Meeting & Agendas

Meeting called to order by Cynthia Colovas. Committee members introduced themselves. Cynthia Colovas welcomed everyone.

Minutes from last meeting reviewed and approved as written by committee members.

The Chair, Cynthia Colovas, opened the meeting with discussion regarding recruiting new board members for the Medical Coding advisory board. Cynthia Colovas asked for names of potential members. After listing several potentials, the board members decided that Cynthia Colovas would ask five people if they may be interested in joining the board, Norma Mercado, Department Chair, will contact the others that were also on the list of potential new members. Norma Mercado will send criteria and admission process of new board members to Cynthia Colovas. Cynthia Colovas will review the criteria and process before asking the new board members to join. Norma Mercado will probably be send letters to those potential members that were referred by the board and are not on Cynthia Colovas’ list.

AAS degree pending approval- Norma Mercado announced that the AAS degree will probably be approved at the end of August 2009. Norma Mercado announced that she will be developing the articulation agreements. Roll out of AAS degree- Norma Mercado stated that in the fall 2009 semester some of the courses in the new AAS degree will be offered. Naomi Carroll commented that some course substitution will be needed and that some courses will need to be “Grandfathered” as well. Name change for program- Norma Mercado stated that the AAS degree will be headed under the name of Health Information Technology and that the certificate will continue to be headed under the name of Medical Coding. This name change will take in place in the fall 2009 session. Faculty impact- Norma Mercado announced that the program will have two full time faculty members. She does not see hiring additional full times for the next year or two. Norma Mercado did see needing additional adjuncts. Norma Mercado asked the board for recommendation of potential adjuncts. Norma Mercado stated that she is working on articulation agreements and will update the board on the status. Norma Mercado and Naomi Carroll will be reviewing the courses which need to be substituted and “grandfathered”.

Ronald Modesty, from Capital IDEA, asked the question as to how the new AAS degree will be marketed and when? Eileen Klein, Dean of Health Science, said that once the program is approved then it will be marketed. This should probably be at the beginning of the fall semester. Eileen Klein suggested that Norma Mercado maintain a data base and send out post cards to those who say they are interested in the AAS degree. Other suggestions for marketing the program were to have flyers to take to the AHIMA convention in October, and to drop off flyers in local hospital lounges. Another suggestion was to contact KLBJ for free advertising. Norma Mercado will be working on the best way to send out announcement and to market the AAS degree.

Meeting adjourned. Next meeting date, September 11, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.