Health Information Technology - Healthcare Documentation Specialist

Degree: Technical Certificate

Emphasis: Healthcare Documentation Specialist

The Healthcare Documentation Specialist Technical Certificate program prepares individuals who meet entry-level competencies for healthcare documentation by use of speech recognition editing and proofing transcription in various healthcare settings to understand medical concepts, medical terminology, and produce accurate medical reports.

Numerous career opportunities exist in hospitals, physician’s offices, clinics, home health agencies and healthcare documentation services. Graduates are eligible to apply to take the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity’s Registered Healthcare Documentation Specialist (RHDS) credential exam.

Gainful Employment Disclosure - Healthcare Documentation Specialist Certificate (formerly Medical Transcription Certificate): ws.edu/financial-aid/consumer/gedt/GedtMDTR/Gedt.html

This program is designed for the student who does not intend to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.

Admission, Retention and Graduation Requirements

1. All students admitted into the Healthcare Documentation Specialist Technical Certificate program will meet the same criteria as established for any technical certificate program offered by Walters State Community college. Primary among these criteria is graduation from high school or a passing score on the GED assessment.
2. Indicate Healthcare Documentation Specialist as the desired major on the WSCC application form.
3. Each student enrolled in the Healthcare Documentation Specialist Certificate program will be monitored, advised and counseled. Student’s grades will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the director of the Healthcare Documentation Specialist program. A student must maintain the following standards or be dismissed from the program: (a) a grade of “C” or better in each course; (b) complete designated prerequisite/corequisite courses.
4. Program graduation requirements include the successful completion of the courses listed below with a minimum grade of “C” in each course.
5. In addition, admission into an allied health program requires: (a) completed physical health form; (b) evidence of malpractice liability insurance; and (c) a signed and dated acknowledgement of the Drug/Alcohol Abuse Policy and Consent forms. Students will be provided instructions, after classes begin, regarding deadlines for these requirements. (Contents of item 5 are not required for online clinical practicums.)