To provide students with fundamental knowledge and skills in health records, medical coding, and reimbursement processes. The program’s primary focus is on the current version of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding for physician coding applications in preparation for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and/or American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exams.

The career studies certificate in Medical Coding is designed for the student who desires to obtain training in International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification (ICD), medical coding, and insurance billing.  Upon completion of the program, the student may seek an entry-level position in hospitals, doctors' offices, and more. 

The Career Studies Certificate in Medical Coding provides courses in health records coding, billing, and documentation for students seeking career options and opportunities for advancement in the area of administrative support in the medical field.

The Billing and Coding (BC) certificate program prepares individuals for a position in a medical office setting. Students are prepared to complete insurance and billing forms for patients and insurance companies. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the National Center Competency Test (NCCT) for certification. Note: Admission to the program requires a criminal background check.

Designed to provide the technical knowledge and skills needed for employment as a release of health information specialist. Release of health information specialists assemble, process, and maintain medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with administrative, legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. Duties could include retrieving patient medical records, protecting the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained, and releasing information to persons or agencies according to regulations. 

This program is designed to provide the technical knowledge and skills needed for employment as an advanced medical coder. The coursework for the advanced level will equip students to work in medical records and offer an opportunity for existing coders to further their management, supervisory, auditing, or alternative coding skills.

Through didactic instruction, simulated experiences, and internship placements, graduates of Laurel Ridge Community College’s Health Information Management degree will have a working knowledge of healthcare data content, data structure and standards, information protection, including access, disclosure, archiving, privacy and security, health information technologies, revenue management, compliance (with state and federal regulations and common accreditation standards), and leadership concepts. They will have sufficient knowledge of the electronic storage, retrieval, and use of health information to ensure the efficient and effective flow of health information throughout the continuum of care, to support reimbursement, and for use in health research. In addition, they will be able to effectively communicate, in writing and verbally, information related to the research, planning, provision, and evaluation of everyday operations in all aspects of health care services. Students gain skills that will allow them to effectively manage the operations, workflow, and staff of health information and related departments. This program is beneficial to individuals who are seeking career advancement and eligibility to take the national certifying examination - Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) and/or a certified coding credential. Occupational objectives upon completion of this program include: Health Information (Medical Records) Assistant/Technician, Medical Coder, Coding Manager/Supervisor, Health Information Supervisor/Office Manager, Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist, Privacy Officer/Assistant, Health Data Analyst, Cancer or Trauma Registrar, Healthcare Data Analyst, Data Quality Manager, or Department/Office Supervisor.

The Health Information Management (HIM) degree provides students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills required to perform a variety of specialized duties in a non-clinical healthcare setting. Graduates may seek positions as medical records technicians, coders, health information specialists, and similar designations.

Big data analytics is transforming the way many organizations do business in dozens of industries. But the impact is most profound in the field of medicine, where an advanced health information techology analyst has the potential to revolutionize patient care.
The Health IT Analyst provides students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills required to perform a variety of specialized duties in a non-clinical healthcare setting in healthcare IT, Health Information Management and Clinical Research. Graduates may seek positions as health IT data analyst, data, healthcare data reporting analyst, healthcare business intelligence analyst, clinical decision support analyst, quality improvement analyst, and similar designations.

The Clinical Research Coordinator Certificate is designed to provide entry-level specialization in the clinical trial operations. The Clinical Research Coordinator supports, facilitates and coordinates clinical trial activities and plays a critical role in managing the clinical trial. The curriculum provides introduction to clinical trials in phases 1-5, obtaining informed consent, educating the patient on the clinical trial process, risks and benefits while ensuring Good Clinical Practice Standards are followed. The Clinical Research Coordinator reports to the Principle Investigator and the Institutional Review Board and manages the recruitment and retention of objects for clinical trial while ensuring vulnerable subjects are protected from risk. Clinical Trials consist of research for pharmacologics, investigational devices, biologics and social/behavior studies. Students will also learn the sources of data collection, source documents and case forms used in the clinical research process, as well as privacy, security and confidentiality protocols.

This career studies certificate leads to entry-level employment in the medical coding field. The program provides foundational knowledge in medical terminology and medical coding and prepares students to take the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Upon completion of the career studies certificate, students are employable as entry-level medical billing/coding/data entry employees.

This career studies certificate leads to technician-level employment in medical facilities. The program provides advanced knowledge in anatomy and physiology for administrative health professionals. Students receive training in editing and proofreading, word processing, and records management. Upon completion of the career studies certificate, students are employable as medical coders, medical office managers, and medical records managers.

The Medical Administrative Support Assistant (MASA) career studies certificate is designed to provide students with the basic academic and technical skills necessary for entry-level jobs in local hospitals and physician offices, in the areas such as a medical secretary on the floor of an acute care hospital, admissions and patient registration, receptionist, customer service representative, front office staff, office assistant and more. Some working environments include physician’s offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes and long-term care facilities. This program of study also gives students a foundation of academic course work that will allow them to continue their education in the areas of health information management - medical coding. The PVCC Medical Administrative Support Assistant (MASA) program helps prepare you to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam, and/or the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam, and/or the Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) exam with the National Healthcareer Association. If you meet elegibility requirements and pass this exam, you’ll become certified which can help you stand out as an applicant. Entry-level positions in hospitals and physician offices; articulation into health information management program-medical coding. Entry-level positions in an acute care hospital can be in the areas of patient registration, admissions, and floor medical secretaries. In a physician’s office setting, the medical administrative support assistant (MASA) is the person who helps keeps the office running as smoothly as possible, regarding “everything administratively” - such as recordkeeping and patient documentation, assisting with patient insurance claims, medical coding, patient scheduling, confirm patient appointments, and data entry of the non-technical or medical coding information provided.

This curriculum is designed to produce students competent in all aspects of workflow process and analysis and redesign, as it relates to the adoption, implementation, maintenance, and optimization phases of the transition to the use of an electronic health records system.

The Career Studies Certificate in Medical Coding is designed to prepare individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for employment as a medical coder. This objective is fulfilled through study and application by coding medical records using a variety of nomenclatures and classification systems.

The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Health Information Management (HIM) can lead to careers in hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies, consulting firms, and many other health related facilities. Graduates may seek positions as medical records technicians, coders, health information specialists, and similar designations.

Entrance requirements for this program include high school graduation or a GED. The program has a selective admission process for each fall semester cohort. Additional information about the admission process and program requirements is available online at tcc.edu (search keywords "HIM Program Packet").

Individuals in the Health Information Management program may elect to pursue professional certification following completion of the A.A.S. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers an examination toward the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), available to graduates of the HIM program.

The Health Information Management accreditor of Tidewater Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College's accreditation for Associate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2029. All inquiries about the program's accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

This program is designed to train students as medical coders.

This program builds the basic skills to be an employee in the modern office setting.

This program builds the basic skills to be an employee in the modern office setting.