Professional Practice Courses
The HIM program requires six (6) credit hours of professional practice experience. The first level is conducted as an on-campus independent study and involves approximately 4 hours per week dedicated in part to working in the medical records department of the college – based Dental Clinic and in part to performing HIM Department functions in the HIM lab at LSCC using software, de-identified medical records, and medical record supplies.
The second PPE requires the student to perform all functions related to coding and reimbursement in both an acute care hospital setting and an alternate setting. LSCC has agreements with a large number of health care facilities in our district and surrounding counties.
The third PPE requires the student to perform all functions related to health information services in an acute care hospital or a behavioral health center except those functions covered in the first two PPEs.
Each professional practice course requires a maximum of 60 hours during a semester. The student is evaluated on each assignment and overall by the site supervisor. Additionally, the student must complete a daily journal documenting the time spent, the tasks observed and performed, and, a brief description of each work area observed. The site supervisor will read each description to ensure the student understands the fundamentals of each area before learning the next function. Toward the end of the semester, the site supervisor will complete an evaluation of the student’s performance and professionalism, review the evaluation with the student, and mail the completed evaluation to the HIM Program Manager. The student must write a 3-5 page paper describing the site and the professional practice experience and submit the paper, along with the journal, to the program manager by the last day of final examinations for the semester.
After the prerequisites are satisfied, the student must schedule an appointment with the program manager prior to registering for any professional practice course. The program manager will provide the student with a course syllabus; a copy of the affiliation agreement; a copy of the evaluation form; and, a confidentiality agreement. The manager will determine the best prospective site and arrange an interview between the site supervisor and the student. During this interview, the site supervisor will tell the student the expected dress code and other applicable policies, obtain a signed confidentiality agreement from the student, and agree upon a schedule for the rest of the semester. The HIM program manager will conduct one or more site visits during the semester to resolve any issues and observe the student’s progress.
For a comprehensive description of these courses, please arrange to review the course materials in advance by scheduling an appointment with the program manager.