HIM 320: Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchange

Course Description

This course will focus on the basics of electronic health records and health information exchanges. Students will learn the purpose, design, and function of these systems along with the legal and regulatory guidelines. Emphasis will be placed on the organizational demands and healthcare user needs. Students will learn through labs and hands-on opportunities to use real EHR software.

(3 credits)

This course meets certain CAHIIM competencies for HIM Majors.

Prerequisites

ENG 101: English Composition 1
ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Identify the major components of an EHR.
Understand the workflow of information in an EHR.
Discuss coded data and interoperability.
Provide examples of EHR decision support.
Enter, edit and retrieve patient data using an EHR.
Define Meaningful Use criteria.
Interpret HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules as they apply to EHR and HIE.
Discuss the HITECH Act in relation to EHR and HIE creation.
Explain the relationship between EHRs and HIEs.
Compare/contrast paper records and EHRs.
Identify challenges and barriers to EHR and HIE implementation and success.
Identify and describe advanced components of EHRs such as CPOE, Problem Lists, Flow Sheets and others.
Analyze and respond to the information needs of internal and external customers throughout the continuum of healthcare services.
Revise policies and procedures to comply with the changing health Information regulations.
Translate and interpret health information for consumers and their caregivers.
Construct and maintain the standardization of data dictionaries to meet the needs of the enterprise.
Demonstrate compliance with internal and external data dictionary requirements.

Course Activities and Grading

Note: A "C" grade or higher must be earned to pass this course.

Letter Grade	Percentage
A	93.0-100.0
A -	90.0-92.9
B+	87.0-89.9
B	83.0-86.9
B -	80.0-82.9
C +	77.0-79.9
C	73.0-76.9
F	72.99% and below

Assignments	Weight
Discussions (Weeks 1-8)	20%
Quizzes (Weeks 1-7)	25%
Lab Assignments (Weeks 2-7)	50%
Competency Assigment (Weeks 6 & 8 )	5%
Total	100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore

Oachs, P. and Waters, A. Health Information Management Concepts, Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Chicago, IL: American Health Information Management Association, 2020. ISBN-10: 1-58426-725-9 or ISBN-13: 978-1-58426-725-6
Note: This textbook is used in several HIM courses and should also be saved for preparation for the RHIA exam.
EHR Go Lab Access. Archetype Innovations. Students can choose length of subscription (12 weeks to 1 year – it will be used in some other courses).

Course Schedule

Week	SLOs	Readings and Exercises	Assignments
1	1,2,3,4	Topics: Overview of Electronic Health Records; Meaningful Use Reading: What is an EHR? https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-electronic-health-record-ehr What are Electronic Health Records? https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/what-are-electronic-health-records-ehrs What is meaningful use? https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-meaningful-use Promoting Interoperability https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/ehrincentiveprograms?redirect=/ehrincentiveprograms Hospital Progress to Meaningful Use https://www.healthit.gov/data/quickstats/hospital-progress-meaningful-use Oachs and Watters: Chapter 12 pages 371-373 (Section with heading Electronic Health Records and sub-headings of EHR Terms and EHR Complexity)	Complete assigned reading Participate in the Discussions EHR GO lab: EHR Orientation Short paper on Meaningful Use
2	1,2,3,8	Topic: Introduction to EHR Software; Benefits of Health IT Reading: Benefits of Health IT https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/benefits-health-it Oachs and Watters: Chapter 12 pages 356-357	Complete assigned reading Participate in the Discussion EHR Go lab: EHR Documentation Standards EHR Go lab: The Power of the EHR
3	1,2,3,5	Topic: Communication and Terminology of the EHR Reading: Oachs and Watters: Chapter 12, pages 373 (EHR Funtionality and Technology) through 384 Health IT Terminology: https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/glossary	Complete assigned reading Participate in the Discussions EHR Go lab: Health Information Terminology EHR Go Lab: Communication in the EHR
4	2,3,5	Topics: HITECH and the ONC Readings: Oachs and Watters pages 319 to 322, The HITECH-HIPAA Omnibus Privact Act What is the HITECH Act? https://www.hipaajournal.com/what-is-the-hitech-act/ About the ONC https://www.healthit.gov/topic/about-onc	Complete assigned reading Participate in the Discussions EHR Go lab: HITECH and the History of EHR’s
5	2,3,9,11	Topics: Clinical Documentation and Management Tasks; Data Dictionaries Reading: Oachs and Watters Page 128 subsection on Delinquent Health Records and Role of Health Information Management Professionals in Health Record Management Primeau, Debra. “How to Prepare for EHR Downtime” Journal of AHIMA 89, no. 8 (September 2018): 30–33 How to Optimize EHR Downtime Preparedness, Reduce Slowdowns https://ehrintelligence.com/news/how-to-optimize-ehr-downtime-preparedness-reduce-slowdowns	Complete assigned reading Participate in the Discussions EHR Go lab: Introduction to Chart Deficiencies Competency Assignment: Data Dictionaries
6	2,10	Topics: Data Management and Analytics; Clinical Decision Support Systems and Quality Improvement Readings: Oachs and Watters, pages 379-381 section on Clinical Decision Support Clinical Decision Support https://www.healthit.gov/topic/safety/clinical-decision-support CPOE https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-computerized-provider-order-entry	Complete assigned reading Participate in the Discussions EHR Go Lab: Introduction to Clinical Reminders EHR Go Lab: Implementing Clinical Decision Support
7	2,6,8	Topics: Health Information Exchange (HIE) Readings: Oachs and Watters: Chapter 12, pages 285-402 Health Information Exchange https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/health-information-exchange Be sure to expand the Read More tabs for the full information HIE Slick Sheet	Complete Assigned Reading Participate in the Discussion EHR Go Lab: Health Information Exchange Competency Assignment: HIE
8	2,10	Topic: Consumer Health Informatics Reading: Oachs and Watters: Chapter 14 What is a patient portal? https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-patient-portal Frequently Asked Questions About the Patient Portal	Complete Assigned Reading Participate in the Discussion Chapter 14 Quiz EHR Go – Introductory Evaluation Complete Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.