Medical Records & Health Information

Application Process

We are currently not accepting new enrollment into our Medical Records and Healthcare Information program. Thank you for your patience.

For enrollment into the Columbia Basin College Medical Records & Healthcare Information program, each of the following processes must be completed:

• Must be a current student at CBC with an active student identification number (SID).  If you are not a current student, or it has been longer than 12 months since you have attended, you will need to submit a college application. To apply, see Apply for Admission
• Submission of official transcripts for evaluation from all previously attended colleges. Please have these sent to Columbia Basin College, Attention: Student Records.  
• Study for and take placement testing for English and Math. Please call the Assessment & Testing Center to schedule an appointment.
• As this program is designed to be online, for advising and enrollment you are welcome to call 509-544-8318, or, if you prefer, you may schedule an appointment to meet with a Medical Records & Healthcare Information advisor to complete registration at the same number provided. 

National Background Search & Drug Screen Requirements

As part of the admission requirements for Health Science programs, applicants must successfully pass a criminal background check and drug screen prior to working with patients in clinical areas. The background check and drug screen are paid by the student and administered through a third party company, CastleBranch. In addition to the background check required by CBC, each clinical facility reserves the right to conduct its own criminal background check prior to allowing a student to enter its health care facilities for clinical participation.

Certain criminal convictions, pending charges or negative actions may automatically disqualify a person from having unsupervised access to vulnerable adults, juveniles and children. Clinical facilities reserve the right to accept or decline a student’s placement in its facility.

Medical records and health information graduates acquire, organize and manage digital and traditional health information data vital to providing quality patient care. Careers in medical records and healthcare information include:

• Health information manager
• Medical coder
• Healthcare data analyst
• Medical coding compliance auditor
• Clinical documentation specialist
• Medical research analyst
• Medical records abstractor

Medical Records and Health Information graduates may work in:

• Hospitals – state, local and private
• Professional, scientific and technical services
• Administrative support services
• Nursing care facilities
• Offices of physicians

Graduates of CBC’s MRHI program are eligible to sit for one of two entry level coding national exams.  The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam is administered through American Academy of Professional Coders and the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is administered by American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Additionally, MRHI associate degree graduates may advance their education in the CBC Healthcare Administration Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) program.

Faculty