Department of Health lnformatics & Information Management

Health Informatics and Information Management professionals collect, integrate, and analyze primary and secondary health care data, disseminate information, and manage information resources related to the research, planning, provision, and evaluation of health care services.

High school students planning to enter a Health Informatics and Information Management program should take the general college preparatory courses and be computer literate.

Applicants for readmission and transfer students must meet program criteria at the time of admission to the program. If application for readmission occurs more than three quarters since the student was enrolled in a Health Informatics and Information Management (HIIM) course, a committee of Health Informatics and Information Management faculty will determine placement in the curriculum and any remedial course work necessary. Transfer credit from another accredited Health Informatics and Information Management program in a regionally accredited college will be evaluated to determine similarity of course content. Courses with the same content in which the student earned at least a “C” can be transferred.

Students are required to adhere to stated prerequisite courses. A request for a waiver of a stated prerequisite course must be submitted to the student’s advisor who will make a recommendation to a committee of HIIM faculty. The committee will consider overall GPA, HIIM GPA, and prior work experience in their decision.

The Health Informatics and Information Management program includes a professional practice component in which the student performs Health Informatics and Information Management procedures in hospitals and other health care facilities. To be eligible to register for the professional practice, the student must earn a minimum grade of “C” in prerequisite courses, achieve a minimum GPA of 2.25 in the curriculum, and have the approval of the committee of HIIM faculty. In addition to regular University fees, students beginning directed practice must provide name pins and their own transportation, and must submit to criminal background checks and drug screening. Proof of immunizations and current PPD testing are also required. The quarter preceding graduation is spent at off-campus affiliated sites where the student will gain experience in a variety of health care organizations. Each student’s professional practice experience is individually planned with the student to fulfill the educational requirements within the student’s financial and travel limitations. These professional practice experiences will be scheduled for students who have completed all course work on-campus or online and:

have no grades in required courses in the curriculum less than a “C”,
have completed HIM 478B with a grade of “C” or higher,
have a curriculum GPA of no less than 2.25,
and have an overall GPA of no less than 2.0.

A student’s professional practice experience will be terminated for inappropriate professional behavior and lack of adherence to ethical standards. The student who terminates a professional practice experience without permission from the HIIM professional practice coordinator and the professional practice site will not be scheduled for further professional practice experiences.

If a student wishes to enroll in a professional practice course after a lapse of more than three quarters since completion of the prerequisite courses, a committee of HIIM faculty will determine whether remedial course work is necessary before placing the student in professional practice. This is the only course that is not offered online. It must be completed at a professional practice site.

Louisiana Tech offers Health Information Technology graduates the opportunity to progress towards the four year degree. This is done by participating in internet and/or on-campus classes. Students are required to have an associate degree in HIT and possess RHIT credentials obtained within the last three years. Progression students will be evaluated on an individual basis to determine the HIM courses for which they will receive credit.. A minimum of 2.0 grade point average and 120 semester hours are required to receive the BS in Health Informatics and Information Management. Students must complete all GER requirements as well as HIM courses.

Students must earn a “C” in all required courses before being eligible for graduation from the program.

Students seeking information concerning admission to the Health Informatics and Information Management programs may contact the Health Informatics and Information Management Department, P.O. Box 3171, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272.

Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Health Informatics & Information Management (BS)

Minor

Health Informatics and Information Management Minor

Undergraduate Certificate

Rural Health Administrative Support, Undergraduate Certificate