Health Information Management, BS

Program Curriculum

Total Prerequisite Credits: 60

Total SHRS Credits: 63

Total Credits: 123

*Students take the RHIA Registration Exam

Note: For part-time and registered health information technician students, HIM Clinical Education HIM 1440 , HIM 1460 , HIM 1480 , and HIM 1495  and HIM 1496  (Capstone Course in HIM) may be taken in any term with permission of advisor and the instructor after the appropriate prerequisite courses have been completed.

Clinical Education

Health Information Management undergraduate students participate in four different clinical education (CE) internships that facilitate a deeper understanding of the professional practice aspects of health information and related health-care areas. The overall goal of the clinical education is to provide students with practical experiences to apply their knowledge and skills that they develop as they progress through the HIM curriculum. Each internship experience provides the HIM student with a different focus, and the opportunity for the student to interact with HIM professionals as well as other professionals in the health care field.

The HIM department has affiliation agreements with approximately 200+ clinical sites for student internships. The following list provides a sample of these sites: 

• Adelphoi Village (behavioral health)
• Allegheny Valley Hospital
• Center for Connected Medicine
• Country Meadows Nursing Home
• creehan & company
• Diskriter, Inc.
• Geisinger Health System
• Heritage Valley Health Center
• Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City, UT
• Jameson Health System
• M*Modal
• MedAllies
• PA Department of Corrections
• The Innovation Center of UPMC
• Trinity Health System
• UCLA Medical Center
• University of Pittsburgh Dental Informatics
• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (Hillman Cancer Center)
• UPMC Health Plan
• UPMC Health System
• UPMC Physician Services Division 
• Wheeling Hospital
• WVU Healthcare

Prerequisites for Clinical Education:

Students must complete certain requirements to be eligible to participate in clinical education. The HIM Clinical Education Coordinator will provide detailed information and time guidelines for completion of these requirements once the student matriculates into the HIM program.

• Physical examination including proof or completion of specific immunizations
• TB test, 2-step
• Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• FBI Background Check (includes fingerprinting)
• HIPAA Training and Certification
• Bloodborne Pathogen Training and Certification
• Students must carry personal health insurance while participating in clinical education
• Students must carry professional student liability insurance coverage while participating in clinical education. This coverage is provided by the SHRS group insurance plan and will appear as a charge on the students’ tuition bill.
• Some sites may have additional requirements (i.e. drug screen, influenza vaccine, or orientation programs specific to their organization).
• Clinical Education sites may not allow a student to participate in an internship at their site if the background check reports that they have been convicted of a misdemeanor; a felony; or a felonious or illegal act associated with alcohol and/or substance abuse.

Additional Information:

• Travel to clinical education sites is the responsibility of the student. Students are expected to have a car or to provide their own transportation to all remote sites; no exceptions will be made. Not all sites are accessible by public transportation.
• All expenses for transportation, parking, meals, and costs of prerequisites associated with clinical education are the responsibility of the student.
• Approximate cost for clearances is $100 annually, and costs for physical exam and immunization status are dependent on health insurance coverage and provider costs.
• Approximate cost for drug screen is $40.

For more information on Clinical Education, email Patti Anania Firouzan, HIM Clinical Education Coordinator: patti@pitt.edu.