Diploma in Health Information Management

In this course, students will be introduced to the profession of Health Information Management (HIM) and the various healthcare settings that they could find themselves employed in. Students will get a look at data, all the way from collection to destruction. Students will gain an appreciation for the responsibilities of a health information management professional, their role in maintaining high quality patient records and how to properly store data. Students will also become familiar with the role of the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA) and the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM) as well as the credentialing and certification processes for HIM professionals.

Through this program (as well as in the field of health information management) there are many times in which a foundational understanding of the Microsoft Office Suite is necessary. In this course, students will develop their skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Students will get the opportunity to create and present their work to their peers. Students will also build on their keyboarding, developing skills in speed and accuracy.

In this course, students will explore the ethical considerations when handling health information. Students will discuss the appropriate ethical conduct required to carry out a career in health information management. Students will explore the CHIMA Code of Ethics and apply it to case studies of scenarios from various healthcare settings. Topics in this course will also cover practice guidelines and the various health information organizations.

In this course, students will be introduced to terminology commonly used in medical practices. By breaking down the components of medical terms, students will be able to interpret the terms based on its relation to specific body systems. Students will learn accurate spelling and pronunciation as well as the most widely used abbreviations and clinical tests. Students will demonstrate application of learning by using medical terminology accurately when referring to various healthcare documentation. In the event of uncertainty, students will learn what resources to access in order to clarify the accurate terminology needed in a given circumstance.

In this course, students will obtain a foundational understanding of the structure and function of the human body. This course will look at the following systems: cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory, skin and sense organs, and urinary system. The course will also look at cells and tissues within the body as well as the function and relationship between systems.

This course will look at the way the human body responds to injury and disease. These reactions to injury and disease are represented within various levels of the body systems. Students will make predictions about future ailments and conditions based on the evidence produced within the body systems. Based on observing the status of the patient, the student will be able to devise clinical data.

This course will provide students with an understanding of the various components of Canada’s healthcare system. Students will begin by looking at the history of Canada’s healthcare system and the levels of governance in Canada that sanction how healthcare is managed. In this course, students will become familiar with the various regulations and legislations involved in both the private and public healthcare sectors, and the various national and international agencies involved in healthcare in Canada. Students will then look at the concept of care and all aspects of care such as the levels of care, the continuum of care and health care issues and trends. Students will gain an appreciation for the role of health information management professionals in the healthcare system.

This course is the first of two coding courses in the Health Information Management Program. This course will introduce students to coding classification standards set out by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and the Canadian Classification of Health Interventions (ICD-10-CA/CCI). Students will become familiar with all terminology and processes involved in implementing a classification system as well as the different classification systems in Canada. Students will begin classifying health information by practicing adhering to classification guidelines. This course will look more specifically at the following body systems: skin, blood, respiratory, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular. Students will apply coding guidelines to neoplasm cases and infection cases.

This course is the second of two coding courses in the Health Information Management diploma program. In this course, students will build on the skills learned in Coding I. Students will continue to practice coding using the ICD-10-CA and CCI classification systems. This course will look more specifically at the following body systems: reproductive, urinary, digestive, nervous, and endocrine. Students will apply coding guidelines to nutritional, metabolic, mental and behavioural disorder cases. This course will explore the processes of sourcing and collection of data, as well as methods used for grouping and case weighting. Students will become familiar with how coded information looks in various systems. This course will briefly touch on the evolution of coding over time. Students will explore repositories, MIS standards, metadata and the cost-benefit ratio of data collection.

In this course, students will explore how information standards are developed and upheld in Canada and within the health information management industry. Students will become familiar with the organizations responsible for the development and implementation of standards. This course will also discuss electronic health records (EHR) in Canada and the state of EHR projects in progress.

In this course, students will examine the impact of data quality on users, and wherein the health care continuum there may be issues due to poor data quality. Students will become familiar with the process of managing data quality and the frameworks in place to maintain data quality. In this course, students will also get a chance to use electronic records management systems to conduct edits and checks of data to ensure quality standards are met.

In this course, students will explore the content and requirements for patient records as well as the management of records. Students will learn about the storage, retention and destruction of patient records and the necessity of privacy and confidentiality through all stages of the lifecycle. Students will also explore how to detect and correct errors in records.

In this course, students will explore both inferential and descriptive statistical measures. Concepts covered in this course are measures of central tendency, variation, probability, sampling distributions, frequency distributions, confidence intervals, correlation, regression, estimation and hypothesis testing. Case studies chosen will be examples from the healthcare industry to be used in applying theory to practice. In this course, students will also become familiar with software that is widely used in statistical analysis

This course provides a foundational look at research methods used in healthcare. Students will become comfortable using research terminology and get an overview of research concepts. During the course, students will build on their skills to critically analyze data, as well as the steps required to conduct research within healthcare settings. Students will get a chance to conduct their own basic research study using a methodology of their choosing and present their findings to their classmates.

This course will explore epidemiology and the methods and strategies used by epidemiologists to measure and manage communicable diseases. This course will outline the role of epidemiology in healthcare and how epidemiological data is used to inform decision-making in the healthcare industry. Students will get a look at how diseases are distributed amongst various populations and the contributing factors to the prevalence of a disease among a certain population or demographic. In this course, students will look at what public health steps are taken to promote health and wellness, as well as prevent disease. Students will also gain an appreciation for the different study designs used in epidemiology and the strengths and limitations of each.

In this course, students will explore how decisions are supported in the healthcare industry and the processes of data analysis. Students will focus on sources of data in Canada and interpret trends in health data. Students will have an opportunity in this course to create their own presentation of data. Other topics covered in this course will be; how to improve care based on data analysis, business intelligence tools, needs assessment methods and quality management.

This course will look at the concepts of privacy and confidentiality of patient records in both physical and electronic form. Students will explore the legalities surrounding the collection and storage of patient records. Students will become familiar with the provincial and territorial privacy statutes as well as the various privacy frameworks used in Canada. Students will also get a look at the process of information retention and destruction.

This course will examine the tools used to protect patient records. Students will discuss privacy, security and confidentiality in the care of patient records. Students will explore the forms of retention and destruction of health information as well as different settings in which patient information is held. Other tools discussed in this course will be; accessing and managing privacy risk, controlling and monitoring access to systems and consent management.

In this course, students will focus on the management of access to information, and the necessary tools and steps required to release information. Students will become familiar with the processes of accessing one’s own information as well as the processes in place in the event of a breach of security. Other topics covered in this course are rights surrounding health information, making requests to change or correct health information and the design and development of policies regarding access to health information.

This course introduces students to the role that information technology systems play within the healthcare industry. Students will explore health information exchange (HIE) to understand how patient information is shared electronically amongst healthcare professionals. Students will become familiar with concepts in database management and the steps in the systems development life cycle. This course will also explore how IT systems are developed from planning to evaluation and maintenance.

In this course, students will become familiar with the principles of management and leadership. Students will explore the theories and techniques used by management to support a team to meet objectives. Students will look at topics in human resources, people management, project management, program evaluation, resource management and risk management.

In this final instalment of the Diploma in Health Information Management program, students will get practical experience working in the field within a healthcare setting. Students will apply what they have learned throughout their time in the program in their respective settings, to prepare them for a career in the health information management sector. Students are expected to conduct themselves professionally and uphold the standards of privacy and confidentiality. Students will complete a self-evaluation, use health information management software, complete a research or administrative project and prepare an information session in their practicum setting.

View practicum guidelines and FAQs: www.ashtoncollege.ca/practicum-and-community-field-experience/

Domestic students need ONE of the following:

• Canadian Passport
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence
• Legal documentation from IRCC

And you must prove the following:

• You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

Are you a domestic student?

You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:

• Completion of BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents); or
• Completion of three or more consecutive years of secondary education or two or more consecutive years of post-secondary education at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English; or
• Achieve the competency standard of a Test of English Language Proficiency as set out in Section 5.4 below. Scores for standardized English language tests are only valid for a 24-month period from the date of testing.

English is presumed to be the language of instruction in the following countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

• Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): minimum score of 58 or C
• The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): minimum score of 55
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): General 6
• Duolingo: minimum score of 110 (temporary due to COVID)
• International English Language Testing (IELTS): academic level with a minimum overall score of 6.0
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: academic level with a minimum score of 79-80 and a minimum of 19-20 on each band
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test: minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 23 each for reading, writing, and listening

International students need:

• A valid passport from their country of citizenship and a valid study permit

And you must prove the following:

• You have successfully completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

Are you an international student?

You must show your language proficiency in ONE of the following ways:

• Completion of BC English Studies 12, English First Peoples 12 or Literary Studies 12 with a minimum grade of C+ (or equivalents); or
• Completion of three or more consecutive years of secondary education or two or more consecutive years of post-secondary education at a recognized institution where the language of instruction is English; or
• Achieve the competency standard of a Test of English Language Proficiency as set out in Section 5.4 below. Scores for standardized English language tests are only valid for a 24-month period from the date of testing.

English is presumed to be the language of instruction in the following countries:

American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Grenada, Guam, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, New Zealand, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierre Leone, Singapore, South Africa, St Helena, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Approved English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

• Cambridge English Advanced (CAE): minimum score of 58 or C
• The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL): minimum score of 55
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): General 6
• Duolingo: minimum score of 110 (temporary due to COVID)
• International English Language Testing (IELTS): academic level with a minimum overall score of 6.0
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test: academic level with a minimum score of 79-80 and a minimum of 19-20 on each band
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) paper-based test: minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 23 each for reading, writing, and listening

Do you identify as a mature student?

To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:

• You are at least 19 years of age at the start of their program
• You have not completed a B.C. Secondary School diploma or the equivalent of one

Application Requirements

Mature Students must submit ALL of the following:

• At least one letter of reference from a person who is not related to you
• A statement of intent clearly outlining your career goals and your reasons for believing you will succeed in the program
• A personal profile of 250 words or less

Additional Requirements

You must meet all of the program-specific and non-academic requirements where listed. In some cases, you may need to complete a placement exam to determine academic readiness.