Meeting & Agendas

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

Norma Mercado summarized her findings from a two-year associate’s degree program survey that she sent out in May 2006. From the feedback of the survey, she concluded that she did not see community support for a two-year associate degree for her program. Ms. Mercado stated that her findings showed that there were not enough employers to employ students with an associate degree. Ms. Mercado also stated that most facilities want students with a four-year degree. In addition, she stated that student did not want to accept entry-level positions and students with RHIT credentials do not want to be coders. The committee discussed the pros and cons of a two-year degree associates degree. Pat Recek, Assistant Dean for Health Sciences, suggested that the program sent out surveys to the graduates, clinics, employers, and students of the Medical Coding program. Pat Recek said the survey might include a question in regards as to where the student is working. Ms. Mercado said that a survey is already in place for the graduates and that she is in the process of collecting the information to turn into the Dean. The committee members decided that they still want to explore the possibilities of accreditation for the program. Ms. Mercado will check into the criteria and report to the committee.

Ms. Mercado reported that Richard Espinosa, Department Chair for Allied Health, had discussed that he would like to see if the committee would want to have his program develop the MDCA 1302/1002, Human Disease/Pathophysiology for the Medical Coding students in place of the HPRS 2301/2001, Pathophysiology. The Medical Coding students are currently taking HPRS 2301/2001. His justification is that MDCA 1302/1002 is more of an introductory class in regards to HPRS 2301/2001 being an intermediate class, which has a lot more clinical study. He feels that the MDCA 1302/1002 may meet the coding student’s criteria a lot better. After discussing the two classes, the committee decided that Ms. Mercado would inform Richard Espinosa that at this time no changes would occur until the committee has an opportunity to explore the classes and see if it still meets AHIMA standards. Ms. Mercado will purchase the AHIMA standards and will report her findings to the committee.

Ms. Mercado announced that the full time faculty interviews had taken place and out of the six applicants who applied most of them declined the position. The position is currently closed. Ms. Mercado said that she would review new application again in a couple of months. At this time, the Dean told her that there were not enough applicants in the pool to make considerations or set up interviews

The members of the committee decided that they preferred early morning meetings. To plan for future meetings, the meetings will be scheduled for the second Friday in September and the second Friday in May. The next meeting will be tentatively held on September 14, 2007. Ms. Colovas asked that before the next meeting, non-faculty members have a meeting the second Friday in August. She will contact those involved by email. Ms. Colovas requested that for the next meeting that a medical coding lingo list of classes and names in regards to the program is made for the meeting. Ms. Colovas also suggested that new contacts be made to recruit new members to the committee. The people that will be contacted are Suelane Vital, Seton Healthcare Network’s Coding Compliance Officer, Kim Kieke, Interim Coding Manager at ARC and Rebecca Rodriguez with Austin Heart. In addition to this list, two ex-students of the Medical Coding program will also be invited to the next meeting in order to get the student’s perspective of the program.

Ms. Mercado reported that there are 92 students in some part of the program. Six students are graduating this summer. Ms. Mercado also reported that she now has enough clinic sites. She said she recently obtained four new sites.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.