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#98676 - 05/25/08 10:15 PM
Accredited HIM program help
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ashclaire
New Member
Registered: 05/25/08
Posts: 2
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Hello. I am new to MT chat but have been getting many questions answered by viewing old posts...thanks for the help. One question I have not found the answer to though, is this...
I have a bachelors degree in business. I am wanting to get into coding. Under the AHIMA website it states:
Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements for the RHIA examination:
B. Earn a certificate from an accredited HIM program and have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; OR
1. Does the accredited HIM program have to be AHIMA accredited? Or does it have to be CAHIIM accredited as well?
2. Many people have praised the Andrews School and I was wondering if the Andrews School was accredited by either?
Thank you so much for all of your help. I hope I am on the right track but if I am not, please let me know.
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#98680 - 05/26/08 12:03 AM
Re: Accredited HIM program help
[Re: ashclaire]
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Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 969
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I have a bachelors degree in business. I am wanting to get into coding. Under the AHIMA website it states:
Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements for the RHIA examination:
B. Earn a certificate from an accredited HIM program and have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university;
1. Does the accredited HIM program have to be AHIMA accredited? Or does it have to be CAHIIM accredited as well?
The HIM program must be accredited by CAHIIM, which is basically a part of AHIMA, in order for you to qualify to take the RHIA exam. Your bachelor's degree must be from a college or university whose accreditation is also acceptable.
On the AHIMA website, there is a searchable list of schools and programs. It does not tell you which schools offer certificates, though, so you'll have to check each program to see if they offer just a certificate and what prerequisite courses they will require before you can begin their program.
2. Many people have praised the Andrews School and I was wondering if the Andrews School was accredited by either?
Andrews does not teach a Health Information Technology or Health Information Management program, so the accreditation would not apply.
You do not need to complete an HIT or HIM program in order to code. HIT and HIM programs teach courses in coding, but there are other ways to learn to code. You do not need to complete ANY program, nor is any experience required, in order to qualify to sit for the AHIMA CCS or CCS-P coding certification exams. You just need to know the material and be able to use it.
If you read the AHIMA material carefully, you will see that the RHIA and RHIT certifications are considered to demonstrate entry-level skill in coding. That is because they are generalist exams that cover everything in HIM. Coding is just one of the many areas in HIM. Not all RHIA and RHIT graduates are comfortable coding. I've known several who have had to take a certificate course after graduation in order to get up to speed.
Coding can be learned in certificate programs at community colleges or in schools like Andrews. If you are not interested in HIM as a whole, or if you are interested in a program that might be shorter and cost less, with more of a focus on the coding, a certificate program might be an option. Distance-learning programs which allow students to begin at any time and to work at their own pace can often be completed in less time by a highly motivated student.
The certification exams offered by the American Association of Professional Coders do not have any formal educational requirements, other than a high school diploma. However, they do require two years of full-time experience in coding before they will grant the full certification. You can take the exam before that, but you will have an "apprentice" designation on the certificate until you have completed the two years. They may waive up to a year of the experience for completion of a coding course. Details are on their web site.
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
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#98698 - 05/26/08 10:05 AM
Re: Accredited HIM program help
[Re: Redpen]
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ashclaire
New Member
Registered: 05/25/08
Posts: 2
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Thank you very much Redpen for your reply. After your response though, I thought of one more question...I was under the impression that RHIA certifications make more money after graduation and in the future. Is this true or is it the experience?
Since I worked so hard to get my bachelors in business I am very interested in some day being in a supervisory role. Would a bachelors in business and a CCS be enough or would at some point I need the RHIA?
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#98745 - 05/26/08 04:38 PM
Re: Accredited HIM program help
[Re: ashclaire]
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Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 969
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Ashclaire, no one can tell you that you will make more money with one than the other. It all depends on you--on your background, your interests, your abilities, and the job market where you are. If there are no high-level administrative jobs in your area, you can't very well work in one. It's also not terribly reasonable to expect that employers will be holding open their highest level jobs in anticipation of your graduation. There is some expectation that everyone starts somewhere near the bottom to work their way up.
With that being said, if you look at the AHIMA salary survey, you will see the average salaries respondents reported. It may also show you the job titles that went along with the salaries. If the type of job you aspire to have is listed there, and it seems to be restricted to one credential type, then that is the credential you should consider. Also consider the experience requirement involved in reaching the level of the highest salaries.
In other words, if you want the RHIA credential because you feel it most nearly suits the type of job you want, and if the educational and career path involved appeals to you, then go that route.
If you want to code, remember that you do not need a credential at all, but it does help. If you get a credential from AAPC or AHIMA, your job market should get quite a bit better. If you have an RHIT or RHIA, you may still want a coding credential in addition.
I know that answer is confusing, but the field is very flexible. There are a lot of different types of jobs in it.
I can answer your last question easily, though. There are lots of coding supervisory jobs which you could qualify for with a coding credential.
Right now, you may be trying to aim for the one most profitable credential. In actuality, this is a field in which professionals typically hold multiple credentials. They often begin with one that is readily achievable, then use that one to bring in an income while they work on others that may take more time. Or, they may begin with a 2 or 4-year-degree credential, like the RHIT or RHIA, and add credentials in order to demonstrate advanced expertise in inpatient coding, outpatient coding, privacy and security, etc.
Investigate the industry and see what types of jobs are available. Try looking at the job ads on http://www.advanceforhim.com. You'll see a range of job types and requirements.
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
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#98902 - 05/28/08 01:45 PM
Re: Accredited HIM program help
[Re: Redpen]
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mtforpt
New Member
Registered: 05/28/08
Posts: 3
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I have been checking into getting an RHIT for a while now and just wanted to give you this information.
http://www.sbcc.edu/hit/website/
If you want a AHIMA approved program this is one option and it is totally online.
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