Health Information Management Program (C139)
Program Description
Leadership Claims
This program is accredited by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA).
The Canadian College of Health Information Management is a national, not-for-profit corporation that sets the accreditation standards for educational institutions and certification standards for health information professionals in Canada.
The Canadian College of Health Information Management sets the accreditation standards for educational institutions offering health information programs in Canada.
Program Overview
The Health Information Management program will prepare you to participate in the collection and organization of health information. Over the course of two years, you will develop the skills and knowledge you need to work as health information practitioner.
Full Description
The Health Information Management (C139) two-year diploma program will teach you the skills and knowledge you need to work as a health information practitioner. Core skills include the collection and organization of health information. This program is fully accredited by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA).
The Health Information Management curriculum content emphasizes:
- biomedical sciences
- health informatics
- health record systems
- medical classification systems and coding
- data collection
- statistical analysis and presentation
- health-care legislation
As a Health Information Management practitioner, you will:
- work with health-care providers and stakeholders to transition from the paper health record to the electronic health record
- develop, implement and maintain health information systems
- protect patient information and promote confidentiality awareness
- control the release of medico-legal information
- evaluate standards of documentation according to established criteria
- provide essential information for clinical research, quality improvement, utilization review, budgeting and other administrative applications
Upon graduation, you will be eligible to write the Canadian Health Information Management Association national certification examination. Please visit the Canadian Health Information Management Association website to learn more about this certification and the associated exam fee.
Note: As a student in this Health Information Management program, you will be required to provide your own laptop computer for the duration of the program. Details regarding specifications will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
Your Field Education Options
Field placement plays an important role in George Brown College's Health Information Management program by giving you the chance to apply what you've learned in the classroom to a real-world environment.
During the second year, field placement is integrated throughout semesters 3 and 4. You will visit a partner office every Friday until the end of semester 4. During this time, you will be exposed to various components of health data, such as the collection of, type of, auditing of, analyzing of, and privacy issues related to data. At the end of semester 4, you will go on a three-week block placement. During this time, you will be expected to complete a project related to health data to include an analysis of data and health-data-related issues.
The type of sites you can expect to conduct your field experiences include:
- health-care facilities
- Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
- health-related insurance companies
- Ontario Hospital Association
- community care access centres
PLEASE NOTE: Some of our clinical or work placement partners may require students to show proof of full vaccination. As such, students who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may not be able to complete the required field placement component of their program in the regularly scheduled time frame.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Educational Pathways
As a Health Information Management graduate who is certified with the Canadian Health Information Management Association, you may apply to Toronto Metropolitan University to complete the Ted Rogers School of Management Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA).
Upon graduation, you may also apply to enter the two-year bridging program in the Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science (BA HIS) degree at Conestoga College.
For further information, see the Transfer Guide.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
Semester 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| COMM 2000 | Communicating Across Contexts* |
| PATH 1001 | Pathophysiology I: Microbiology |
| LAW 2008 | Health Care Law |
| MATH 1112 | Fundamental Mathematics for Health Information Management |
| RECM 1001 | Health Information Management I |
| RECM 1005 | Medical Terminology I |
| RECM 1023 | Anatomy and Physiology |
Semester 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| COMP 1007 | Excel Applications |
| PATH 1005 | Pathophysiology II |
| RECM 1011 | Medical Terminology II |
| RECM 1022 | Transition to Employment |
| RECM 1024 | Anatomy and Physiology/Genetics |
| RECM 2002 | Health Information Management II |
| STAT 1013 | Quantitative Methods and Hospital Statistics |
Semester 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| COMP 1227 | Excel II |
| LAW 2023 | Privacy and Release of Information |
| RECM 1003 | Health Information Coding Classification I |
| RECM 2010 | Health Information Management Field Education I |
| STAT 2001 | Inferential Statistics and Research Methods |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
Semester 4
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| EPID 2001 | Epidemiology |
| RECM 2007 | Health Data Management |
| RECM 2011 | Health Information Management Field Education II |
| RECM 2014 | Health Information Systems |
| RECM 2015 | Health Information Coding Classification II |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
*Based on the results of your placement test, you may be required to take COMM 1000 Introduction to College Communication before progressing to COMM 2000. COMM 1000 does not count as a course required for graduation, and you will be charged for this extra course. Please visit the Assessment Centre web page for more information.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Keep current with relevant local, national and global health care and health information management issues, trends, technologies and standards to support health information management systems and processes and guide professional development.
- Assess personal health information from individual client visits for accuracy, completeness and consistency using knowledge of biomedical sciences, medical diagnoses and interventions, causes of diseases, and medical terminology, abbreviations and acronyms.
- Apply current, accurate codes and standards to relevant personal health information from individual client visits using health information, coding, classification and abstracting systems proficiently.
- Comply with the legal obligations, as well as with the professional, ethical and organizational standards that ensure privacy, security and confidentiality in the access, retention, storage and disposal of personal health information.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of health information management practices, policies and processes to support client care, organizational goals, operations, and regulatory compliance.
- Participate in maintaining the completeness, accuracy, consistency, timeliness and integrity of health information throughout the management of its lifecycle.
- Use knowledge of systems interoperability standards, database architecture, software versioning, classification and terminology mapping, data collection requirements, legal obligations, and the health information management lifecycle and apply fundamental project management principles and practices to support the procurement and implementation of health information management systems.
- Retrieve and release personal health information in response to legitimate requests, in accordance with statutory requirements, and within specified deadlines.
- Participate in the retrieval, analysis and presentation of relevant health information to stakeholders to support organizational decision-making, epidemiological studies and clinical research.
- Work professionally, ethically and collaboratively with stakeholders and as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, within a structured, regulated and evolving system of health care, to enhance the collection, distribution, use, security and awareness of quality health information and its impact on client care.
- Use current and emerging technologies to support the management, analysis and presentation of health information.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2024. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2025 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
** Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2025. Tuition fees are subject to board approval. Material, student service and ancillary fees are estimated based on prior years. All fees are subject to change without notice. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information. This program is available for funding through our partnership with Passage, who provide student loans to qualified international student applicants. To find out more about this opportunity, and if you may qualify, visit our Passage page.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic achievement, including the required courses, and any other selection criteria outlined below.
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent**
- grade 12 English (C or U)
- grade 11 Math (M or U) or grade 12 (C or U)
- grade 11 Biology (C or U) or grade 12 (U); or grade 11 Physics (U) or grade 12 (C or U); or grade 11 Chemistry (U) or grade 12 (C or U).
- A minimum grade of 55 per cent is required in English, Mathematics and Science (Biology preferred) courses.
- Attending an information session is strongly recommended.
- A working knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) is strongly recommended.
** Mature Student Status (19 years of age or older and no OSSD)
Mature students may take the Admissions Assessment for English, Math or Science OR may consider upgrading to achieve the credit(s) needed in English, Math or Science.
Please note that George Brown is committed to ensuring that applicants will succeed in their program of choice and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants may be required to have grades higher than the minimum requirements stated.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
Special Requirements
Clinical Pre-placement Health Form requirements and program policy
- Upon confirmation of acceptance into this program, students must meet and complete all the mandatory Pre-placement requirements for this program. It will take up to eight to 10 weeks to complete.
- Students will need to process and provide proof of their medical records (TDAP shot, COVID-19, MMR, Varicella, Hep B blood test reports/titres and Two-Step TB Skin Test) and proof of clear Vulnerable Sector Check renewed every year . These requirements must be submitted by the program specific deadline to ParaMed Placement Pass website.
- COVID-19 vaccination: Public Health recommends that people working with young children and other vulnerable communities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As such, students who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may not be able to complete the required field placement component of their program in the regularly scheduled time frame.
- The health policies and non-academic requirements are designed to protect clients and vulnerable populations whom students will engage in practice. Students who do not comply with the program’s health policy and non-academic requirements, or who do not submit all required documentation by deadlines established by the program will be excluded from the clinical practicum. Exclusion from clinical practicum for any reason may jeopardize students' academic standing and successful completion of this program.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student. To download the mandatory Pre-placement health form and for more details, go to the Clinical Pre-placement website.
Vulnerable Sector Check requirements and program policy (renew every year)
- In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a Vulnerable Sector Check completed, and this check must be renewed every year before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The Vulnerable Sector Check process typically takes two to three months, but under some circumstances can take four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the Vulnerable Sector Check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).”
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Students who are unable to provide a “clear” Vulnerable Sector Check may not be able to start their field or clinical placement and therefore may be unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment. The fees for the vulnerable sector check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the Clinical Pre-placement website..
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
For more information, contact the School of Health Services Management at 416-415-5000, ext. 2367 or E-mail hsmprograms@georgebrown.ca
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
Health Information Management Program (C139)
Program Description
Leadership Claims
This program is accredited by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA).
The Canadian College of Health Information Management is a national, not-for-profit corporation that sets the accreditation standards for educational institutions and certification standards for health information professionals in Canada.
The Canadian College of Health Information Management sets the accreditation standards for educational institutions offering health information programs in Canada.
Program Overview
The Health Information Management program prepares graduates to participate in the collection and organization of health information. Over the course of two years, students will develop the skills and knowledge they need to work as health information practitioners.
Full Description
The Health Information Management (C139) two-year diploma program focuses on providing the skills and knowledge needed by health information practitioners by preparing graduates to participate in the collection and organization of health information. This program is fully accredited by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA).
The Health Information Management curriculum content emphasizes:
- biomedical sciences
- health informatics
- health record systems
- medical classification systems and coding
- data collection
- statistical analysis and presentation
- health-care legislation
Health Information Management practitioners:
- work with health-care providers and stakeholders to transition from the paper health record to the electronic health record
- develop, implement and maintain health information systems
- protect patient information and promote confidentiality awareness
- control the release of medico-legal information
- evaluate standards of documentation according to established criteria
- provide essential information for clinical research, quality improvement, utilization review, budgeting and other administrative applications
Graduates are eligible to write the Canadian Health Information Management Association national certification examination. Please visit the Canadian Health Information Management Association website to learn more about this certification and the associated exam fee.
Note: Students in this Health Information Management program will be required to provide their own laptop computer for the duration of the program. Details regarding specifications will be provided upon acceptance to the program.
Your Field Education Options
Field placement plays an important role in George Brown College's Health Information Management program by giving students the chance to apply what they've learned in the classroom to a real-world environment.
During the second year, field placement is integrated throughout semesters 3 and 4. Students will visit a partner office every Friday until the end of semester 4. During this time, students will be exposed to various components of health data, such as the collection of, type of, auditing of, analyzing of, and privacy issues related to data. At the end of semester 4, they will go on a three-week block placement. During this time, students will be expected to complete a project related to health data to include an analysis of data and health-data-related issues.
The type of sites where students can expect to conduct their field experiences include:
- health-care facilities
- Ontario Ministry of Health
- health-related insurance companies
- Ontario Hospital Association
- community care access centres
PLEASE NOTE: Some of our clinical or work placement partners may require students to show proof of full vaccination. As such, students who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may not be able to complete the required field placement component of their program in the regularly scheduled time frame.
Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities
Educational Pathways
Health Information Management graduates who are certified with the Canadian Health Information Management Association may apply to Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) to complete the Ted Rogers School of Management Bachelor of Health Administration (BHA).
Graduates of our program may also apply to the Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science (BA HIS) degree at Conestoga College. Graduates are eligible to enter the two-year BA HIS bridging program.
For further information, see the Transfer Guide.
Alumni Impact
We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.
Courses
Required Courses
SEMESTER 1
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| RECM 1023 | Anatomy and Physiology |
| PATH 1001 | Pathophysiology I: Microbiology |
| RECM 1001 | Health Information Management I |
| RECM 1005 | Medical Terminology I |
| LAW 2008 | Health Care Law |
| MATH 1112 | Fundamental Mathematics for Health Information Management |
| COMM 1000 | Introduction to College Communication |
| Or | |
| COMM 2000 | Communicating Across Contexts** |
SEMESTER 2
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| RECM 1024 | Anatomy and Physiology/Genetics |
| PATH 1005 | Pathophysiology II |
| RECM 2002 | Health Information Management II |
| RECM 1011 | Medical Terminology II |
| STAT 1013 | Quantitative Methods and Hospital Statistics |
| COMP 1007 | Excel Applications |
| RECM 1022 | Transition to Employment |
SEMESTER 3
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| RECM 1003 | Health Information Coding Classification I |
| RECM 2010 | Health Information Management Field Education I |
| LAW 2023 | Privacy and Release of Information |
| STAT 2001 | Inferential Statistics and Research Methods |
| COMP 1227 | Excel II |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
SEMESTER 4
| Code | Course Name |
|---|---|
| RECM 2014 | Health Information Systems |
| RECM 2007 | Health Data Management |
| RECM 2011 | Health Information Management Field Education II |
| RECM 2015 | Health Information Coding Classification II |
| EPID 2001 | Epidemiology |
| GNED | General Education Elective |
** Based on the results of your placement test, you may be required to take COMM 1000 (Introduction to College Communication) before progressing to COMM 2000. COMM 1000 does not count as a course required for graduation, and you will be charged for this extra course. Please visit the Assessment Centre web page for more information.
Program Learning Outcomes
The graduate demonstrates the ability to:
- Keep current with relevant local, national and global health care and health information management issues, trends, technologies and standards to support health information management systems and processes and guide professional development.
- Assess personal health information from individual client visits for accuracy, completeness and consistency using knowledge of biomedical sciences, medical diagnoses and interventions, causes of diseases, and medical terminology, abbreviations and acronyms.
- Apply current, accurate codes and standards to relevant personal health information from individual client visits using health information, coding, classification and abstracting systems proficiently.
- Comply with the legal obligations, as well as with the professional, ethical and organizational standards that ensure privacy, security and confidentiality in the access, retention, storage and disposal of personal health information.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of health information management practices, policies and processes to support client care, organizational goals, operations, and regulatory compliance.
- Participate in maintaining the completeness, accuracy, consistency, timeliness and integrity of health information throughout the management of its lifecycle.
- Use knowledge of systems interoperability standards, database architecture, software versioning, classification and terminology mapping, data collection requirements, legal obligations, and the health information management lifecycle and apply fundamental project management principles and practices to support the procurement and implementation of health information management systems.
- Retrieve and release personal health information in response to legitimate requests, in accordance with statutory requirements, and within specified deadlines.
- Participate in the retrieval, analysis and presentation of relevant health information to stakeholders to support organizational decision-making, epidemiological studies and clinical research.
- Work professionally, ethically and collaboratively with stakeholders and as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team, within a structured, regulated and evolving system of health care, to enhance the collection, distribution, use, security and awareness of quality health information and its impact on client care.
- Use current and emerging technologies to support the management, analysis and presentation of health information.
Tuition & Fees
Domestic Tuition
International Tuition
Additional Costs
* Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2023. Fees are subject to change for programs starting in Fall 2024 and at later dates. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
** Amounts listed are the estimated total of tuition, materials, student service and ancillary fees for the first two semesters of programs starting in Fall 2024. Tuition fees are subject to board approval. Material, student service and ancillary fees are estimated based on prior years. All fees are subject to change without notice. This fee does not include books, which are to be purchased by the student separately.
International Students
Visit the International Fees and Related Costs page for more information. This program is available for funding through our partnership with Passage, who provide student loans to qualified international student applicants. To find out more about this opportunity, and if you may qualify, visit our Passage page.
Financial Assistance
This program is approved for OSAP funding, provided the applicant meets OSAP eligibility criteria.
Each year we award over $2 million dollars in scholarships, awards and bursaries to first-year students. Check out our financial aid webpages for ways to pay for college and the full list of available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website is subject to change without notice. It should not be viewed as a representation, offer or warranty. Students are responsible for verifying George Brown College fee requirements.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are selected on the basis of their academic achievement, including the required courses, and any other selection criteria outlined below.
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent**
- grade 12 English (C or U)
- grade 11 Math (M or U) or grade 12 (C or U)
- grade 11 Biology (C or U) or grade 12 (U); or grade 11 Physics (U) or grade 12 (C or U); or grade 11 Chemistry (U) or grade 12 (C or U).
- A minimum grade of 55 per cent is required in English, Mathematics and Science (Biology preferred) courses.
- Attending an information session is strongly recommended.
- A working knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) is strongly recommended.
** Mature Student Status (19 years of age or older and no OSSD)
Mature students may take the Admissions Assessment for English, Math or Science, OR may consider upgrading to achieve the credit(s) needed in English, Math or Science.
Please note that George Brown is committed to ensuring that applicants will succeed in their program of choice and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. Applicants may be required to have grades higher than the minimum requirements stated.
International Students
Visit the International Admissions page for more information regarding country specific admission requirements.
Course Exemptions
College or university credits may qualify you for course exemptions. Please visit the Transfer Guide for more information.
Special Requirements
Clinical Pre-placement Health Form requirements and program policy
- Upon confirmation of acceptance into this program, students must meet and complete all the mandatory Pre-placement requirements for this program. It will take up to 8 to 10 weeks to complete.
- Students will need to process and provide proof of their medical records (TDAP shot, COVID-19, MMR, Varicella, Hep B blood test reports/titres and Two-Step TB Skin Test) and proof of clear Vulnerable Sector Check renewed every year . These requirements must be submitted by the program specific deadline to ParaMed Placement Pass website.
- COVID-19 vaccination: Public Health recommends that people working with young children and other vulnerable communities be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As such, students who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may not be able to complete the required field placement component of their program in the regularly scheduled time frame.
- The health policies and non-academic requirements are designed to protect clients and vulnerable populations whom students will engage in practice. Students who do not comply with the program’s health policy and non-academic requirements, or who do not submit all required documentation by deadlines established by the program will be excluded from the clinical practicum. Exclusion from clinical practicum for any reason may jeopardize students' academic standing and successful completion of this program.
- All costs, service fees and fines associated with the overall health requirements are the responsibility of the student. To download the mandatory Pre-placement health form and for more details, go to the Clinical Pre-placement website.
Vulnerable Sector Check requirements and program policy (renew every year)
- In compliance with the requirements of our placement partners, all students in this program are required to have a Vulnerable Sector Check completed, and this check must be renewed every year before entering into field or clinical placement.
- The Vulnerable Sector Check process typically takes two to three months, but under some circumstances can take four to eight months. This is required to protect the clientele of our placement partner agencies, who are considered “vulnerable persons” under the law.
- Students are responsible for ensuring that the Vulnerable Sector Check covers appropriateness for “individuals being employed and/or volunteering who will be working with vulnerable person(s).”
- Students are required to keep the original copy of their Vulnerable Sector Check.
- Students who are unable to provide a “clear” Vulnerable Sector Check may not be able to start their field or clinical placement and therefore may be unable to complete the program. Students who are not eligible to attend their practice placement due to a “not clear” status will jeopardize their progress in the program.
- Failure to meet the requirements for field placement will prevent students from completing the program and/or securing employment. The fees for the vulnerable sector check vary and must be paid by the student. For more information, please visit the Clinical Pre-placement website..
How to Apply
Domestic students should apply through Ontario Colleges.
International Students
Visit the How to Apply page for more information on how and when to apply.
International students should apply through the George Brown College Online Application System.
Contact Us
For more information, contact the School of Health Services Management at 416-415-5000, ext. 2367 or E-mail hsmprograms@georgebrown.ca
International Students
Contact one of our international recruitment representatives specializing by country of origin by either booking a virtual meeting or submitting an inquiry. For more information visit the International Contact Us page
