Health Information Clerk I Certificate of Achievement

This certificate program prepares students for entry-level positions in health information management departments. Opportunities for employment include basic record management, reception, admitting department functions, scanning of documents, filing and retrieval of records, filing and sorting loose documents, purging of records, storage and retention activities, data entry, processing admissions and discharges, and assembly of medical documents in a sequential order.

The Health Information Clerk I Certificate of Achievement is an adjunct certificate to the Health Information Technology Program.  Students completing the Health Information Certificate or the AS in Health Information degree earn the Clerk I Certificate of Achievement as an additional certificate.

This certificate can also be earned by students who wish to complete only the Clerk I Certificate of Achievement Certificate. As the first certificate in progression of competencies, the required courses can be built upon to earn additional certificates. The Clerk I certificate prepares the student for entry – level jobs in a physician’s office, providing a foundation of computer skills, medical terminology and basic management of health records. These skills provide the student an advantage in the job market.

In the period analyzed (Spring 2016 - Fall 2018), a total of 26 Clerk I Certificates of Achievement were awarded.  Including Summer semesters,this averages to about 3 certificates per semester. The variation in totals per semester is due to students in part-time status or completing coursework out of sequence.

Many students do not understand the petition process. Considerable efforts, information and encouragement has been instituted to promote this certificate. It is anticipated that the average will increase.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply record management skills and knowledge necessary for HIM entry-level employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.
• Perform computer applications necessary for HIM entry-level employment as a health information professional.
• Apply the behavioral, interpersonal, ethical and professional skills necessary for HIM employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.

The minimum time for completion of this certificate is 2 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of classes completed per semester.

Learning Outcomes:

Inline with the institutional Learning Objectives (ILO), this program reflects thefollowing:

• ILO Critical Thinking and Information Competency 1b: Locate, evaluate, and use information appropriately.
• ILO Personal and Career Development 4c: Use technology in pursuit of intellectual growth and/or career development

• ILO Communication 2a: Communicate effectively
• ILO Communication 2b: Demonstrate respectful interpersonal and intercultural communication

The primary purpose of this entry-level certificate is to prepare the student for employment in the health care field,  as well as develop a foundation for a progression of skills.

 

 

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
	Choose one of the following options in Anatomy and Physiology:
OPTION 1
BIO 106	Introduction to Human Anatomy	4	S1
OPTION 2
BIO 108	General Human Anatomy	4	S1
	AND choose one of the following physiology courses
BIO 111	Human Physiology	5	S1
BIO 112	Introduction to Human Physiology	4	S1
	Choose one of the following courses
ENG 88 or ESL 186	College Reading and Writing	6	S1
ESL 186	ESL Introduction to College Reading and Writing	6	S1
	Required Courses
Hct 61	Introduction to Healthcare	3	S2
HIT 50A	Medical Terminology I	3	S2
HCT 67	Computer Applications in the Health Care Setting	2	S2

The program is a two-semester certificate but it is possible for students to complete it in one semester. Bio 106 is often taken during the summer prior to entering the program. For many students who have been out of school for an extended period of time, this is an option more likely to produce successful outcomes.

Communication skills in the health care field are important measures of employment success as well as certificate completion. Students who have passed the ENG required courses but do not demonstrate mastery of written and oral communication skills benefit from, HCT 61 where the I-BEST program is used.

In this class, which is over 50% students who have identified themselves as ESL, the students are provided a variety of teaching techniques designed to support teamwork, spoken and written English and presentation skills. 

Students self-report at the close of the semester, greater confidence in English skills as well as improved study habits.

Health information technology programs that prepare a student for long-term professions and successful attempts of the RHIT exam, must graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited program. Employers value the RHIT certification as well as the certificates of achievements. The Clerk I Certificate is the beginning achievement in this pathway for students seeking a high-level profession. In California, there are presently eight AS degree credentialed programs. Four programs have campus-based options. Only one is located in Northern California. Adult learners benefit from having options for Face-to-face, hybrid and distance classes. The City College HIT program provides a flexible program that offers hybrid courses which is often more supportive of reentering adult learners and fulfills a need in this area for an accredited program.. There are plans to develop a modified on line coding certificate in the future. At this time, the HIT program at CCSF is the only face-to-face option available to students in the Northern California area. City College of San Francisco fulfills a dynamic need in the Northern California area.

Because this is not a new program, no other program directors were contacted. As part of the California Health Information Association (CHIA) Academic Committee, all California program directors regularly meet for support and collaboration. The CCSF HIT Program Director plays an active role on this committee. Other Northern California programs are: Consumnes River College – online Fresno City College - online Health care professions are the fastest growing occupations. There are multiple opportunities at a variety of levels needing quality students.