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Descriptive Information For The Health Information Management Technician (HIMT) Certificate Online Program At Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC)

Enrollment & Fiscal Data

a. Institutional and Program Contacts

Person with institutional responsibility for the academic quality of distance education programming:

Dr. Susan Huard, Dean of Learning and Student Development
shuard@qvcc.commnet.edu
860-412-7200 ext. 323

Person to be contacted with questions about content of report:

Cheri Goretti, HIMT Program Coordinator
cgoretti@qvcc.comment.edu
860-412-7200 ext. 349

b. General distance education information

The QVCC Distance Learning/Educational Technology home page is located at http://www.qvcc.commnet.edu/qvccdl/index.html. Both faculty members and students have ready access to this site, which includes links to WebCT Vista, Banner, and QVCC resources. This all-inclusive site provides a launching point for various services offered to the College’s distance learners and distance learning instructors.

Under the direction of the Dean of Learning and Student Development, the Director of Educational Technology administers and supports distance learning at QVCC. The College uses WebCT Vista version 3.5 to deliver online instruction. In fall 2005, two WebCT Vista faculty mentors were appointed to provide support to the full-time faculty for incorporating technology into the curriculum. In spring 2006, six faculty mentors were appointed to extend support for online learning to the adjunct faculty.

c. Description of technical infrastructure

BANDWIDTH WIDE AREA NETWORK (WAN):

At the main campus in Danielson, there are two T1 lines provided in conjunction with the Connecticut Community-Technical College system (CTC) Data Center. A T1 line is a digital WAN carrier; each T1 transmits DS-1 formatted data at 1.544 Mbps through the telephone switching network. In 2005, the T1 infrastructure was updated and converted to a fiber optic line back to the local SBC switching facility. QVCC offers some courses at its Willimantic Center, which has one T1 line. WebCT Vista version 3.5 is the course management system used by the College but supported and maintained by the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) (http://www.ctdlc.org). Weekly maintenance occurs every Thursday between 6 and 10 a.m. Technical support is available through the Internet, email, and live support chat (http://www.ctdlc.org/Help/index.cfm). CTDLC staff includes 10 technical support personnel, 3 research and student services personnel, 3 instructional design services personnel, and 4 administrative services personnel. For security, CTDLC encrypts information transmitted over the Internet using Secure Sockets Layer software. CTDLC backs up data nightly.

In addition to this existing bandwidth, the state Department of Education has promised additional bandwidth through access to the Connecticut Educational Network, which is currently being implemented through the CTC Data Center. Plans are in place to directly connect QVCC in the future.

LOCAL AREA NETWORK (LAN):

The LANs at both Danielson and Willimantic are Cisco-based switched networks with 100 Mbps speeds back to the core switch, at which point WAN traffic is routed to the centralized CTC Data Center and to the Internet and the other CTC colleges.

Both QVCC locations have Cisco 4006 core switches and Cisco 3548 edge switches. Danielson uses fiber modules in the 4006 core to transport data to telephone closets where the 3548 (or in some cases 3560) Cisco edge switches reside. Willimantic has one centralized network room where core and edge switches reside. At both locations, these switches then use Category 6 or in some cases Category 5 cable for the final leg to the desktop computers.

Danielson has over 350 total staff, faculty, and student workstations. Willimantic has over 90 stations. Local file servers are protected by RAID5 data arrays; DDS4 tape backup provides adequate local file sharing capability at both locations. Key network components are protected by uninterruptible power supplies as well as backup generator power.

For the expansion of classroom opportunities and for staff interaction between locations, both Danielson and Willimantic use Polycom real-time video conferencing over IP (H.323). The Polycom system uses a Virtual LAN managed by VTP (trunking protocol) settings in the core switches.

At both locations, faculty and staff members have access to an 802.11g wireless network. Students use this resource through “classroom on a cart” laptops. Expansion of this service to community and student personal laptops is in the planning phase.

The 30,000-square-foot Danielson building addition, scheduled to open during the 2006-07 year, will bring associated expansion of data and media services and a planned upgrade to the core switch and wireless network. Details of the expansion are given in QVCC’s 2006 five-year accreditation report. (http://www.qvcc.commnet.edu/neasc/2006/index.html) The number of workstations available to students is constantly expanding to meet demand for classroom and open lab opportunities. In Danielson this includes nearly 250 stations, and in Willimantic 66 workstations are available for student use.

d. Consortium Partners

The 12 CTC colleges have entered into a contractual relationship with CTDLC to deliver online instruction through WebCT Vista’s learning content management system.

The CTC system, the Connecticut State University System, and the University of Connecticut are members of CTDLC. A unique association of public and independent collegiate institutions, CTDLC is an interactive distance learning consortium that is continually developing to meet the changing educational needs of students and communities. The consortium uses technology to enhance the quality of learning, to increase access to higher education, and to share academic resources. CTDLC operates as a learning collaborative that enables participating colleges and universities to fulfill their institutional missions while sharing in and contributing to the combined learning resources of the consortium (http://www.ctdlc.org/About/webctvista.html).

NARRATIVE

Currently, the only degree or certificate program at QVCC that relies on more than 50% of its courses to be taught online is the HIMT certificate program. In 1996, the program was approved as a certificate offering by the CTC Board of Trustees. It is one of the Allied Health offerings at QVCC. While the Medical Assisting degree is physician-office based, the HIMT certificate trains professionals to work in hospitals, large physician groups, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, medical billing companies, and insurance companies. Often, a student enrolled in this certificate program also enrolls in a Medical Assisting, Management, or General Studies Associate’s degree program, as the HIMT courses transfer easily into these programs.

In 1999, the College determined that a need for an online version of this program existed. The need involved several factors. First, there was a dearth of HIMT programs available in the state of Connecticut. Second, there was an increased demand for competently trained professionals in the field of health information management. Third, there was an increase in out-of-state inquiries about QVCC’s HIMT certificate program.

Through its membership in and the award of grant money from CTDLC, QVCC took an early lead in providing online courses to its population and eventually designed the HIMT program for online delivery. In 2000, the online program obtained approval through the College’s curriculum review process, the CTC Board of Trustees, and the state Department of Higher Education.

 PROGRAM OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES

The HIMT certificate prepares students to organize and evaluate medical records in hospitals, physicians' offices, insurance settings, long-term care facilities, and clinics.

Learners who complete the Health Information Management Technician: Certified Coding Specialist certificate will

The majority of students in the HIMT program are non-traditional students attending school part time. Many already hold college degrees, and some have experience in other health-related fields and are looking to upgrade their skills. Some students enter the program with no related background and are seeking new careers.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are skilled in various areas of health information, such as medical transcription and medical office communication, as well as holding expertise in medical coding procedures. Thus the graduates are valuable as cross-trained professionals. They can continue their education in various degree programs, such as Medical Assisting, Management, and Health Information Management.

CURRICULUM

Major course requirements:

MED* 125 - Medical Terminology
BOT* 280 - Medical Machine Transcription
HIM* 102 - Introduction to Health Care Systems
HIM* 201 - HIM Principles
HIM* 210 - Coding I
HIM* 211 - Advanced Medical Coding
HIM* 254 - HIMT Practicum

Cognate areas:

ENG* 101 - Composition
CSA* 105 - Introduction to Software Applications

General Education courses and electives: None

ONLINE COURSE DESIGN

Prior to designing the online courses, two full-time faculty members and one part-time member attended training provided by CTDLC, as well as other distance learning seminars. The College provided and continues to provide in-house training and support through the Director of Educational Technology and the Instructional Technology department.

HIMT PROGRAM FACULTY
Name Title Degree Teaching Assignment
Cheri Goretti,
MT(ASCP), CMA		 Professor and
Program Coordinator, Allied Health 		MA, Biological Sciences
BS, Medical Technology 		HIM* 102
HIM* 254
Cindi Brassington,
CMA		 Associate Professor,
Allied Health		 BS, Biochemistry
MS, Nutrition 		MED* 125
BOT* 280
HIM* 102
Leslie Harris,
RN		 Adjunct Instructor,
Health Information Management		 BS, Psychology
MS, Nursing 		HIM* 201
HIM* 210
HIM* 211
Arlene Normandin,
CPC		 Adjunct Instructor,
Health Information Management 		AS, Medical Billing HIM* 210
HIM* 211
MED* 125

SELF-EVALUATION

The online HIMT program is consistent with the institution’s role and mission, which focuses on the Learners First principle, and also with the College’s annually developed goals. The program satisfies community and regional needs for technically trained health information professionals and provides state-of-the art skills to offer students a competitive edge in the health information management job market. The program is available outside the College’s geographic region, thus extending the student body, although so far there has not been significant enrollment from outside the region.

QVCC has an extensive planning process that includes continuous direction from the College’s Lead Planning Team. The purpose of this team is to ensure that the College responds to the current and future needs of its community and students. Institutional planning addresses growth in the use of technology as well as the increased demand for online education. The HIMT program was designed in response to these factors, and the College’s planning process has supported the growth of the program by identifying and supplying instructional, technical, and financial resources for distance learning.

The HIMT program was evaluated and approved through the College’s curriculum review process (the Academic Issues Committee and the Division Council), by the CTC Board of Trustees, and by the state Department of Higher Education.

The program undergoes continuous evaluation that includes alumni surveys, student evaluation of both instructor and program, external feedback on curriculum and students from HIMT practicum site supervisors, and program coordinator review of curriculum and instruction. In addition, there is continuing assessment of student accomplishment through coursework and assignments.

Through the above procedures, the HIMT online program is fully integrated into and supported by the organization and governance system of the College.

Throughout its conception and development, the online HIMT certificate program has followed the College’s policies and procedures for assuring the quality and relevance of the academic requirements and the delivery of curriculum. While the method of delivery is distance learning, the program adheres to the same standards of quality and level of academic rigor that on-site programs do. Program goals, as well as individual course objectives and learning outcomes, have been developed to align with the College’s mission and purposes.

The institution provides online students with the same resources as on-campus students. These resources include an online help desk provided by the Instructional Technology department and CTDLC, online library resources, and online access to the reference librarian, instructors, and tutors. Academic and transfer advising is also available to all online students. Textbook lists for each class are available through the College’s website and by email or telephone contact with the bookstore manager.

The institution provides substantial resources for online HIMT courses. In addition to online help and technical support, the College continues to provide in-house technological and pedagogical training for distance learning activities. The HIMT program has an annual budget for purchasing medical transcribers and coding books and providing professional development resources for faculty members. In addition, laptop computers are available to both full- and part-time faculty members, to facilitate interaction with students.

The College follows the same procedures and standards for awarding academic credit for distance learning courses that it follows for all other credit courses, and it applies its standard graduation requirements for the HIMT certificate. The College uses the same transfer standards for accepting credits towards the HIMT certificate as for any on-location degree or certificate. The institution’s 25% residency rule applies to the HIMT program. Student transcripts do not delineate method of course delivery, nor do transcripts indicate that the HIMT program can be delivered by distance learning.

All courses in the online HIMT certificate program follow the same procedures and guidelines for ensuring academic integrity as on-site courses do. Plagiarism is addressed as it is in on-location courses. The proctoring procedure consists of requiring the student to supply the instructor with an approved proctor. A list of approved proctors is provided to all students. Proctoring guidelines are sent to the approved proctor along with the procedure for administering and submitting the completed exam.

The courses in the HIMT certificate program are offered in the traditional 15-week semester; they are not offered in abbreviated or concentrated time periods.

Both full- and part-time faculty members teach online and on location. Faculty members maintain on-location and online office hours and are available through email and telephone conferencing. HIMT faculty members teach in other disciplines on location, and the criteria by which they are hired and assessed, as well as their responsibilities, are consistent with all other faculty members. Online courses carry the same workload credit as on-location courses. The evaluation of full- and part-time faculty members who teach online courses adheres to the same procedures and standards as the evaluation of on-location faculty. As an evaluator performs a classroom observation for an on-location course, the evaluator for an online course has access to the instructor’s course to view lessons, discussions, and assignments and to assess the instructor’s rapport with students and the rigor of curriculum. There is a written evaluation and a post-evaluation discussion with the instructor.

All programs at QVCC, including the online HIMT program, have open enrollment. Any student wishing to enroll in the online HIMT certificate program may apply to the College either in person or online. Students who are unable to come to campus can obtain advising information by email or telephone. The registration process can be completed online. The Basic Skills Assessment, required of all entering students, is available online. Academic standing policies are consistent between online and other students.

All online students receive a welcome letter from the course instructor. The letter details course specifics such as required texts, instructions for logging into and maneuvering through the course, and technical support information. Students are supplied with email addresses and phone numbers of instructors and of the Director of Educational Technology.

Students enrolled in BOT* 280 Medical Transcription have access to the College’s transcription machines and tapes. Local students pick up machines and tapes on campus, while machines and tapes are mailed to students not in the QVCC service area.

The online HIMT program is under the Allied Health department budget. Each year, with input from the Allied Health program coordinator, the College allocates sufficient funds to cover programming purchases, such as medical transcribers and current coding standard books. Students enrolled in the online HIMT certificate program are eligible for financial aid. Financial counseling, as well as emergency and textbook scholarships, are available to all QVCC students, including online students.

With regard to the online HIMT program, information about curriculum (including full course descriptions and program objectives), faculty, services, admission, registration, tuition, financial aid, textbook purchasing, accreditation status, and distance learning can be found on the College’s website. The College provides online student orientation for all distance learning students. Students have access to faculty and staff email addresses for direct communication and requests for information. Also, the College catalog contains contact information and information on the online HIMT program.

The online HIMT certificate program has been in existence for seven years. Many students have graduated from the program and have successfully pursued careers in health information management. Some have continued their education and received Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees, while others have earned national certification in medical coding.

The program continues to grow and to educate students from all over the country. The admission, financial aid, and registration processes, as well as academic and technical support, have been seamless for out-of-state students. The program complies with all College procedures, policies, and goals and continues to be consistent with QVCC’s mission, particularly the principle of Learners First.

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