Frequently Asked Questions

   "Thank you for your interest in Kennebec Valley Community College. We believe KVCC is a special place, and we encourage you to consider the opportunities available here.
   We take great pride in the education and services we provide students as well as the success of our graduates. KVCC enjoys an exceptionally high job placement rate. The majority of students are able to work in their own communities.
   As a community college, we also embrace our mission to help students transfer to four-year institutions. We provide individual transfer counseling, and our students are well prepared to make the transition.
   KVCC has a dedicated, well-credentialed faculty, and the curriculum reflects the complex demands of today’s workforce. We strive to provide a friendly and supportive environment with personal attention. A wide range of support services are available to help all students achieve success from the beginning to the end of their educational endeavor.
   On behalf of the faculty and staff of Kennebec Valley Community College, I wish you every success as you pursue your educational goals."
Barbara Woodlee, President

    Yes! KVCC offers the Tuition and Reduction Program for qualified high school students.
Under the program guidelines students must meet the following standards:
     • Be a high school junior or senior
     • Have a minimum grade point average of at least a B
     • Obtain permission from a parent and guidance counselor
     • Have the necessary prerequisites and co-requisites for the desired courses
     • Satisfy all other reasonable requirements imposed by the college
     • Download the KVCC High School Tuition Waiver & Reduction Request

       Form: (Click Here)

    Upon successful completion of the Health Information Technology program, a graduate is expected to:
   1) Comply with the professional code of ethics of AHIMA and maintain

        effective professional conduct at all times.
   2) Be prepared for certification for the RHIT credential.
   3) Demonstrate the entry level skills as outlined in the Domains, Subdomains,

       and Tasks of AHIMA.
   4) Demonstrate clear and effective communication skills, critical thinking, and

       problem solving within their scope of practice.

    Advanced Opportunities and Learning is a continuous on-going learning experience. You grow with your profession, and will continuously enhance your skills, knowledge, and abilities.
As a Health Information Technology professional you will advance and become more familiar with electronic technology, and have the knowledge and skills to implement the latest information of quality health care, and take pride that you are part of a very important resource in the health care industry.

    Your professional role will be one of self enrichment and continuous growth. Ask health management professionals why they chose this field. They will tell you that they find their career rewarding and fulfilling. You will have many opportunities in where you want to start, this is why Health Information Technology is a great career choice. You may already have a special position in mind and want to further your education. Although you will not be working in a clinical capacity with patients, know that your valuable education and skills are an asset to providing patient quality care and services through quality processes and systems.

Certification -

To ensure that its members meet professional standards of excellence, AHIMA issues credentials in health information management, coding, and healthcare privacy and security. Members earn credentials through a combination of education and experience, and finally performance on national certification exams. Following their initial certification, AHIMA members must maintain their credentials and thereby the highest level of competency for their employers and consumers through rigorous continuing education requirements.

Health Information Management -

•  Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) are skilled in the collection, interpretation,

    analysis of patient data. A Bachelor's Degree is required.
•  Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) ensure the quality of medical records by

   verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems. They may also

   use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving

   patient care or controlling costs. RHITs often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in

   patient records for reimbursement and research. An Associate's Degree  is required.
•  Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Cancer registry technicians are responsible for cancer data

   collection that are used for quality management and improvement, cancer conferences,

   administrative reports, and marketing. This individual usually reports to the hospital

   administration, quality assurance, or to the Health Information managers.

Coding -

•  Certified Coding Associate (CCA). The CCA should be viewed as the starting point for an

    individual entering a new career as a coder.
•  Certified Coding Specialist (CCS). The CCS certification exam assesses mastery or proficiency

   in coding rather than the entry-level skills.
•  Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P).  If you perform coding in a doctors’s

   office, clinic, or similar setting , you should consider obtaining the CCS-P certification to attest

   your ability.

Healthcare Privacy and Security -

• Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS) - Demonstrates privacy and

   confidentiality in healthcare by issuing a credential that demonstrates mastery in both areas.
 

Requirements for certification maintenance, CE Quizzes and self assessments for all AHIMA credentials can be found here.

•  Medical Coder- Individual who uses the grouping of medical diagnoses within an established

   category and with standard symbols found in the ( ICD-9-CM) International Classification of

   Diseases to bill for services to patients.
•  Coding Manager- This person oversees the coding activities in a medical facility.
•  Performance Improvement Director- This person is an Administration Director overseeing, and

   supervising the Quality / Performance Department that improves patient care, patient safety,

   resource utilization, and ancillary services.

•  HIM Director - This person oversees a Health Information Department ensuring the accuracy,

  completeness, coding, security, storage and retrieval of health care related data in medical

   records.  This person will possess the (RHIA) Registered Health Information Administer

   credential.

Here are a few ways you can obtain CE credits:

• Attend any sponsored event through AHIMA (seminars, etc).



• Journal of AHIMA quizzes.


• Employer sponsored training.



• Be a guest speaker in any HIM education forum.