Student Tips

What you put into your education is what you get out of it!

Organization, time management, note taking and study habit are key elements to academic success. Students who have been out of school for a period of time may find it difficult to get back into a good study routine. A tutor can make all the difference. TRIO—offers guidance in these areas and can help those in need. TRIO staff remark, "organization" is a key to your success.”
 

Student Tip: Ask for help whenever help is needed.
 

Computer skills!

Information technology (IT) impacts students in HIT program. They are exposed to Microsoft software applications such as: Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint throughout the course of study.  Increase your computer literacy by contacting Marden Learning Center, whose staff is ready to assist every student.

Student Tip: Technical skills are vital to success of HIM professionals. Attain

 proficiency in multiple applications.

Many students have made the unfortunate mistake of selling textbooks at semester end only to discover they are required later in the HIT program.

Textbooks, including ICD-9-CM Coding Handbook (Brown), CPT Standard Edition (AMA) and Health Information Management of Strategic Resource (Abdelhak), are key resources in preparation for the RHIT exam. Several are used in the workplace by HIM professionals daily.
 

Student Tip: Keep all textbooks on a small bookshelf somewhere you will

have easy access to them.

Keep notebooks and papers!

There may be times when it will be necessary to refer back to a particular research paper, clinical experience, or other assignment you’ve worked hard preparing. Such handwritten, typed or printed documents are invaluable tools.
 

Student Tip: Keep all notebooks and binders labeled and neatly organized

 with textbooks. Store electronically generated information on flash stick, CD

 or on other media form. Before long, you will have created PER (personal

 education record,  similar to PHR personal health record.)

Keep immunizations and records up-to-date!

Proof of current immunization is required by all colleges, most physicians, and many employers.

Student Tip: Check immunization status yearly.

Join AHIMA!

Student members are considered as fundamental to the growth of the HIM profession as the working HIM professional, and for this reason, AHIMA invests a great deal of staff and volunteer time, ideas and resources in support of academic programs and matriculating students, (Claire Dixon-Lee, Vice President for Accreditation and Education).
 

Student membership includes but is not limited to:
• 4 issues of Student Connection-news (quarterly e-newsletter for students)
• Monthly e-mail tips
• Student Community of Practice (CoP) website (A virtual meeting place that lets you collaborate, network, and reach out to peers, mentors, and other students with common interests, issues and areas of expertise.)
• FORE Library: HIM Body of Knowledge, (An online repository of critical HIM information and research resources at your fingertips-includes journal articles, practice briefs, industry news, and more).
• AHIMA Mentor Program
• Discounts on certification exams
 

Student Tip: When eligible, become a student AHIMA member. It’s worth the

$35.00 membership dues per year. It may be tax deductible, too.