Healthcare
Health Information Management
Transform data into valuable information. Help improve the quality of Canadian healthcare with this 76-week Health Information Management diploma program (accredited by the Canadian College of Health Information Management).
About The Program
Accredited by the Canadian College of Health Information Management, this Health Information Management program will help you assess patient record data and code or edit them using health information standards, classifications, and abstracting systems.
You will learn about medical terminologies, abbreviations, and acronyms; medical diagnoses and interventions; and the Canadian coding and abstracting standards through these Health Information Management courses. With an opportunity to enhance your computer skills, you can ensure accurate, consistent, and timely health information collection.
Career Opportunities
- Health Information Management Supervisor
- Medical Records Unit Supervisor
- Health Records Technician
- Health Information Management Technician
- Health Information Management Practitioner
Employers Who Have Hired triOS Grads
- Hospital for Sick Children
- University Health Network
- Home and Community Care Support Services (formerly LHIN)
- Trillium Health Partners
- Cancer Care Ontario
- Canadian Red Cross
- Canadian Mental Health Association
Salary
$
26
Average Wage/HR**
$
34
High Wage/HR**
Source: workingincanada.gc.ca
NOC Code: 1252/12111 - **Wage data rounded down to the nearest dollar. Average wage doesn't reflect the starting salary but represents the middle value between lowest to highest wages. Local (or regional) income may vary. Last updated in March 2023.
Program Details
With the continuous technological evolution of health information tools, more efficient ways to manage patient information flourish. And now that electronic health records (EHRs) have been replacing the traditional (paper-based) ones, the work of Health Information Management (HIM) professionals has become more essential and challenging than ever.
This HIM program will give you the knowledge and skills you need to effectively code, manage, and interpret patient data. Not only will you take classes in statistics, coding and classification, and database management, but you will also equip yourself with skills in Microsoft Applications, student success, and career management. Plus, the 12-week internship can mold you to confidently address real-world problems and provide you with valuable work experience and opportunities to meet potential employers.
This Health Information Management (HIM) program is accredited by the Canadian College of Health Information Management.
As a student of this program, you will receive:
- a 2-year Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA) Student Membership
- access to the latest databases and Canadian Coding Standards from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)
- continued use of EHRGO Software throughout the program (This education software has been designed to provide simulated case studies for students in healthcare programs.)
- coding and abstracting experience on WinRecs software for health information departments
- ongoing interaction with CHIMA through student membership and educational events
- preparation to take the National Certification Examination (NCE) through CHIMA upon successful completion of the program
triOS College developed this program in accordance with the 2022 CHIMA curriculum and accreditation standards for HIM.
Course Listings
Advanced Microsoft Excel
This course is aimed at students who have completed the Intermediate Excel course who need to learn more complex functions, data manipulation, templates, advanced formulas and functions, securing and sharing tools, pivot tables, and analysis tools.
Advanced Microsoft Word
Advanced Microsoft Word provides various tools to allow the student to create and manage long documents with ease. This advanced course focuses on using styles, outlines and inserting references, like table of contents and indexes, and also covers using the mail merge function, templates, protecting and sharing documents, and personalizing the interface. This course is computer intensive, demanding basic computer proficiency and a basic understanding of word processing software. Students are expected to make arrangements to meet proficiency needs as necessary.
Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology
This course will introduce the foundations of the language of medicine and will develop medical vocabulary through the study of the structures and functions of the major body systems. Topics include medical terminology; general body organization; and the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, urinary, nervous (including special senses and psychiatric disorders), integumentary, endocrine, and reproductive systems.
Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology 2
This course is designed to provide the student with a deeper understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the human body. The course will focus on the organization and the cellular/tissue basis of the human body.
This course builds on the medical terminology knowledge gained in Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology, and students will expand their ability to analyze, spell, define, pronounce, and apply medical words that relate to specific body systems. More advanced disease terms will be included along with abbreviations, prefixes, suffixes, diagnostic tests, clinical procedures, and various therapies.
Business Communication
This course is designed to give students a basic understanding of communication skills in the business environments. Focus will be placed on both written and spoken communications. Students will review the basic writing process with emphasis on the mechanics of writing. They will also learn the importance of effective spoken communication, deliver an oral presentation, and participate in a mock meeting.
Microsoft Outlook
This Microsoft Outlook course is created for students to build and validate the skills businesses need to succeed in today's information economy. It also provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to use to effectively manage e-mails, contacts, calendars, and tasks. Outlook has become the corporate standard electronic personal organizer. These are the foundational skills needed to communicate using Outlook in a variety of positions within and organization. This course is computer intensive and demands basic computer proficiency and a basic understanding of e-mail software. Students are expected to make arrangements to meet proficiency needs.
Microsoft PowerPoint
This course is designed for students who are interested in learning the fundamentals needed to create and modify basic presentations by using Microsoft PowerPoint. Students will explore the PowerPoint environment and create a presentation, will format text on slides to enhance clarity, enhance the visual appeal, add graphical objects to a presentation and modify them, and finalize a presentation to deliver it.
Coding and Classification Systems 1
Students will build on the knowledge and skills acquired in Introduction to Coding with emphasis on the coding related to specific body systems. Students will begin applying their skills to coding outpatient information.
Coding and Classification Systems 2
Students will build on the coding knowledge and skills learned in Coding and Classification Systems 1. Coding will go beyond the body systems studied in Coding and Classification Systems 1. Electronic abstracting will continue to be practiced using the same software that was introduced in Coding and Classification Systems 1.
Coding and Classification Systems 3
Students will build on the coding knowledge and skills learned in Coding and Classification Systems 1 and Coding and Classification Systems 2. Coding will relate to all systems of the body. Electronic abstracting will continue to be practiced using the same software that was introduced in Coding and Classification Systems 1.
Clinical Pathology for HIM I
This course will take a systematic approach to clinical pathology and examine the diseases affecting the various systems of the body. This course covers etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatments, including pharmacological interventions for various disorders. Topics include inflammation, healing, immunity, infection, neoplasms, cancer, fluid imbalances, skin disorders, musculoskeletal disorders, and pharmacology.
Clinical Pathology for HIM 2
This course will take a systematic approach to clinical pathology and examine the diseases affecting the various systems of the body. This course covers etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatments, including pharmacological interventions for various disorders. Topics include pain, nervous system disorders, stress, aging, immobility, substance abuse, sensory organs, respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, urinary disorders, endocrine disorders, genetic disorders, adolescence, pregnancy, and reproductive disorders.
Career Management
In this module, you will create and refine your résumé and LinkedIn Profile. You will write cover letters and learn the value of customizing cover letters to specific job postings. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge as you conduct a job search and write a cover letter tailored to an ideal job post. Through research, you will create a list of top employers and target current industry opportunities. You will learn about current methods for applying to job postings using technology. You will also gain an understanding of the job interview process, typical interview questions and possible responses, and expectations of both the interviewer and interviewee. In addition, you will engage in practical application of the interview process through role-play. Topics such as negotiating salary, self-management, and on-the-job success for placements and post-graduate employment will be also covered.
Database Management
Students will learn the basic concepts and principles of database design and management. The focus of the course will be on analysis and interpretation of database table layout and developing skills for modifying, sorting, and filtering of existing database structures and records using Microsoft Access. The learner will be able to compose selected queries and generate forms and reports of data applicable to the health information workplace environment.
Utilization Management and Decision Support
The utilization management (UM) and decision support (DS) course integrates theory and knowledge from previous HIM core courses within the program and builds on this with new knowledge related to UM and DS. The focus of the course will be on the organization of utilization management and decision support programs, national and provincial data sources, and MIS Standards. The student will learn to identify areas to monitor for utilization management. The development of reporting frameworks, benchmarking, and indicators will also be covered within the course.
Digital Literacy for Professionals
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. This course will cover the following elements: using devices and handling information, creating and editing information, communicating and collaborating, and being safe and responsible online.
Applied Research and Epidemiology
This course provides an introduction to research concepts and the basic principles and methods of epidemiology. Students will learn how to apply these concepts and principles to healthcare data. Calculation of epidemiological methods will also be taught.
Microsoft Excel
This Microsoft Office Excel course is created for students to build and validate the skills needed to succeed in today's economy. It also provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to use Microsoft Office Excel effectively in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. Excel is the world's most popular spreadsheet software. Whether you are managing a household or running a small business, Excel will help you develop useful techniques to help business processes. This course is computer intensive and demands basic computer proficiency and a basic understanding of spreadsheet software. Students are expected to make arrangements to meet proficiency needs as necessary.
Certification Exam Prep
Students will prepare for the CCHIM Certification Examination by learning about the format and delivery of the exam, and by integrating knowledge gained during the entire program. Emphasis will be placed on the assessment of knowledge gaps identified through multiple-choice test questions in the various competency areas and the development of a study plan.
Foundations to Practicum
Students will have an opportunity to focus on new learning to support individual external practicum project requirements through a combination of applied lab practice activities, article reviews, student research, and other experiences.
Concepts in Health Care
This course will provide an overview of the historical and legal foundations of the Canadian healthcare system. It will help students identify the regulations and legislations of government at various levels of care in Ontario.
Health Information Management Practicum 1 (25hrs/wk)
This practicum provides the student with an opportunity to perform selected skills in a health information management-related work setting, under the supervision of a qualified professional. This four-week practicum will provide the student with an opportunity to apply the learned theory and skills taught within the first half of the program. Travel may be required for practicum completion outside of the student's immediate area.
Health Information Management Practicum 2 (25hrs/wk)
This eight-week external practicum is the final component of the HIM program, which represents a capstone learning experience and will provide an opportunity for students to synthesize, integrate, and apply learning in a professional environment. Students will pursue the practicum experience in health information services in hospitals and other community healthcare facilities, and will be expected to perform tasks appropriate for the entry level health information practitioner, under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
Information Systems & Technology
Students will learn about fundamental concepts of health information systems, health information technology, and health informatics. Students will learn about the steps in the systems development life cycle and how to apply criteria for selecting and evaluating systems. Special emphasis will be on the electronic health record in a variety of settings. Students will learn about Canadian and international standards organizations and the standards they produce. Students will be introduced to EHRGo and Med2020.
Management of Health Information Services
This course presents the changing role of the HIM professional with an emphasis on the management role. In addition, students will be introduced to various principles, tools, and concepts involved in the planning, evaluation, assessment, and accountability of quality healthcare service provision.
Statistics for the HIM Professional
Students will learn the fundamental concepts and applications of descriptive and inferential statistics and probability theory as they apply to healthcare. They will learn about frequency distributions; graphic presentation of data; measures of location, variation, and shape; probability and probability distributions; Central Limit Theorem; hypothesis testing; correlation and regression analysis; and basic non-parametric statistics. Students will use Excel to calculate and interpret statistical measures.
Health Data Management and Use
This course introduces the learner to introductory HIM specific healthcare statistics. With a focus throughout on data quality, the student will learn about the importance of varying data elements in the creation of healthcare information and knowledge for decision-making. Sources and uses of health data are examined, with a focus on the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) databases.
Health Law
Students will learn about specific health legislation especially as it relates to access, security, confidentiality, and privacy of patient information and the use of health information in legal cases. Emphasis will be on best practices in the release of information. Students will also learn risk management techniques such as privacy impact assessment and threat and risk assessment.
Concepts in Health Care for HIM
Students will build on what they have learned in Concepts in Healthcare. They will also learn about the professional domains of practice for health information management professionals and the role of the professional organizations for health information management professionals.
Introduction to Coding
Students will learn about the fundamentals of classifications using ICD-10-CA and CCI, Canadian Coding Standards, and reporting in healthcare organizations.
Students will also learn about submissions to databases such as the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) and the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) database.
Introduction to Databases (using Microsoft Access)
This course covers the basic functions and features of Access. Students will learn how to design and create databases; work with tables, fields, and records; sort and filter data; and create queries, forms, and reports.
Integrated Projects (using Microsoft Office)
This project-based two-week module is designed to help validate and integrate the Microsoft Office skills developed in previous courses. Throughout the course, you will work on varied projects integrating Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
Medical Ethics for the HIM Professional
This course examines the rights of patients and clients and the obligations of medical and other healthcare practitioners. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of ethical theory and decision-making, and will examine the ways in which moral decisions are made in practice. Issues to be addressed include disclosing information to patients, interfering with a patient’s liberty for their own good, limits to the protection of patient confidentiality, protections for humans and animals in experimentation, respect for cultural diversity, and fairness in the allocation of scarce healthcare resources.
Records Management
Students will learn about the content and requirements for patient records, as well as how to manage records within a healthcare system. They will also learn about the storage and retention of records, and the role of health information practitioners in protecting the privacy, security, and confidentiality of patient information.
Student Success Strategies
This course stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic and career success. This includes understanding learning styles and honing practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note- and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision making and problem solving skills, setting goals and maintaining a positive attitude techniques for managing change, stress and conflict will also be explored.
Microsoft Word
This Microsoft Word course is created for students to build and validate the skills businesses need to succeed in today's information economy. It also provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to use Microsoft Word effectively in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. Word is the world's most popular word processing software. Learning how to create, edit, format and print documents, enhance work with formatting, use bullets and numbering, add simple borders, tables, headers/footers, organizing data columns, and styles, are the foundational skills needed in preform in many positions. This course is computer intensive and demands basic computer proficiency and a basic understanding of word processing software. The course combines lecture/demonstration by an instructor with readings, trainings, projects, and a final exam for students to work on in a simulation-based environment. Students are expected to ensure they meet proficiency requirements for working in this environment.
Admission Requirements
You must:
- have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent OR
- be at least 18 years old on or before the program begins AND pass a qualifying test that has been approved by the Superintendent (The approved qualifying test for this program is the Wonderlic test with a required passing score of 18.)
If you completed high school in a non-English speaking jurisdiction, you are required to take an English proficiency test through one of the following options:
- IELTS – minimum score of 6.5 with no subject test score lower than 6
- TOEFL – 79 overall
Career Quiz
Take a quick and easy quiz to find out more about yourself, your goals, and identify your strengths and social style. This quiz gives you suggestions for what career areas you might consider based on your likes and preferences. Give it a try now!
About the Canadian College of Health Information Management
The Canadian College of Health Information Management is a national, not-for-profit corporation that sets the accreditation standards for educational institutions and certification standards for health information professionals in Canada.
The College, incorporated in 1972, protects the public interest by governing and regulating the professional practice of more than 4,300 certified health information member registrants. In enhancing the status as a regulatory body, the College advances the professionalization of the health information industry and acknowledgement of its professionals as a key driver of policy, funding, and the care that Canadians receive.
Canadian College of Health Information Management