Systems: Project Management

Last semester of study/last course before graduation/can be concurrent; approval from academic adviser and pre-capstone coordinator

HIMT 490 course syllabus

3 Credits

Health Information Management

CourseCredits

This course provides an overview of basic principles involved in management and communication. Topics include basic management principles, communication skills, interpersonal communication competence, negotiation technique, team/consensus building, professional development, and problem solving/decision-making processes.

HIMT 355 course syllabus

3 Credits

Applications of microeconomic theory to analyze the behavior of health and healthcare markets. Topics will include: supply and demand of healthcare services, private health insurance markets, government provision of healthcare services and health insurance, and healthcare policy.

HIMT 365 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course examines the role of the HIM professional in managing human resources to facilitate staff recruitment, retention, and supervision.

HIMT 415 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course assimilates and integrates concepts and applications of management and leadership in healthcare, advancing on the topics covered in HIMT 355, 365, and 415. Topics will include strategic leadership concepts, exploring key factors that impact management and planning, change management, and critical organizational behaviors for leadership and management, focusing on best practices, organizational accountability, and assessment models.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 355 Principles of Management for HIMT Professionals; HIMT 365 Healthcare Economics; and HIMT 415 Human Resource Management in Healthcare

HIMT 445 course syllabus

3 Credits

Health Information Technology

CourseCredits

Fundamental concepts of programming using a contemporary data analysis language. Topics include variables, conditional execution, functions and methods, iteration, strings, files, and data structures. Applications will be taken from the Healthcare Information Systems.

HIMT 345 course syllabus

3 Credits

Analyze and design databases to support computer-based information systems. Develop and implement relational database management systems using SQL. Topics include: data-modeling techniques such as entity-relationship modeling, extended entity-relationship modeling, database constraints, database normalization techniques, and basic and advanced features of database query language SQL, etc.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 345 Programming and Software Development

HIMT 375 course syllabus

3 Credits

Examine the concept of the data warehouse and its effectiveness in supporting strategic decision making. Address the process of creating data warehouse/data-mart solutions from the identification of the enterprise informational and analytical needs to producing business intelligence by extracting information from the data warehouse by using data-mining methods and models.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 375 Database Structures and Management Systems

HIMT 425 course syllabus

3 Credits

This course provides fundamentals of data communications and networking techniques, and examines the linkage of information technology strategies and technological solutions enabling effective communication within and between healthcare organizations. Major topics include fundamental concepts of data communications and applications, network communication devices, basic technologies of the local-area network, wireless local-area network, wide-area network, Internet and the Web, the OSI stack, healthcare information systems standards, and the HIE, RHIN, and NHIN.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301

HIMT 435 course syllabus

3 Credits

Course availability for the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology varies each fall, spring, and summer. Course offerings are subject to change due to fluctuating enrollment. If you are a current student, please consult with your campus adviser prior to registration.

If the current semester is open for enrollment, admitted students may request permission numbers.

Spring 2024

Course Preview Week: January 16 - January 22, 2024
Semester Dates: January 23 - May 03, 2024

Core Courses

This course provides an overview of medical clinical workflow, with emphasis on inter-professional electronic documentation and functionalities of the electronic health record (EHR). Through hands-on experience, this course advances the students’ understanding of the electronic health record, health IT policies, data and database management systems in support of the EHR.

HIMT 301 course syllabus

This course provides an overview of how healthcare and public health are organized and how their services are delivered in the United States. Topics to be covered include public policy (including U.S. health reform initiatives); organization of healthcare systems; components and operation of healthcare organizations, including e-health delivery; professional roles and accreditation; and legal and regulatory issues, including licensure requirements.

HIMT 310 course syllabus

This course will examine specific terminology and vocabulary used healthcare providers and support staff. The focus of this course is on medical terminology which covers human anatomy and physiology, body systems, and diagnoses and procedures. The structure of medical terms will be examined—such as prefixes, suffixes, roots, and combined forms. Topics will also include healthcare taxonomies and nomenclatures (ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, etc.).

Prerequisite(s): College biology or equivalent

HIMT 330 course syllabus

This course introduces three broad subjects: (1) evidence-based medical ethics pertaining to healthcare information management; (2) framework of healthcare information security management, including security principles, policies and procedures, security management models, risk assessment, and protection mechanisms; (3) healthcare regulations and compliance with focuses on the legislative systems, policies, and legal environment of healthcare in the U.S. and the existing health information laws, regulations, and standards. Also addressed are the elements and development of compliance programs.

HIMT 340 course syllabus

This is an introductory course in statistical methods for the health sciences. The course will emphasize the principles of statistical reasoning, underlying assumptions, hypothesis testing, and careful interpretation of results. Some topics covered: major study designs, descriptive statistics, graphical displays of data, probability, confidence intervals and tests for means, differences of means, sample size and power, differences of proportions, chi-square tests for categorical variables, regression, multiple regression, and non-parametric statistics.

Prerequisite(s): College algebra or equivalent

HIMT 350 course syllabus

This is the first course in a two-course sequence that addresses methods and techniques of healthcare information system analysis and design as performed within the system development life cycle. Included will be techniques for problem definition, requirements gathering, analysis, logical design, and selection and evaluation of alternative healthcare information systems solutions from the point of view of the health provider and user. An emphasis is placed on analysis, selection, and evaluation of information systems as they relate to healthcare.

This course requires the purchase of EHRGo, a certified electronic medical records system.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301

HIMT 370 course syllabus

This course examines the coding and reimbursement connection; topics include managed care plans, prospective payment systems, Medicare-Medicaid reimbursement, Resource-Based Relative Value Scale, case mix management, and revenue cycle management.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 330 Healthcare I: Terminology and Body Systems; and HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 380 course syllabus

This course explores the sources and data contents of healthcare information as well as the proper presentation of it for different usage levels. Topics addressed include: (1) data structure and use of health information (individual, comparative, and aggregate), (2) type and content of health record, (3) data quality assessment, (4) secondary data sources, (5) healthcare data sets, (6) health information archival systems, and (7) National Healthcare Information Infrastructure (NHII). The course will also cover topics in bioinformatics.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 400 course syllabus

This course addresses the phenomenal impact information system (IS) projects have had on healthcare delivery. Students learn how healthcare IS projects affect organizations, doctors, patients, and chronic-illness treatments, as well as individuals interested in managing their own healthcare. Concepts and tools for effective healthcare IS project management, process re-engineering, and work redesign are introduced. The purpose of this course is to expose students to IS project management activities in healthcare settings. Topics covered include recent healthcare IS project trends, budgeting, scheduling, resource management, scope, risk analysis, and deployment controls. The genesis of healthcare project management is covered using specific cases and examples.

HIMT 420 course syllabus

This course examines the quality assessment and quality improvement cycle (plan, do, check, act) and the role of the HIT/HIM professional in the process. Tools used in quality and risk management processes will be examined.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 350 Statistics for Healthcare

HIMT 430 course syllabus

This course introduces students to the necessary group/team processes that are at the root of building, developing, and maintaining medical/healthcare work teams and the effective functioning of such teams. The course also provides an overview of leadership development techniques. Also included is a focus on the uses of various communication technologies in the team-building and functioning processes.

HIMT 440 course syllabus

This course will be an introduction to healthcare information technology standards, including standards and regulations for documentation, and will cover health information standards. The course will also investigate software applications and enterprise architecture in healthcare and public health organizations.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 400: Healthcare Information and Technology—Data

HIMT 450 course syllabus

This course is designed to help each student prepare for the capstone course and complete all required paperwork for submission in a timely manner. In addition to being an orientation to the capstone, the pre-capstone course serves as an RHIA/CAHIMS exam prep course. View our map of capstone sites for a list of participating capstone organizations.

Capstone Project ideas

Prerequisite(s): At least one semester prior to being eligible to enroll in the capstone

HIMT 489 course syllabus

This course is the capstone course for both tracks of the degree program. Students are required to find an internship site that is related to healthcare and set up a semester-long project from which they can gain hands-on experience in the areas of their concentration. Project setup will be jointly done by the student, site sponsor, and the faculty of this course, whereas internship supervision will be performed by the site supervisor and the course instructor.

For inspiration and ideas, explore past capstone projects.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 420 Healthcare Systems: Project Management

Last semester of study/last course before graduation/can be concurrent; approval from academic adviser and pre-capstone coordinator

HIMT 490 course syllabus

Health Information Management

Applications of microeconomic theory to analyze the behavior of health and healthcare markets. Topics will include: supply and demand of healthcare services, private health insurance markets, government provision of healthcare services and health insurance, and healthcare policy.

HIMT 365 course syllabus

This course examines the role of the HIM professional in managing human resources to facilitate staff recruitment, retention, and supervision.

HIMT 415 course syllabus

Health Information Technology

Analyze and design databases to support computer-based information systems. Develop and implement relational database management systems using SQL. Topics include: data-modeling techniques such as entity-relationship modeling, extended entity-relationship modeling, database constraints, database normalization techniques, and basic and advanced features of database query language SQL, etc.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 345 Programming and Software Development

HIMT 375 course syllabus

This course provides fundamentals of data communications and networking techniques, and examines the linkage of information technology strategies and technological solutions enabling effective communication within and between healthcare organizations. Major topics include fundamental concepts of data communications and applications, network communication devices, basic technologies of the local-area network, wireless local-area network, wide-area network, Internet and the Web, the OSI stack, healthcare information systems standards, and the HIE, RHIN, and NHIN.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301

HIMT 435 course syllabus

Summer 2024

Request Permission Number

Course Preview Week: May 21 - May 27, 2024
Semester Dates: May 28 - August 09, 2024

Core Courses

This course is designed to help each student prepare for the capstone course and complete all required paperwork for submission in a timely manner. In addition to being an orientation to the capstone, the pre-capstone course serves as an RHIA/CAHIMS exam prep course. View our map of capstone sites for a list of participating capstone organizations.

Capstone Project ideas

Prerequisite(s): At least one semester prior to being eligible to enroll in the capstone

HIMT 489 course syllabus

This course is the capstone course for both tracks of the degree program. Students are required to find an internship site that is related to healthcare and set up a semester-long project from which they can gain hands-on experience in the areas of their concentration. Project setup will be jointly done by the student, site sponsor, and the faculty of this course, whereas internship supervision will be performed by the site supervisor and the course instructor.

For inspiration and ideas, explore past capstone projects.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 420 Healthcare Systems: Project Management

Last semester of study/last course before graduation/can be concurrent; approval from academic adviser and pre-capstone coordinator

HIMT 490 course syllabus

Health Information Management

This course provides an overview of basic principles involved in management and communication. Topics include basic management principles, communication skills, interpersonal communication competence, negotiation technique, team/consensus building, professional development, and problem solving/decision-making processes.

HIMT 355 course syllabus

Fall 2024

Registration Opens: April 08, 2024
Course Preview Week: August 27 - September 02, 2024
Semester Dates: September 03 - December 13, 2024

Core Courses

This course provides an overview of medical clinical workflow, with emphasis on inter-professional electronic documentation and functionalities of the electronic health record (EHR). Through hands-on experience, this course advances the students’ understanding of the electronic health record, health IT policies, data and database management systems in support of the EHR.

HIMT 301 course syllabus

This course introduces three broad subjects: (1) evidence-based medical ethics pertaining to healthcare information management; (2) framework of healthcare information security management, including security principles, policies and procedures, security management models, risk assessment, and protection mechanisms; (3) healthcare regulations and compliance with focuses on the legislative systems, policies, and legal environment of healthcare in the U.S. and the existing health information laws, regulations, and standards. Also addressed are the elements and development of compliance programs.

HIMT 340 course syllabus

This is an introductory course in statistical methods for the health sciences. The course will emphasize the principles of statistical reasoning, underlying assumptions, hypothesis testing, and careful interpretation of results. Some topics covered: major study designs, descriptive statistics, graphical displays of data, probability, confidence intervals and tests for means, differences of means, sample size and power, differences of proportions, chi-square tests for categorical variables, regression, multiple regression, and non-parametric statistics.

Prerequisite(s): College algebra or equivalent

HIMT 350 course syllabus

This course further investigates the topics covered in HIMT 330 Health Care I: Terminology and Body Systems. On the basis of each body system, the course will further expand into the topics of human disease, human health issues, and classification of disease/health issues, including diagnostics, treatment, and clinical procedures that are currently in practice. In addition, the course will incorporate pharmacotherapeutic concepts (drugs and therapies to treat/prevent/control human disease/health issues), investigating the variety of drugs used for disease treatment for each body system. This will include the current biologicals that are used for treatment. Topics will include how the drugs and biologicals work, their limitations, and the current diversity of available drugs and biologicals.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 330 Healthcare I: Terminology and Body Systems

HIMT 360 course syllabus

This course examines the coding and reimbursement connection; topics include managed care plans, prospective payment systems, Medicare-Medicaid reimbursement, Resource-Based Relative Value Scale, case mix management, and revenue cycle management.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 330 Healthcare I: Terminology and Body Systems; and HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 380 course syllabus

This course explores the sources and data contents of healthcare information as well as the proper presentation of it for different usage levels. Topics addressed include: (1) data structure and use of health information (individual, comparative, and aggregate), (2) type and content of health record, (3) data quality assessment, (4) secondary data sources, (5) healthcare data sets, (6) health information archival systems, and (7) National Healthcare Information Infrastructure (NHII). The course will also cover topics in bioinformatics.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 400 course syllabus

Covers the back-end stages of healthcare systems development life cycle through the procurement route: development of technical design specifications, procurement procedures (RFP, RFQ, vendor evaluation and selection, and contracting), systems configuration and integration, installation, conversion, operation, and maintenance. Pre-installation testing and post-conversion auditing and monitoring will be emphasized to address the upcoming requirements of federal certification of EHR systems.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301 and HIMT 370 Healthcare Systems: Analysis and Design

HIMT 410 course syllabus

This course examines the quality assessment and quality improvement cycle (plan, do, check, act) and the role of the HIT/HIM professional in the process. Tools used in quality and risk management processes will be examined.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 350 Statistics for Healthcare

HIMT 430 course syllabus

This course introduces students to the necessary group/team processes that are at the root of building, developing, and maintaining medical/healthcare work teams and the effective functioning of such teams. The course also provides an overview of leadership development techniques. Also included is a focus on the uses of various communication technologies in the team-building and functioning processes.

HIMT 440 course syllabus

This course will be an introduction to healthcare information technology standards, including standards and regulations for documentation, and will cover health information standards. The course will also investigate software applications and enterprise architecture in healthcare and public health organizations.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 400: Healthcare Information and Technology—Data

HIMT 450 course syllabus

This course is designed to help each student prepare for the capstone course and complete all required paperwork for submission in a timely manner. In addition to being an orientation to the capstone, the pre-capstone course serves as an RHIA/CAHIMS exam prep course. View our map of capstone sites for a list of participating capstone organizations.

Capstone Project ideas

Prerequisite(s): At least one semester prior to being eligible to enroll in the capstone

HIMT 489 course syllabus

This course is the capstone course for both tracks of the degree program. Students are required to find an internship site that is related to healthcare and set up a semester-long project from which they can gain hands-on experience in the areas of their concentration. Project setup will be jointly done by the student, site sponsor, and the faculty of this course, whereas internship supervision will be performed by the site supervisor and the course instructor.

For inspiration and ideas, explore past capstone projects.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 420 Healthcare Systems: Project Management

Last semester of study/last course before graduation/can be concurrent; approval from academic adviser and pre-capstone coordinator

HIMT 490 course syllabus

Health Information Management

This course provides an overview of basic principles involved in management and communication. Topics include basic management principles, communication skills, interpersonal communication competence, negotiation technique, team/consensus building, professional development, and problem solving/decision-making processes.

HIMT 355 course syllabus

This course assimilates and integrates concepts and applications of management and leadership in healthcare, advancing on the topics covered in HIMT 355, 365, and 415. Topics will include strategic leadership concepts, exploring key factors that impact management and planning, change management, and critical organizational behaviors for leadership and management, focusing on best practices, organizational accountability, and assessment models.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 355 Principles of Management for HIMT Professionals; HIMT 365 Healthcare Economics; and HIMT 415 Human Resource Management in Healthcare

HIMT 445 course syllabus

Health Information Technology

Fundamental concepts of programming using a contemporary data analysis language. Topics include variables, conditional execution, functions and methods, iteration, strings, files, and data structures. Applications will be taken from the Healthcare Information Systems.

HIMT 345 course syllabus

Examine the concept of the data warehouse and its effectiveness in supporting strategic decision making. Address the process of creating data warehouse/data-mart solutions from the identification of the enterprise informational and analytical needs to producing business intelligence by extracting information from the data warehouse by using data-mining methods and models.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 375 Database Structures and Management Systems

HIMT 425 course syllabus

Spring 2025

Registration Opens: November 11, 2024
Course Preview Week: January 21 - January 27, 2025
Semester Dates: January 28 - May 09, 2025

Core Courses

This course provides an overview of medical clinical workflow, with emphasis on inter-professional electronic documentation and functionalities of the electronic health record (EHR). Through hands-on experience, this course advances the students’ understanding of the electronic health record, health IT policies, data and database management systems in support of the EHR.

HIMT 301 course syllabus

This course provides an overview of how healthcare and public health are organized and how their services are delivered in the United States. Topics to be covered include public policy (including U.S. health reform initiatives); organization of healthcare systems; components and operation of healthcare organizations, including e-health delivery; professional roles and accreditation; and legal and regulatory issues, including licensure requirements.

HIMT 310 course syllabus

This course surveys essential healthcare information technologies that are used for delivering and documenting healthcare services. Popular healthcare information systems include electronic medical record systems that keep record of patients’ history; the computerized provider order-entry systems that record the history of the procurement of medications and other services; telemedicine, which allows doctors to deliver patient care from a distance; telehealth e-prescribing, which prescribes medicine electronically; medication administration, which keeps information for medical doctors and other hospital staff members; and nursing and ancillary service systems.

This course requires the purchase of  EHRGo, a certified electronic medical records system.

HIMT 320 course syllabus

This course will examine specific terminology and vocabulary used healthcare providers and support staff. The focus of this course is on medical terminology which covers human anatomy and physiology, body systems, and diagnoses and procedures. The structure of medical terms will be examined—such as prefixes, suffixes, roots, and combined forms. Topics will also include healthcare taxonomies and nomenclatures (ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, etc.).

Prerequisite(s): College biology or equivalent

HIMT 330 course syllabus

This is an introductory course in statistical methods for the health sciences. The course will emphasize the principles of statistical reasoning, underlying assumptions, hypothesis testing, and careful interpretation of results. Some topics covered: major study designs, descriptive statistics, graphical displays of data, probability, confidence intervals and tests for means, differences of means, sample size and power, differences of proportions, chi-square tests for categorical variables, regression, multiple regression, and non-parametric statistics.

Prerequisite(s): College algebra or equivalent

HIMT 350 course syllabus

This is the first course in a two-course sequence that addresses methods and techniques of healthcare information system analysis and design as performed within the system development life cycle. Included will be techniques for problem definition, requirements gathering, analysis, logical design, and selection and evaluation of alternative healthcare information systems solutions from the point of view of the health provider and user. An emphasis is placed on analysis, selection, and evaluation of information systems as they relate to healthcare.

This course requires the purchase of EHRGo, a certified electronic medical records system.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301

HIMT 370 course syllabus

This course explores the sources and data contents of healthcare information as well as the proper presentation of it for different usage levels. Topics addressed include: (1) data structure and use of health information (individual, comparative, and aggregate), (2) type and content of health record, (3) data quality assessment, (4) secondary data sources, (5) healthcare data sets, (6) health information archival systems, and (7) National Healthcare Information Infrastructure (NHII). The course will also cover topics in bioinformatics.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 360 Healthcare II: Survey of Disease and Treatments

HIMT 400 course syllabus

Covers the back-end stages of healthcare systems development life cycle through the procurement route: development of technical design specifications, procurement procedures (RFP, RFQ, vendor evaluation and selection, and contracting), systems configuration and integration, installation, conversion, operation, and maintenance. Pre-installation testing and post-conversion auditing and monitoring will be emphasized to address the upcoming requirements of federal certification of EHR systems.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301 and HIMT 370 Healthcare Systems: Analysis and Design

HIMT 410 course syllabus

This course addresses the phenomenal impact information system (IS) projects have had on healthcare delivery. Students learn how healthcare IS projects affect organizations, doctors, patients, and chronic-illness treatments, as well as individuals interested in managing their own healthcare. Concepts and tools for effective healthcare IS project management, process re-engineering, and work redesign are introduced. The purpose of this course is to expose students to IS project management activities in healthcare settings. Topics covered include recent healthcare IS project trends, budgeting, scheduling, resource management, scope, risk analysis, and deployment controls. The genesis of healthcare project management is covered using specific cases and examples.

HIMT 420 course syllabus

This course introduces students to the necessary group/team processes that are at the root of building, developing, and maintaining medical/healthcare work teams and the effective functioning of such teams. The course also provides an overview of leadership development techniques. Also included is a focus on the uses of various communication technologies in the team-building and functioning processes.

HIMT 440 course syllabus

This course will be an introduction to healthcare information technology standards, including standards and regulations for documentation, and will cover health information standards. The course will also investigate software applications and enterprise architecture in healthcare and public health organizations.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 400: Healthcare Information and Technology—Data

HIMT 450 course syllabus

This course is designed to help each student prepare for the capstone course and complete all required paperwork for submission in a timely manner. In addition to being an orientation to the capstone, the pre-capstone course serves as an RHIA/CAHIMS exam prep course. View our map of capstone sites for a list of participating capstone organizations.

Capstone Project ideas

Prerequisite(s): At least one semester prior to being eligible to enroll in the capstone

HIMT 489 course syllabus

This course is the capstone course for both tracks of the degree program. Students are required to find an internship site that is related to healthcare and set up a semester-long project from which they can gain hands-on experience in the areas of their concentration. Project setup will be jointly done by the student, site sponsor, and the faculty of this course, whereas internship supervision will be performed by the site supervisor and the course instructor.

For inspiration and ideas, explore past capstone projects.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 420 Healthcare Systems: Project Management

Last semester of study/last course before graduation/can be concurrent; approval from academic adviser and pre-capstone coordinator

HIMT 490 course syllabus

Health Information Management

Applications of microeconomic theory to analyze the behavior of health and healthcare markets. Topics will include: supply and demand of healthcare services, private health insurance markets, government provision of healthcare services and health insurance, and healthcare policy.

HIMT 365 course syllabus

This course examines the role of the HIM professional in managing human resources to facilitate staff recruitment, retention, and supervision.

HIMT 415 course syllabus

Health Information Technology

Analyze and design databases to support computer-based information systems. Develop and implement relational database management systems using SQL. Topics include: data-modeling techniques such as entity-relationship modeling, extended entity-relationship modeling, database constraints, database normalization techniques, and basic and advanced features of database query language SQL, etc.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 345 Programming and Software Development

HIMT 375 course syllabus

This course provides fundamentals of data communications and networking techniques, and examines the linkage of information technology strategies and technological solutions enabling effective communication within and between healthcare organizations. Major topics include fundamental concepts of data communications and applications, network communication devices, basic technologies of the local-area network, wireless local-area network, wide-area network, Internet and the Web, the OSI stack, healthcare information systems standards, and the HIE, RHIN, and NHIN.

Prerequisite(s): HIMT 301

HIMT 435 course syllabus

As a student in the UW Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology program, you will earn a concentration in either Health Information Management or Health Information Technology. Find out what skills you’ll learn in each track: 

Health Information Management

Core

  • Demonstrate knowledge of healthcare billing, coding, and reimbursement policies.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of healthcare terminology and medical conditions.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of dynamic healthcare delivery systems and regulatory environments.
  • Evaluate, use, and integrate information technology to support medical decision-making and processes.
  • Apply principles of healthcare privacy, confidentiality, and data security, and address legal and ethical issues.
  • Apply critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, and effective interprofessional communication skills related to health information management.
  • Apply quantitative methodologies to process healthcare information.
  • Demonstrate the principles of leadership and management in the HIMT environment.

Human Resources Management

  • Manage human resources to facilitate staff recruitment, retention, and supervision.
  • Ensure compliance with employment laws.
  • Develop and implement new staff orientation and training programs.
  • Develop and implement continuing education programs.
  • Develop productivity standards for health information functions.
  • Monitor staffing levels and productivity, and provide feedback to staff regarding performance.
  • Benchmark staff performance data.
  • Develop, motivate, and support work teams.

Financial and Resource Management

  • Demonstrate knowledge of financial management and accounting principles.
  • Prepare and monitor budgets and contracts.
  • Demonstrate and apply knowledge of cost-benefit analysis techniques to justify resource needs.
  • Manage organization-wide coding and revenue cycle processes.

Strategic Planning and Organizational Development

  • Develop strategic and operational plans for facility-wide information systems.
  • Assess organization-wide information needs.
  • Facilitate retrieval, interpretation, and presentation of data/information appropriate to user needs.
  • Demonstrate and apply principles of organization behavior to facilitate team building, negotiation, and change management.

Health Information Technology

Programming and Data Structures

  • Apply fundamentals of object-oriented programming to application development.
  • Utilize existing code libraries to implement the appropriate data structure to meet the needs of a specific application.
  • Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of various persistent file storage mechanisms: text files, binary files, serialization of objects, and XML.
  • Identify and describe the tiers and the benefits of an n-tier software system.
  • Be able to use a variety of persistent file–based storage strategies: text files, binary files, serialization of objects, and XML.

Data, Information, and Storage Structures

  • Apply knowledge of database architecture and design (data dictionary, data modeling, data warehousing, and so on) to meet organizational needs.
  • Apply knowledge of database querying and data mining techniques to facilitate information retrieval.
  • Implement and manage knowledge-based applications to meet end-user information requirements.
  • Design and generate administrative reports using appropriate software.

Data Security

  • Enforce confidentiality and security measures to protect electronic health information.
  • Protect data integrity and validity using software or hardware technology.
  • Implement and manage knowledge-based applications to meet end-user information requirements.
  • Recommend elements that must be included in the design of audit-trail and data-quality-monitoring programs.
  • Recommend elements that should be included in the design and implementation of risk assessment, contingency planning, and data recovery procedures.

Information and Communication Technologies

  • Implement and manage use of technology, including hardware and software, to ensure data collection, storage, analysis, and reporting of information.
  • Contribute to the development of networks, including intranet and Internet applications to facilitate electronic health record (EHR), personal health record (PHR), and public health and other administrative records.
  • Interpret the derivation and use of standards to achieve interoperability of healthcare information systems.

Tuition for the online Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management and Technology program is a flat fee of $450* per credit for the summer 2024 semester whether you live in Wisconsin or out of state.  *Starting in Fall 2024 tuition will be a flat fee of $460 per credit.

All courses are three credits, except for HIMT 489 which is a one-credit pre-capstone course. There are no additional course or program fees; however, textbooks are purchased separately and are not included in tuition. As this is an online program, you will not pay segregated fees for student-organized activities, facility maintenance, and operations. Also, you will not be charged a technology fee as part of this program. However, some HIMT courses require the subscription purchase of EHR Go and MedTrak.

Financial Aid

Financial aid may be available to you as a returning adult student and is awarded by your home campus. Learn more about our campus partners and choosing a home campus.

Your first step when applying for federal and state financial aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Please check with your home campus regarding minimum credits required to qualify for financial aid as a full- or part-time student.

Veteran Benefits 

Benefits are available to qualifying veterans and those currently serving. Contact your home campus veteran services office for details.

Ways to Pay for Your Degree

As a returning adult student, you may consider the following sources of financial aid to help with the cost of your online degree:

  • Grants—award is usually based on financial need. Grants, unlike loans, generally do not have to be repaid.
  • Scholarships—usually based on academic merit, financial need, or other criteria, awarded by a wide range of organizations. Scholarships do not need to be repaid.
  • Loans—a loan is money you borrow and must pay back with interest. Student loans are available from the federal government, private sources such as a bank or financial institution, or other sources. Federal student loans usually have lower interest rates than private loans, and offer flexible repayment plans.
  • Military benefits—aid available to eligible veterans and current members of the military.
  • Tuition reimbursement—a benefit offered by companies to their employees to help pay for education. Ask your human resources department if your company offers this benefit.
  • Education tax benefits—research possible tax benefits with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

UW Extended Campus Grants and Scholarships

You may be eligible for a grant or scholarship as a student in a semester-based collaborative program through UW Extended Campus. More information can be found here.

Experience UW Health Information Management and Technology

Learn about health information management and technology, meet the faculty, read student stories, and more. Read the blog.