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				Alumni News
				Alumni Newsletter Welcome Since the first graduating class in 1965, there have been many changes in the program’s structure as well as in the classes taught. Can you imagine that we will soon have to begin teaching ICD-10-CM? With the changing profession, job opportunities have also been changing. In addition to the traditional opportunities, many new graduates have been finding jobs with consulting and outsourcing companies, as well as, in the alternate care settings. This first issue of our newsletter is highlighting the past, present, and future of the program along with more detail regarding curriculum changes. Information on one of our many outstanding HIM graduates is also included. If you have information about one of your "fellow classmates" and would like to see them included in a future newsletter as an "outstanding grad", do notify one of the faculty members. I hope that you will enjoy this newsletter and feel free to make any suggestions for those special things that you might like to see. Carol Venable, MPH, RHIA HIM Department Head
				Changes in Curriculum Since its inception in 1964 at UL Lafayette, the HIM program has undergone many changes. In the beginning, the curriculum was geared toward the basic secretarial sciences and students would also take two foreign languages, basic biology, a nursing class, and some political science courses. In 1968, the curriculum was adjusted and more business and clinical classes were added. However, there were still basic classes such as typing and filing required of the students. It was also in this year that the directed practice was added..... classes we now call the clinical experience courses. In the late 80's, even more business classes were added and the need for statistics classes emerged. The medical record student was now required to take anatomy classes to grasp the clinical background needed in the new coding classes. The foreign language requirement no longer existed and classes such as filing and typing were also eliminated. These principles were incorporated into the numerous medical record classes offered at this time. Computer classes began to increase reflecting the changing needs of the profession. Many positive changes occurred in the 90's. The amount of time spent in hospital settings increased and the HIM specific classes also increased with an emphasis on alternate care settings to expose students to the new areas where HIM professionals are becoming employed. As hospitals move toward the CPR, the HIM curriculum must follow this trend which is evident in the increased number of computer classes offered. The computer classes no longer focus on FORTRAN and COBAL programming languages, but rather they seek to give students a better understanding of the hardware and software used; as well as the practical applications that the students can use in daily life. Classes in Medical Informatics and Management Information Systems also prove beneficial to the HIM student. By these constant modifications in the program’s curriculum, UL Lafayette’s HIM graduates are thoroughly prepared and ready to take on the ever-changing industry of health care. As trends in the health care environment change, so does the HIM curriculum. Future courses will place a greater emphasis on alternate care settings. The single greatest advancement in the HIM field is the development of the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Lecture and laboratory courses are continually being updated to adequately prepare the graduates for this tremendous step forward in Health Information Management.
				Many thanks! The UL Lafayette Health Information Management Department would like to thank the following local health care facilities for their support.
				Abbeville General Hospital		Drs. Bordelon, Nix and de Blanc
				Acadiana Computer Systems		Franklin Foundation Hospital
				Acadiana Tumor Registry		Iberia General Medical Center
				Amelia Manor Nursing Home		Lafayette General Medical Center
				American Legion Hospital -Crowley		LaHaye Center for Advanced Eye Care
				American Legion Hospital - Jennings		Louisiana Oncology Associates
				Charter at Cypress Hospital		Medical Center of Southwest Louisiana
				Community Rehabilitation Hospital LLC		Opelousas General Hospital
				Dauterive Hospital		Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
				Doctor's Hospital of Opelousas		Rehabilitation Hospital of Lafayette
				Dr. Ben Vierra		The Schumacher Group
				Dr. Bradley Chastant		University Medical Center
				Dr. Chester Finley		Vermilion Hospital
				Dr. Debbie Jurgelsky		Ville Platte Medical Center
				Dr. Legrande Gibbs		Walk-in Clinic South
				Dr. Perry Stokes		Women’s & Children’s Hospital
				Dr. Victoria Silas
				We would also like to thank all hospitals who served as Internship sites for HIM students during 2005.
				The following are facilities who have sponsored scholarships or donated resources and funds:
				AMGMA		Lafayette General Medical Center
				Dr. Bradley Chastant		LHIMA
				Dr. Kevin Duplechain		LA Medical Group Managers Association
				Dr. Robert Tarpy		Southwest District, LHIMA
				FYI HealthSERVE		Woman’s Hospital - Baton Rouge, LA

Document last revised Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:50 PM

© Copyright 2003 by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Health Information Mgmt, P.O. Box 41007, Lafayette LA 70504
Wharton Hall, Room 502 · E-Mail: venable@louisiana.edu
Telephone: 337/482-6629 · Fax: 337/482-5902