About AHIMA Distance Education

AHIMA's Distance Education Web site is a "virtual" campus, which means there are no actual buildings or classrooms. All the programs and courses we offer online are self-paced. That means that all the readings and tests are available to the students for as long as they are enrolled, that students need very little interaction with instructors, and everyone can complete their work independently.

Our distance education courses offer the following benefits to members and nonmembers alike:

• Access your courses 24 hours a day from nearly any location
• Attend as many classes as you want, when you want
• Learn from industry experts, book authors, and professional trainers
• Obtain the most up-to-date information on healthcare information management
• Study at your own pace
• Reduce the overall time spent in training
• Increase your retention of vital concepts

Is Online Learning for Me?

Many people, for many reasons, choose to study at home through independent, Internet-based programs. Most find that independent study is a flexible method of acquiring job knowledge and skills at their own pace, often while maintaining full-time jobs. Independent, Internet-based study may be a viable option for you if:

• You're not near a college with a coding program 
• You can't attend class for personal reasons 
• You prefer to study at your own pace

Online Registration Instructions

Prior to starting a course or assessment on the AHIMA Distance Education (DE) Campus, you must first submit your registration online. We accept major credit cards, checks, and company purchase orders. Follow the easy steps below to register for courses and assessments.

Registration Essentials

• Register for your Distance Education courses or assessments online, through the AHIMA Store. > AHIMA Store (www.AHIMAstore.org)

• You can pay for online courses and assessments with credit card, check, or purchase order.

• If you need an invoice for your company to approve payment, simply register in the AHIMA Store and choose "check or purchase order" as your payment method. You will receive a pending invoice on-screen and in e-mail. Include that with your payment. If your company wants to pay for more than one individual at a time, they should include copies of all student pending invoices, with payment.

• You will be enrolled in your courses and assessments automatically, when your payment is processed. Login instructions are included in the e-mail we send you confirming payment. For courses that have prerequisites (like Coding Basics and Cancer Registry Management), you will need to have your prerequisites approved and your courses activated, before you can begin. Instructions for prerequisite approval and course activation are found when you log in to the class, and also in the program-specific pages on this Web site. 

Detailed How-to: 

1. Select a course or program
   
   > On the DE home page, choose Course Catalog from the menu. A list of categories will open.
   > Choose one of the categories: New and Featured Products, eAssessments, eLearning, or Programs.
       —  If you select New, eAssessments, or eLearning, you will be taken to the AHIMA Store.
       —  If you select Programs, a list of all Program Titles will open. Click a title and you will be taken to a DE Web page
             that contains much more information on the program as well as details on the courses within the program.
   > Details are available on these DE program pages AND in the AHIMA Store. Read all available information carefully. 


2. Add to Cart
   
   > If you are on a DE program page, click Register Now to view that product in the AHIMA Store.
   > In the AHIMA Store, click the product's title for additional details or select the ADD TO CART or ADD TO WISHLIST
       button.


3. AHIMA Store Login
   
   As soon as you add a product to your Shopping Cart or Wishlist, you'll be asked to Sign In or Create Account
   > If you made a purchase in the past, you already have a sign-in. If you've forgotten it, click Forgot Password or ID?
   > If this is your first time purchasing something from AHIMA, fill out and submit the Create AHIMA Account.
   > If you the last time you logged in you chose Remember Me and didn't log out when you left, you will still be logged in.
   > If you are logged in when you Add to Cart, a semi-transparent window appears in the upper right to verify the addition.


4. Enrollment Agreement
   
   As soon as you login, you will be presented with the AHIMA Distance Education Enrollment Agreement. Read the agreement, and then nter your initials in the "Acknowledgement and Acceptance" box at the bottom of the page. Select Yes if you agree and wish to continue the registration process.


5. View
   
   Once you're logged in, you can either VIEW WISHLIST, VIEW YOUR CART, or continue shopping.
   > For each item in your Wishlist, you can click:
       —  ADD TO CART to move the item to your shopping cart and begin the purchase process; or
       —  REMOVE to take the item off of your Wishlist.
   > In your Shopping Cart, you can click:
       —  REMOVE SELECTED to take an item out;
       —  CONTINUE SHOPPING to leave the cart;
       —  UPDATE ITEM(S) to change amounts;
       —  CONTINUE SHOPPING to leave without taking any action; or 
       —  CONTINUE TO CHECKOUT to begin the payment process.
   


6. Shipping and Payment Information
   
   Now you are on the Shipping and Billing Information page.
   > Look over the details of your Billing Address carefully.
   > You will need to change the billing address if (1) the address contains errors or (2) you are NOT the owner of the     credit card, check, or purchase order. You have several options:
       —   Edit Billing address
       —   Select Alternate Address, or
       —   Create a New Billing address.
   > Look over the details of your Shipping Address carefully. If you have purchased a web-based product, such as an
       online course (which doesn't actually ship), you still need to review the information, since the shipping address is
       used in your student record.
   > If you need to change the shipping address you have some options:
       —   Select Alternate Address, or
       —  Uncheck Ship to this address under the billing address, and then choose either Edit Shipping or New Shipping.
   > In the Feedback area, enter a source code if you have one (it would be on a printed catalog or postcard you received.
   > In the Payment Information area, select the credit card type or check or purchase order. Fill out the rest of the
      information as appropriate. Pleas note that, if you choose to pay by check or purchase order, you will need to include
      a copy of the receipt vvith your payment in the mail. (See address below for where to mai your receipt and check.)
   > When you have completed everything on the Shipping and Payment Information page, click CONTINUE TO CONFIRM.


7. Continue to Confirm
   
   Review the order (you still have a chance to edit your information at this point). When ready to submit your payment, click PROCESS ORDER NOW.


8. Receipts / Invoices
   
   > You will be presented with on-screen receipt/invoice, which you should print for your own records. (if you are paying
      by check or purchase order, you should print out multiple copies).
   > You will also receive an an receipt/invoice via e-mail with instructions for logging in to your course, including a link
       to view "starting information" such as enrollment date, required books, etc.
   > If you chose to pay by check or purchase order, you will not actually be able to login until you receive a second e-mail
      notification stating that your payment has been processed and your training is available to you.

If you paid by Credit Card: Print out one copy of the invoice for your records and click the link to view "starting information" such as enrollment date, required books, etc.

If you selected Check: Print out two copies of the receipt/invoice – keep one for your records and send a copy of the invoice with your check :

AHIMA Distance Education
Department 77-6331
Chicago, IL 60678-6331

If you selected Purchase Order: Print out two copies of the receipt/invoice – keep one for your records and have your company send a copy of the invoice with the purchase order to:

AHIMA Distance Education
Purchase Orders
233 N Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601-5800

Need an INVOICE for your employer to APPROVE in advance?
Register online, selecting"Purchase Order" as your payment method. You will receive an on-screen receipt/invoice that you can print and a copy of the same information via e-mail.

If you've chosen Check or Purchase Order and decide not to register after all–just don't send payment; there's no need to "cancel" your order.

Changes to Student Contact Info
If you previously registered and would like to update your AHIMA profile, click here to change your name, e-mail address, mailing addresses, and phone number(s). At the same time, call Customer Relations at (800) 335-5535 to notify us that you are making these changes; student records are maintained separately from AHIMA registration information.

Cancellations and Refunds
Click the Policies tab above for AHIMA's policy on cancellations and refunds.

Enrollment Agreement

By registering for a course or program, a student agrees to all parts of the AHIMA Distance Education Enrollment Agreement. Please click here and view this agreement. We recommend printing a copy for your records. (Please note: For Alabama State University (ASU) and Tougaloo College courses, these policies DO NOT APPLY. AHIMA acts as registrar for these courses, but student support is managed by ASU and Tougaloo. ASU/Tougaloo do not grant course refunds or extensions for those courses.)

Extensions

You should maintain a regular study schedule to ensure you complete courses within the enrollment period. Extensions will be considered only for students with extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances, such as bereavement or medical emergency. All requests for extensions must be in writing, sent either by mail or e-mail.

Book Refund Policy

Click here to access the refund policy for textbooks purchased through AHIMA. If you purchase textbooks through another company, you must contact that company for their particular refund policies.

Buyer's Right to Cancel and Refund Policy

You may request withdrawal from a course/program prior to or during your enrollment and a refund will be granted according to the refund policy schedule below. We will send notification via e-mail that we have received your request. Cancellation is effective the date AHIMA receives the written request.

Enrollments cannot be transferred from one student to another.

Any refund due is based on the following refund policy schedule and is made within 30 days of cancellation.

(Please note: For Alabama State University (ASU) and Tougaloo College courses, these policies DO NOT APPLY. AHIMA acts as registrar for these courses, but student support is managed by ASU and Tougaloo. ASU/Tougaloo do not grant course refunds or extensions for those courses.) 

Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy

Academic honesty and integrity is the responsibility of each AHIMA student. Cheating in an academic program is cause for immediate termination from the program.

Acts of dishonorable conduct include, but are not limited to:

• Permitting another person to take a graded assessment for oneself
• Taking a graded assessment for another student
• Using unauthorized materials as aids in taking a graded assessment
• Collaborating during a graded assessment with any other person
• Falsified information—if information was intentionally falsified on your enrollment agreement, proctoring documents (if applicable), or any other AHIMA document

Academic Progress and Dismissal Policy

If a student fails a course, he/she may re-enroll in the course following normal registration procedures. If a student fails a single course three times, the student will be terminated from the program.

Payment and Access

We accept various forms of payment for our online programs and courses, including major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, and American Express), checks, and company purchase orders.

Full payment for your selected program or course must be received and verified before access to the online material is allowed. Online payment via credit card is verified immediately. After putting a check or purchase order in the mail, please allow at least 10 BUSINESS days for the payment to be received and processed. (You'll receive notice via e-mail as soon as your access to course material has been granted.) NOTE: There may be other prerequisites that must be verified before you are given access; see descriptions of individual courses/programs for more detail.

Any check payments returned by your financial institution due to non-sufficient funds (NSF) will result in immediate disenrollment from the registered classes.

Because AHIMA is an association, not a school, we have not been assigned a "school ID number". Therefore, our training programs and courses (including Coding Basics) CANNOT be financed through any federal grant, loan, or veterans benefit programs (including guaranteed student loans offered through local banks).

Many employers provide tuition reimbursement programs through in-service grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check with your employer for details concerning financial assistance. Some employers require that a course or program be accredited. To see which of our programs are accredited, select the Accreditations tab avove.

Community or civic groups may also sponsor scholarships, and can be found through local libraries and other organizations.

Career Counseling and Job Placement

AHIMA is an association, not a school, and we do not provide job placement services. Extensive information on career planning and certification is offered on the American Health Information Management Association web site at: www.ahima.org/careers and www.ahima.org/certification.

Special Needs and Disabilities

As a student enrolled in AHIMA Continuing Education courses or programs, you are required to complete reading assignments and submit tests online.

If you have a special need or disability and believe it may affect your ability to complete the assignments and exams, or you are concerned about your ability to obtain employment upon completion of the program, contact Distance Education before beginning your course, to discuss your concerns.

Reservation of Rights

Even after registrations have been accepted, AHIMA expressly reserves the right, upon written notice, to modify its prerequisite curriculum requirements, course contents (or sequencing), and application policies or requirements (including administrative fees, specific forms, or procedures).

Disclaimers

Click here to view the AHIMA Distance Education Disclaimer.

Privacy Policy

Click here to view the AHIMA Privacy Policy.

Contact Information

AHIMA Distance Education
American Health Information Management Association
233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601-5519
Phone: (312) 233-1100
Fax: (312) 233-1090
Submit a customer support request.

On the Technology page, the following topics are covered: System Requirements, Browser Requirements, Useful Plug-ins, Firewalls, Cookies, and JavaScript.

System Requirements

To access the courses on the AHIMA Continuing Education Campus, here's what you need:

• An up-to-date web browser. We recommend Internet Explorer 7 or 8 or Firefox 3.6 or higher. Additional information on browser requirements is presented below.
• A browser which can be set to accept cookies. Scroll down on this page for additional information about cookies.
• Access to the Internet with a 56 K modem or faster without interference from a firewall. Scroll down on this page for additional information about firewalls.
• America Online (AOL) users should access the Internet through AOL, then use a separate browser to access the Distance Education Web site. To do this, simply minimize (do not close) your AOL browser after you connect to the Internet, then open another browser — see Browser Requirements below.
• Some courses may require certain plug-ins in order to access course material, such as Adobe Acrobat reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or RealPlayer. See individual course descriptions in Course Catalog for plug-in requirements.

Browser Requirements

The AHIMA Continuing Education Campus uses the latest Web-based technologies in order to provide an interactive educational experience. That means that some Web browsers work better than others with the Campus. At this time, we recommend Internet Explorer 7.0 (or newer version) or Firefox 3.6 (or newer version). For Mac OS X 10 (or later) users, the recommended browser is Safari, which is the Mac OS X default browser. If you do not have an up-to-date browser installed on your computer, you may click one of the options below to download the free browser software:

PROBLEM SOLUTION: If you can login but can't see your courses, the problem may be that your home page is set to a proprietary page like MSN or another page that uses frames (click for definition). Pages like MSN and Hotmail are displayed in frames within your browser and this conflicts with our course software. To correct the problem, create a bookmark to your current homepage so you can access it when you need to (it will no longer be the first screen you see). Then go to Internet Options and set your Home Page default to something neutral (like http://www.google.com/ or http://campus.ahima.org) or select the option BLANK.

Useful Plug-ins

The AHIMA Continuing Education Campus uses the latest Web-based technologies in order to provide an interactive educational experience. That means that some courses require plug-ins (click for definition) you may not have. For example, PDF files can only be opened using Adobe Reader. To download a free copy, click on the Adobe Reader icon below.

Firewalls

If your computer is located behind a company or personal firewall (click for definition), you might not be able to access portions of the AHIMA Continuing Education Campus site.

A Firewall may prevent you from registering for a class on our site. If you already have an AHIMA account, your profile information is sent from our server to your computer during the online registration process — this is done so you don't have to retype all of your information. A firewall may block this data from reaching your computer.

Company firewalls sometimes won't let you log in to a secure server — which AHIMA Continuing Education Campus requires. If your company's firewall blocks cookies, you won't be able to enter the classrooms from your work computer. If your company firewall allows cookies but doesn't allow access to a secure server, you should be able to join the AHIMA Continuing Education Campus from a computer at home or any other location but still not be able to access the classrooms from work.

Check with your system administrator to find out what is and what is not blocked at your location.

Cookies

You must set your browser to accept browser cookies (click for definition) in order to access the AHIMA Continuing Education Campus member areas. For your convenience, we recommend that you turn off the cookie notification feature in your browser.

Why? Because cookies are used by the AHIMA Continuing Education Campus to handle your user ID and password information whenever you log into the site. Campus cookies are temporarily written to your computer's memory (RAM). Only if you choose to "save" your user ID and password on the login screen will cookies be written to your hard drive.

Some people refuse cookies in order to protect their privacy. However, the Campus does not use cookies to gather information on your Web surfing habits, your interests, or to track down any other information without your knowledge or consent.

AHIMA is aware that privacy is an utmost concern for our students. We respect our members' privacy and do not give out any information without an individual's permission.

We use cookies to ensure the privacy of your account when you enter secure parts of our site. Cookies allow you to log in, participate in classes, and access chat areas. When you quit your browser, the cookie will be erased from memory unless you select the checkbox on the log in screen to save the cookie information on your hard drive. We recommend you turn off cookie notification. Otherwise, every time you try to access a page on the secure part of the server, an alert box will pop up.

Please note: Cookie notification enabled is the default setting in the recommended browsers. Therefore, you'll need to change this prior to entering the AHIMA Continuing Education Campus unless you have changed it before.

To turn off cookie notification in Netscape Navigator 4.x:

1. From the "Edit" menu, select "Preferences."
2. In the "Category" list on the left, click on "Advanced."
3. Check the "Accept all cookies" option.
4. Click on "OK" to close the dialog box.

To turn off cookie notification in Netscape Navigator 3.x:

1. From the "Options" menu, select "Network Preferences."
2. In the "Preferences" dialog box, click on the tab labeled"Protocols."
3. Remove the check in the box for "Accepting a Cookie."
4. Click on "OK" to close the dialog box.

To enable cookies in Internet Explorer 6.0

1. From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options."
2. In the dialog box, click on the tab labeled "Privacy"
3. In the "Settings" area, select either the "Custom" or "Advanced" button
4. In the "Advanced Privacy Settings" dialog box, perform the following actions:
   
   
   
5. select the check box to "Override automatic cookie handling"
6. select the radial circle to "Accept First-party cookies "
7. select the radial circle to "Accept Third-party cookies"
8. select the check box to "Always allow session cookies"
   
   
9. click the "OK" button to close the "Advanced Privacy Settings" dialog box
10. Click the "OK" button to close the "Internet Options" dialog box

JavaScript

Enable JavaScript

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or Later

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. On the Security tab, click Internet.
3. Click Default Level, and then click OK.

If the issue continues to occur:

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
2. On the Security tab, click Internet, and then click Custom Level.
3. Under Active scripting, click Enable or Prompt.
4. Click OK, and then click Yes.
5. Click OK.

Internet Explorer 4.x

1. On the View menu, click Internet Options.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. In the Zone box, click Internet Zone, and then click Reset.
4. Click OK.

If the issue continues to occur:

1. On the View menu, click Internet Options.
2. Click the Security tab.
3. In the Zone box, click Internet Zone.
4. Click Custom (For Expert Users), and then click Settings.
5. Under Active Scripting, click Enable or Prompt.
6. Click OK, and then click OK again.

Netscape Navigator 6.x and Later Versions

1. Select Edit on the menu
2. Select Preferences...
3. Click the Advanced category
4. Make sure that Enable Javascript for Navigator is checked
5. Click OK
   
   You may need to restart your browser to activate the change.

Reinstall the JavaScript Engine

To reinstall the JavaScript engine, download and install the latest version of Windows Script from the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/downloads/list/webdev.asp

If the issue continues to occur, remove and reinstall your Web browser software, or obtain and install the latest version of your Web browser software. To obtain and install the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape, see Browser Requirements above.

Empty the Temporary Internet Files Folder

To resolve this issue, empty the Temporary Internet Files folder. To do this, use the appropriate method for your Web browser.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and Later

1. On the View menu (Internet Explorer 4.x) or the Tools menu (Internet Explorer 5.0 and later), click Internet Options.
2. Under Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Files, and then click Yes or OK.
3. Click Settings.
4. Under Check for newer versions of stored pages, click Every time you start Internet Explorer.
5. Click OK, and then click OK again.
6. Quit and then restart Internet Explorer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is online learning for me?

The online learning assessment quiz will help you determine if your learning style is suited to a distance learning environment. It takes only a few minutes to complete and you receive immediate feedback.

You may also want to take a free course demo, which will give you a general feel for how our online campus and courses work.

How do I register for courses on the AHIMA Distance Education Campus?

Click the Register tab above for step-by-step registration instructions.

How do I pay for courses and/or seminars?

When registering, you may pay online with a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express), check or company purchase order. To pay by check or purchase order, first register online and select "check or purchase order" as your payment method; your registration will be held in pending status until we receive payment. Print a copy of your invoice and mail it along with your payment to:

AHIMA: Distance Education and Training
Dept. 77-6331
Chicago, IL 60678-6331

AHIMA Distance Education does not participate in federal grant, loan, or veterans benefit programs (including guaranteed student loans offered through local banks).

Many employers provide tuition reimbursement programs through in-service grants, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check with your employer for details concerning financial assistance. Some employers require that a course or program be accredited. Click the Accreditations tab above to see which of our programs are accredited.

Community or civic groups also sponsor scholarships, and can be found through local libraries and other organizations.

Is my login the same for all my classes?

Yes, with some exceptions. Your ID and Password may be different for an "off-campus" site — some courses are hosted on the 3M, Webinservice, Alfred State University, or College of Saint Scholastica sites. If you've just started a new course, it may take a few days to get your password for an "off-campus" site.

After registering, how do I start my courses on the AHIMA Distance Education Campus?

Each course is made available to you depending on enrollment schedule and payment:

1. Most courses begin as soon as your registration and payment has been processed. Certain courses begin after course prerequisites have been verified and/or you choose to activate the course (this is true for most Coding Basics and Cancer Registry Management courses). For details, visit the course description page, which you can access using the "Quick Course Locator" near the upper-right corner of this web page.
   
   
2. Your payment must be fully processed (for example, credit card orders are processed immediately, but courses that are paid for by check or purchase order will not be available until payment has been received and cleared).

When your registration has been processed, you will receive an e-mail receipt. This e-mail contains a link to specific instructions on how to get started with your course or courses.

I can login and click on the course folder, but when I go to the course, there's nothing there. What's going on?

If you can login but can't see your courses, the problem may be that your home page is set to a proprietary page like MSN or another page that uses frames. Pages like MSN and Hotmail are displayed in frames within your browser and this conflicts with our course software. To correct the problem, create a bookmark to your current homepage so you can access it when you need to (it will no longer be the first screen you see). Then go to Internet Options and set your Home Page default to something neutral (like http://www.google.com/ or http://campus.ahima.org) or select the option BLANK.

What certificate do I get after completing a course?
    - AND -
How do I receive transcripts and credit?

For most courses, a certificate of completion is automatically presented after the student successfully completes the final exam. Cancer Registry Management students receive a transcript after successfully completing both specialty clusters. Coding Basics students receive a certificate of completion after successfully completing all 4 clusters in the program.

Coding Basics courses can earn college credit. To learn about credit and official transcripts for the Coding Basics program, visit our Coding Basics info page, under the section on "Credits," at www.ahima.org/ContinuingEd/Campus/courseinfo/cb.aspx#CBcredit.

Most of our other e-Learning courses and e-Assessments earn CEUs. For details on the number of CEUs associated with a course, visit the course listings in our course catalog in the AHIMA Store at http://www.ahimastore.org.

How many Continuing Education Units (CEUs) do I receive after completing a course?

You can find information about CEUs awarded for each course on the main page for that particular course/program. Get to the main page by clicking the title of course/program in its Catalog listing, or select the title of the course/program in the Quick Course Locator pulldown (in the dark gold bar at the top of each page).

How long does it take to complete a course?

Completion times of self-paced courses will vary widely based on many factors, including reading speed, comprehension level, environmental distractions, etc. All courses must be completed within the time frame provided for course access. More information is available on the main page for a particular course/program. Get to the main page by clicking the title of course/program in its Catalog listing, or select the title of the course/program in the Quick Course Locator pulldown (in the dark gold bar at the top of each page).

What if I do not pass the exam?

If you are taking Anatomy and Physiology, Coding Basics or Cancer Registry Management courses, graded tests and the Final Exam may be taken only once. If your points total for all graded assessments is not high enough to pass (C or better), you will have to pay to retake the entire course. Most of the courses that provide continuing education opportunities to HIM professionals are designed to allow students to take the final exam at least twice.

 Who do I contact if I have content or technical questions?
We encourage you to submit a customer support request.

Submit a customer support request for assistance with:
·         Audio Seminars
·         Coding Basics and Anatomy and Physiology
·         Coding Assessment and Training Solutions
·         Other courses and general information 

I forgot my user name and password, what do I do?

Click here to request a login reminder. You will be able to retrieve your general AHIMA password through this link. However, if you have recently changed your general AHIMA password, your student password has remained the same.In this case, if you cannot remember your student login password, please submit a customer support request.

As a student, how do I update my address, my password or other information?

To change the information kept with your AHIMA seven-digit ID number, go to Update Profile. Currently, your Distance Education student profile is not synchronized with your AHIMA profile, so when you change your information through the Update Profile feature it is not changed in your Student Profile and vice-versa. For example, if a student changed their password in their AHIMA profile, it would not change the password needed to login to their courses. And if they changed their address while registering for a course, the address would not change in their AHIMA profile.

When updating information, we recommend that you (1) change your information via AHIMA's Update Profile, at the same time, call Customer Relations at (800) 335-5535 to notify us that you are making these changes.