Health Information Management

What is health information management? Health information management roles help collect, organize, and track patient information by managing patients’ electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic medical records (EMRs) while maintaining and safeguarding their data privacy. UMA’s online Health Information Management program will prepare you for entry-level positions and provide you with the essential knowledge and soft skills required for this field. Ultimate Medical Academy’s online Health Information Management program trains learners to manage electronic health records and protect patient data in healthcare settings. This CAHIIM-accredited program combines technical knowledge with soft skills and includes a 90-hour professional practice experience for hands-on experience. Prepare for an entry-level role in this fast-growing field1 with UMA’s support. Prepare to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) examination.3 Below are outcomes for the Health Information Management (HIM) program per CAHIIM and ABHES requirements. Ultimate Medical Academy’s HIM program had the following outcomes: 70% retention rate473% job placement rate496% graduate satisfaction rate5 While graduates will be prepared to take an applicable certification examination to enhance their employment prospects, they are not required to sit for this examination.

Ultimate Medical Academy was founded in 1993 to serve the Tampa community’s need to train healthcare professionals, launched its online campus in 2009, and since 2015 has been owned by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (now Vocate Education Solutions). UMA says it has supported more than 100,000 graduates.

• UMA is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education.
• Many programs are fully online, and tech support is available 24/7.
• Standardized testing is not required to enroll: no SAT, GMAT, GRE or ACT.
• Tuition includes coursework materials (textbooks, e-books and software), online and on-campus libraries with librarian support, and externship or professional practice experience in select programs.
• Student support includes one-on-one academic assistance, a personalized student portal, committed advisors from start to finish, and laptops for those who qualify.
• Certification preparation, where applicable, with exam-focused material and support at no additional cost.
• Job search assistance that begins before graduation, resume and mock interview sessions, and ongoing alumni services.

General admissions requirements. Before enrolling, prospective students must have completed a valid high school diploma or equivalent (a standard diploma, official home-schooling, a GED, HiSET or TASC, a state-recognized equivalency certificate, or a DD-214 showing high school completion; special diplomas are not accepted), be proficient in verbal and written English, and be beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Florida. Students in an entirely online program must pass an Identity Verification (IDV) check.

Enrollment steps. Applicants interview with admissions, complete all required admission documents and an Attestation of High School Graduation or Equivalent, participate in orientation before the program starts, and attend a financial aid appointment. A Level I background check must be completed satisfactorily by the eighth calendar day after the start (Level II for Patient Care Technician). Every new student is first registered on a provisional basis for the first module (the first two modules for Health Sciences - Pharmacy Technician); provisionally registered students do not pay tuition, and those who cancel during this period incur no tuition obligation. Standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT are not required.

Professional practice experience and state residence. A 90-hour professional practice experience at an approved healthcare facility is required. Students must live and plan to work in a state in which UMA is currently enrolling students for the Health Information Management program, and facilities that accept students may conduct their own background checks or drug screening.

State availability. The Associate of Science version is offered to residents of enrolling states other than Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota and Texas; residents of Arkansas, Kansas, Minnesota and Texas enroll in the Associate of Applied Science version, which UMA lists at the same tuition.

Length. Instructional time is 70 weeks and normal time is 75 weeks for 63.0 semester credits (2,970 total clock hours (1,140 clock hours and 1,830 recognized outside clock hours)). Normal time is UMA’s more realistic completion estimate because it includes scheduled breaks; actual completion can vary with leaves of absence, transfer credit or repeated coursework.

Format. Instruction occurs in a distance learning setting through UMA Online, and out-of-class work is required.

Courses and starts. Each course is a module of 5 to 16 weeks depending on the program, and attendance online is based on completing academically related activities such as discussion boards, assignments and tests. UMA Online classes start every 2-3 weeks. Externship hours are based on a minimum of 30 hours per week and are offered during the site’s regular business hours; UMA does not guarantee night or weekend hours.

Tuition. Tuition for the 63.0-semester-credit Health Information Management Associate of Science degree is $29,925, calculated at $475 per credit hour, with books included, so the total cost is also $29,925 (published for UMA Online). Tuition varies when courses are failed and must be repeated; retake fees are charged at full tuition equal to the original cost of the course. UMA tuition includes coursework materials (textbooks, e-books and software), online and on-campus libraries, student services and laptops for those who qualify.

Financial aid. UMA offers Federal Student Aid to those who qualify, including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS loans for parents, and Federal Work Study at the Clearwater campus. Students apply by completing the FAFSA each award year, listing UMA’s school code 035493. UMA also participates in military and veterans’ benefits (Tuition Assistance, the GI Bill® chapters, MyCAA and the Yellow Ribbon Program, with special military pricing published in the catalog) and Florida state aid such as the Florida Student Assistance Grant and Bright Futures. Student Finance advisors help applicants understand their options.

Health information management professionals ensure a patient’s health information and records are complete, accurate and protected; they play a key role in preparing, analyzing and maintaining health records and ensure the privacy and security of health data. They understand the workflow in any healthcare provider organization, from large hospital systems to the private physician practice.

UMA reports that graduates of this program have found entry-level work in these environments:

• Doctors' offices
• Hospitals
• Insurance companies

They have also found roles that include:

• Customer Service Representative / Patient Services Representative
• Health Information Specialist / Medical Records
• Medical Office / Medical Administrative
• Insurance Coordinator

Certification. The Health Information Management Associate of Science program is programmatically accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). UMA offers Health Information Management graduates an optional RHIT Certification Prep course, at no additional cost, to prepare them to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) examination offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA); graduates must meet eligibility requirements to sit for the examination.

UMA’s Career Services advisors help graduates with resume reviews, job search strategy, interview preparation and the application process, and provide on-the-job support for a graduate’s first weeks of employment. UMA does not guarantee employment.

Support from start to finish. New Student Advisors help students adjust to UMA during their first 10-15 weeks, after which each student is assigned a Learner Services Advisor who stays with them through graduation. Academic Specialists answer questions about discussions, assignments and assessments and connect students with instructors, who can also be reached during office hours or by email.

Resources. The UMA Virtual Library holds thousands of peer-reviewed, full-text articles available at any time, with a full-time librarian for research help. The Student Success Center, Wellness Center and Puma Den Information Center offer on-demand webinars, instructor sessions and help with laptops and technical support, and the UMA Student Guidance Center provides confidential counseling 24/7 at no additional cost.

Externships and careers. In select programs the Externship Team helps students find real-world experience before graduation; Certification Services helps students register for certification exams; and more than 125 Career Services advisors offer resume, interview and LinkedIn coaching, with Alumni Services continuing after graduation.

Attendance and graduation. Online attendance is based on completing academically related activities such as discussion boards, assignments and tests; students absent for 14 consecutive calendar days are withdrawn. To graduate, students complete all required courses and any externship, clinical or PPE hours, earn a minimum CGPA of 2.0, and satisfy attendance requirements.