AHMS - Allied Health: Medical Support

AHMS 100  Math Applications Health: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

Prepares health science students for the mathematics required in their profession. Topics investigated include: measurement systems, whole number review, decimals, fractions, rations, proportions, percentages, conversions.

AHMS 108  Health Data Content and Structure: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: AHMS 210. This course provides orientation to the health information department and its organizational interrelationship in healthcare facilities and the interchange of healthcare information. This course examines the collection, review and security of health

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  1. Recognize data that has quality, integrity, timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness from data sources such as patient care, management, billing reports, registries and national healthcare databases.
  2. Collect health record data by manual and automated methods.
  3. Define the relationship between the content of the healthcare data sets and its critical importance in the interchange of information including the variety of reimbursement systems.
  4. Describe the elements and the greatest threats of a data security program and the monitoring of quality patient information ensuring that the information is maintained and protected in accordance with federal state and local regulations as well as accreditation bodies and ethical standards of practice.
  5. Identify techniques used in the processing, storage, retrieval, imaging, and maintenance of health records in paper-based, hybrid, and electronic environments.
  6. Define and interrelate the primary and secondary purposes, users, and functions of the health record.
  7. Describe the content, structure, and documentation standards of the health record.
  8. Apply current laws, accreditation, licensure, organizational compliance and certification standards related to health information initiatives from the national, state, local and facility levels.
  9. Identify and describe the services, support services such as clinical coding, and the responsibilities of health information management professionals in healthcare organization's structure and operation.
  10. Differentiate among the classifications of data (nominal-level, ordinal-level, interval-level, ratio-level, discrete and continuous).
  11. Identify various ways in which statistics are used in healthcare and use the data to display healthcare data using tables, databases, charts, and graphs.
  12. Calculate community-based morbidity/mortality rates, and measures of central tendency and variability.
  13. Use software and networks in the completion of HIM processes such as record tracking, release of information, coding, grouping, registries, billing, quality improvement, imaging, and other administrative applications.

AHMS 144  Medical Terminology: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

Basic elements, rules of building and analyzing medical words, and medical terms associated with the body as a whole. In addition to medical terms, common abbreviations applicable to each body system will be interpreted.

AHMS 156  Medical Billing Fundamentals: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

PREREQUISITE: AHMS 210. The most common commercial, managed care and federal health insurance plans in the US will be covered. Billing processes and procedures as well as legal, regulatory, and ethical issues in health insurance will also be covered

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  1. Apply legal, ethical and regulatory guidelines in health insurance and patient billing.\\n
  2. Summarize the importance of HIPAA and other compliance strategies and the applications in medical billing and reporting, including confidentiality, information security, and privacy.\\n
  3. Complete CMS-1500 claim forms accurately for commercial, managed care, and federal health insurance plans such as Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Worker's Compensation, and BlueCross/Blue Shield.\\n
  4. Evaluate and perform billing processes and procedures with claims, EOB, ABN, and electronic data interchange.\\n
  5. Reflect the complexities of managed care programs, reimbursement monitoring and reporting.\\n
  6. Accurately calculate expected payments using payment methodologies and systems such as capitation, prospective payment systems, fee schedules, deductible, RBRVS, and DRGs.\\n
  7. Use appropriate, effective techniques to trace delinquent claims and file appeals for denied claims.\\n
  8. Outline the process of hospital billing and the forms and fee structures.\\n
  9. Apply and interpret medical language appropriately in all areas of medical billing and electronic health records.\\n
  10. Maintain charge master records to ensure complete, accurate, and compliant billing services.

AHMS 158  Legal and Regulatory Aspects of Healthcare: 2 Credits (2 Lec)

This course covers legal relationships of physicians and patients, contractual agreements, professional liability, malpractice, medical practice acts, informed consent, and bioethical issues. Emphasis is placed on legal terms, professional attitudes, and the principles and basic concepts of ethics and laws involved in providing medical services. This course also identifies patient behaviors and stressors related to illness, cultural influences, death, and dying.

AHMS 160  Beginning Procedural Coding: 4 Credits (4 Lec)

This course covers basic and intermediate levels of theory and application of CPT and HCPCS principles and guidelines for coding procedures. Students perform procedural coding using health records, case studies, and scenarios. The course uses applicable coding books and an overview of electronic encoder programs.

AHMS 162  Beginning Diagnostic Coding: 4 Credits (4 Lec)

This course covers basic and intermediate levels of theory and application of ICD principles and guidelines for coding procedures. Students perform diagnostic coding using health records, case studies, and scenarios. The course uses applicable coding books and an overview of electronic encoder programs.

AHMS 170  Intro to Mental Illness and Addiction Behaviors: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(F) Behavioral Health majors only or permission from instructor. This course covers mental illnesses and addictive behaviors, recognizing signs and symptoms of these behaviors in a clinical setting, diagnoses, and prescribed treatment protocols. Topics include mental and personal disorders, drug and non-drug addiction types, societal effects, treatment, intervention, and prevention.

AHMS 191  Special Topics: 1-4 Credits ()

AHMS 195  Selfcare for Caregivers: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

(Sp) Behavioral Health majors or permission from instructor. This course covers wellness modalities designed to assist caregivers with stress and burnout management. Topics include physical and emotional well-being, self-care practices, signs and symptoms of stress and burnout, workplace culture and conflict management, career longevity, and finding purpose.

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  1. Identify and understand their purpose as a caregiver.
  2. Practice self-care modalities that promote physical and emotional well-being.
  3. Recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and burnout.
  4. Demonstrate conflict management skills to promote a healthy workplace culture.
  5. Develop self-care plans to promote longevity in their career as a caregiver.

AHMS 200  Fundamentals of Psychopathology: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) Behavioral Health majors or permission from instructor. This course will explore the interactions and contributions of social, environmental, and biological factors in psychological pathologies. Topics include disorder types, characteristics, influences, development, integrative approaches to diagnosis and treatment, legal ethics, and research.

AHMS 202  Behavioral Health Clinical Procedures: 4 Credits (3 Lec, 1 Lab)

(F) Behavioral Health majors only. AHMS 202 provides fundamental concepts and skill development of the behavioral health technician/assistant/support staff in mental and behavioral clinical settings, including assessment and treatment of behavioral health diagnoses, safety and infection control protocols, clinical equipment, vital signs, CLIA-waived testing, and patient-provider communication.

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  1. Recognize medical terminology as related to the patient’s diagnosis, treatment, and equipment used.
  2. Demonstrate proper patient safety and infection control.
  3. Practice and interpretation of patient vital signs and CLIA-waived tests.
  4. Chart and prepare patient documentation in the medical record.
  5. Demonstrate good communication skills with patients and providers.

AHMS 204  Behavioral Health Reporting and Safety Procedures: 2 Credits (2 Lec)

(F) Behavioral Health majors only or permission from instructor. This course covers fundamental documentation and reporting concepts as well as patient and staff safety procedures in mental and behavioral health settings. Topics include healthcare policy, funding, mental health disparities in society, medical insurance policies, regulatory guidelines for documentation/reporting, and safety.

AHMS 210  Basic Medical Coding: 4 Credits (4 Lec)

This course covers basic and intermediate levels of theory and application of CPT, HCPCS, ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS principles and guidelines for coding medical procedures and diagnoses.

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  1. Define the major nomenclature, classifications, taxonomies, and clinical vocabularies in the CPT, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS coding systems
  2. Identify the agencies and groups that maintain and revise the nomenclature and systems
  3. Rely on medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and pathology to interpret medical record content to determine E/M, procedural, diagnostic, and inpatient procedural groupings.
  4. Apply symbols, punctuation, and abbreviations unique to CPT, HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS.
  5. Consult medical dictionaries and professional references to assist current coding systems
  6. Adhere to privacy laws and regulatory guidelines
  7. Identify the impacts of proper procedure and diagnostic coding on data quality, reimbursement, and statistical information

AHMS 211  Patient Care and Substance Abuse: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) Behavioral Health majors only or permission from instructor. This course will cover substance abuse and patient care practices. Topics include substance type and legalization, substance effect on the body, age/social groups, signs/symptoms of substance abuse, assessment/treatment protocols, healthcare and emergency service provider collaboration, non-compliance, and infectious disease transmission/control.

AHMS 214  Intro to Behavioral Health Research and Community Outreach: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) Behavioral Health major or permission from instructor. This course includes mental and behavioral health research, regulatory standards, and community outreach. Students will review accrediting body standards, case studies and competencies, basic research skills for outcome development and assessment, and community outreach opportunities for mental and behavioral health.

AHMS 215  Behavioral Health Counseling and Crisis Management: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

(Sp) Behavioral Health majors only. This course covers introductory concepts to mental and behavioral health counseling methods and crisis management. Topics include counseling practices, healthcare systems of care and collaboration, legal and ethical standards, community crisis management, record keeping, medical insurance policies, and patient advocacy.

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  1. Discuss the role and methods of counseling in mental and behavioral health patients.
  2. Identify a system of care and provider collaboration that promotes the success of the patient’s treatment plan.
  3. Recognize emotional, mental, and physical responses in patients due to crisis, trauma, or disaster.
  4. Review medical insurance policies, standards, and record-keeping requirements.
  5. Demonstrate patient advocacy in healthcare.
  6. Practice legal and ethical standards in healthcare.

AHMS 220  Medical Office Procedures: 3 Credits (3 Lec)

Electronic patient information system to include appointment scheduling, gathering patient data, posting charges/payments/adjustments, submitting claims, claims management, understanding the various third-party payers (Medicaid, Medicare, Blue Cross, Work Comp, etc.) medical coding (ICD10, CPT, RVS, DRG), manual bookkeeping procedures, and medical records management.

AHMS 250  Advanced Medical Coding: 4 Credits (4 Lec)

PREREQUISITE:AHMS 160, AHMS 162
Through realistic patient cases the student will be able to assign service and diagnostic codes to a variety of complex medical visits, diagnostic testing, and interpretation, treatments, surgeries, and anesthesia as well as properly audit these cases.
Department of Work Force Programs.

AHMS 291  Special Topics: 1-4 Credits ()

AHMS 295  Allied Health Externship Prep Seminar: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

(F, Sp, Su) This course is a prerequisite for Allied Health externship courses. Emphasis will be placed on professionalism, CPR(BLS) training, and student submission of clinical required documents. Upon successful completion of this course, students may register for the externship course.

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  1. Prepare and complete vaccination and policy documentation required by allied health externships.
  2. Demonstrate basic life support skill competencies in line with certification requirements.
  3. Demonstrate professional verbal and writing skills appropriate for the healthcare workplace setting.
  4. Demonstrate job search, application submission, and interview skills for the healthcare industry.

AHMS 298  Professional Practice Experience - Coding: 1 Credits (1 Lec)

PREREQUISITE:AHMS 160, AHMS 162, AHMS 144, AH 140, BIOH 112
COREQUISITE: BIOH 113, AHMS 250, AHMS 156, AHMS 108, AHMS 158. This course provides students with authentic coding practices in a hospital, physician's office, clinic or other healthcare setting with directed projects common to a clinical coding specialist on the job
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