Admissions - Post-Graduate MHIIM Program-Specific Policies - Post-Graduate Program Curriculum Summary for Post-Graduate MHIIM Progress, Promotion and Graduation

---

Marcia Y. Sharp, EdD, RHIA, Program Director

Program Objectives

The goal of the post-graduate MHIIM is to provide the competencies for health care professionals to manage information in an increasingly complex electronic health environment.

Curriculum Description

The post-graduate master’s degree curriculum at UTHSC prepares graduates for leadership roles in a variety of employment settings. It is designed for working healthcare professionals to expand skills sets in health informatics and information management. These roles are associated with enterprise- wide information systems strategic planning, management and health data administration. Individuals may attain a variety of positions in the management, analysis, and dissemination of information. These positions may be in institutions focused on the delivery of healthcare, enterprises that engage in development of health information systems, or other private or governmental agencies that engage in the use, management, or analysis of patient related information for public health surveillance.

Admissions - Post-Graduate MHIIM

1. Baccalaureate degree in a health-related discipline.  Applicants without a degree in a health-related discipline will be considered for conditional admission and must complete HIIM 511 and HIIM 550 and earn a grade of “B” or better to continue in the program.
2. Minimum grade point average of 3.0;
3. Three letters of recommendation from previous college instructors or immediate supervisors;
4. Foreign applicants whose native language is not English must submit results of TOEFL, with minimal score of 550, 213 on the computerized version;
5. Official transcripts;
6. Personal interview with the admissions committee;
7. Ability to meet published technical standards of the College of Health Professions and the Department of Health Informatics and Information Management (applicants should contact SASSI for questions and assistance);
8. A completed application form including an essay describing the applicant’s career goals;
9. A non-refundable application fee must accompany the application.

Applications are accepted online at http://www.uthsc.edu/admissions/chp.php.

Technical Standards

For admission to the Master of Health Informatics and Information Management (MHIIM) program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, students are expected to be able to successfully meet the Technical Standards as outlined below. During new student orientation students are required to sign the Technical Standards Commitment form indicating their understanding and ability to meet these standards either with or without accommodations. Any questions about these technical standards should be addressed to Dr. Rebecca Reynolds, Chair.

UTHSC receives applications from a diverse body of potential students including those with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations to help students meet these technical standards will be provided where appropriate. Any student wishing accommodations should contact the department of Student Academic  Support Service and Inclusion. Information regarding Disability Support can be found in CenterScope (http://catalog.uthsc.edu/index.php?catoid=20), the UTHSC student handbook.

Students should be able to reasonably perform:

Motor Skills
Candidates for admission must have sufficient motor function to work with a computer including generating input and output in a manner sufficient to meet deadlines and productivity standards.

Communication Skills
Candidates for admission to the MHIIM Program must be able to efficiently, effectively and professionally communicate in English in oral and written form. Candidates must have the ability to participate in discussion in the clinical arena and with colleagues. Candidates must have the ability to understand and complete reading assignments and to search and evaluate the literature. Candidates must be able to complete written assignments and maintain written records.

General Abilities
Candidates must be able to acquire, synthesize and apply information developed through course instruction, clinical experiences, independent learning, and consultation. Candidates must possess organizational skills and be able to solve one or more problems within specific time frames. Candidates must have the ability to perform duties and assignments in a timely fashion while under stress and in a variety of settings.

Professional Behavior and Conduct

Candidates for admission to the MHIIM Program must demonstrate the ability to follow instructions/procedures with accuracy and precision. Candidates must possess the ability to maintain intellectual and emotional stability and maturity under stress, while  also maintaining appropriate performance standards. Candidates must have the ability to manage time, organize workload and meet deadlines. Candidates must be able to learn and exhibit professional attributes. Candidates must adhere to safety guidelines for self and others and be able to comply with standards and regulations required by external agencies. Candidates must have the ability to function as part of a team and to delegate responsibilities appropriately.

One of the primary roles of anyone on a healthcare team, including those in Health Informatics and Information Management , is to ensure the basic safety and welfare of patients at all times, as well as for a safe working environment. If this cannot be done, the student is determined to be unable to meet the basic Technical Standards of the program and the College.

In the event a student cannot fulfill these Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodations at any time in their program, the student will be ineligible for admission or continued enrollment in the program.

Program-Specific Policies - Post-Graduate Program

Communication

The official method of communication between students and their respective departments, programs or the dean’s office is through the UTHSC email system.  Students must check their email at least once each day to avoid missing vital information.  Email is the primary mode of communication for instructor and student interactions. UTHSC email should not be forwarded as this may result in missing vital communications.  Course information is provided to students via the campus learning management system, BlackBoard, which includes all course materials, the course syllabus, links to campus resources, reading and supplemental class materials, recorded lectures, testing and assessment, grades and other classroom materials. Faculty may also interact with students via web-conferencing using Adobe Connect, video chat and telephone conferences.

Course work in the MHIIM program, is conducted online. Directed practice experiences are scheduled to be in proximity to the student’s residence. Email, web-conferences, and phone conference are the primary modes of communication for instructor and student interaction. Email is conducted using the official UTHSC email system. Courses that are taught online or via a hybrid format provide course instruction through a Blackboard Platform managed by UTHSC. To ensure online privacy, students must use their unique login and id to access their email accounts and the BlackBoard site. Student’s personal information is not shared with anyone outside of the college unless specified by the student in accordance with all FERPA guidelines. Students can only access courses that they are enrolled in. Within the Blackboard course site, students access the course syllabus, link to campus resources, access course assignments including readings, recorded lectures, video streaming, tests and assessments, grades and other classroom materials. Students participate in discussion boards and chats through Blackboard. Students submit assignments and email faculty through the Blackboard system. Additional modes of communication among faculty and students include Adobe Connect and video chat.

Students may access academic support services including the registrar, financial aid, bursar, disability services and SASSI via telephone or email.   Health and behavioral health services are offered through University Health Services and the Student Assistance Program (SAP).  IT Help Desk and Bb support are also available to students via telephone or email as well as access to the library.

State Authorization

As outlined in the college section of this bulletin, students completing all or a portion of an educational program who reside outside of the state in which the program originates (i.e., for UTHSC students residing outside of the state of Tennessee while enrolled in an online program) must be authorized per statute to do so by the state in which they live.  The University of Tennessee is responsible for securing all necessary authorizations across the US.  Students seeking admission to the online MHIIM who plan to live outside of Tennessee while completing the degree should contact the program director to confirm the presence of the necessary state authorization

Attendance

Students are expected to respond to instructor-initiated requests as well as meet deadlines outlined in each course syllabus. Students are expected to complete assignments by due dates.

Grading

The post-graduate health informatics and information management program has a competency-based curriculum in which competencies for the post-graduate health information manager developed by the American Health Information Management Association are used. Graduates of the program are expected to be able to perform the functions as articulated in the competencies. Criterion referenced evaluation is used in each course and students are required to reach the minimum competency level established for the course. Grades are based on written and practical examinations, as well as on performance in directed experience. A post-graduate student is expected to pass each term’s courses with a grade of “B” or better in each course in order to progress to the subsequent term or to graduate. A student is allowed to have a maximum of two courses with a grade of C+,C or C- throughout the program but grade of F is not acceptable.  Students are not allowed to repeat courses in the program.

Grading Scale:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- F

93-100 90-92 86-89 80-85 78-79 75-77 73-74 70-72 69 and Below

Grades of Pass (P)/Fail (F) are used for grading applied research. These grades are not included in calculating the grade point average (GPA).  Students must earn a “P” in these courses in order to graduate.

Information about grading for incompletes and withdrawals is covered in the general college section of the bulletin. Students should reference this information about grade assignments in these situations.