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Health Information Management

As the country moves toward electronic health information, jobs in this exciting area will be expanding to meet an ever-increasing need for medical administrative professionals.

Potential Salary$45,000

topics Health Sciences

Skills & InterestOrganization

CareersHealth Sciences

  • A foundation in the peace garden
  • Three women at Chemeketa graduation ceremony
  • Chemeketa building on Salem Campus

Why choose Health Information Management?

Are you interested in a career in the medical field? Can you see yourself in a healthcare environment without hands-on patient care?  

Did you know that coding and billing training always seem to go together? The reality is in most medical facilities the actual career paths are separate. There are billers and there are coders. Chemeketa will be the first community college in Oregon to offer each certificate separately. This allows us to provide a deeper dive into each career path while still having a basic understanding of how the other path works.  Each certificate can be completed in 9 months and qualifies for financial aid with no prerequisites.

Upon completion of Chemeketa’s HIM Certificate program, you will be eligible to take the National Certification Exam from AAPC in either billing or coding. The CPC or CPB credential assures employers that you have the expected professional knowledge and skills relevant to make a meaningful contribution to health care.

Apply now - classes begin in Fall 2023.  The Health Information certificate program is a limited enrollment, application-based program that admits 15 students on a first come, first served basis. If you are considering a Medical Billing or Medical Coding certificate and have any questions you can contact Chemeketa's Academic Advising department to review the requirements.

What will you learn?

Our experienced faculty will teach you the skills necessary to apply to take the AAPC CPC (Certified professional coder) or CPB (certified professional biller) certification exams.

Medical Coding skills learned:

  • ICD-10 CM Diagnosis Coding
  • CPT Procedural Coding
  • HCPCS
  • ICD-10 PCS Facility Procedural Coding
  • Update patient medical records
  • Read and verify clinical documentation.
  • Electrical medical Records
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Pathophysiology

Medical Billing skills learned:

  • Pre-registration
  • Verify Insurance
  • Collect Copays
  • Verify Charges
  • Claim Forms to payors
  • Claim Tracking
  • Payment Posting
  • Denials
  • Accounts Receivables
  • Collections
  • Knowledge of multiple insurance rules and regulations

What will you do?

After earning a certificate in coding or billing, you may qualify for a variety of occupations, including:

  • Medical coder
  • Medical reception
  • Medical biller
  • Medical records/health information
  • Medical insurance

A certificate in this field can lead to careers in the following settings:

  • Hospital
  • Surgical center
  • Physician office
  • Long-term care/rehabilitation
  • Insurance/managed care company
  • Government agencies
  • Program Application

    Apply now for fall term entry. The Health Information Management Program is a limited enrollment, application-based program that admits on a first come, first served basis. Please see the application for more details. 

    Applicants that have courses completed from other colleges and/or universities can submit official transcripts along with the "Request for Evaluation and Transfer of Previous Credit" form. Official transcripts can be mailed to 4000 Lancaster Drive NE, Salem OR 97305 Attn: Enrollment Services, Bldg 2, Rm. 200.

    If the other colleges/institutions are opted in for electronic transcripts, you can have them sent electronically. 

    2023-24 Health Information Management Application

     

     

    Section Update: 8/22/2023

  • Student Handbook

    Review our Student Handbook (coming soon) to get useful information about the program and being a student at Chemeketa. 

  • Criminal Background Check, Drug Screening, & Immunization Requirements

    Accepted applicants will be required to pass a criminal background check and random drug screen which fulfills the requirements of clinical sites. If a potential student does not pass the criminal background check and or drug screen, acceptance will be denied. For a list of disqualifying crimes, please see Disqualifying Crimes (short) 2017.

    Criminal Background Checks, Drug Screening and vaccination screening will be ordered through CoreScreening upon acceptance into the program.  The fee per applicant will be approximately $113. 

    Accepted applicants are required to submit copies of required immunization records 

    Immunization Requirements

    More information regarding the required criminal background check, drug screen, and immunizations will be provided with the accepted applicants admission letter. 

    For more information call the Health Sciences Department at 503.399.5058.