Weber State College Comment, October 1986, page 4 Medical records tech program begun he said. “Before, there was a disincentive for the hospitals to save. Now the incentive is to get the patient well and out of there as quickly as possible,” he said. Hospitals get reimbursed according to patient diagnosis, and the medical records technician is responsible to see that those diagnoses are properly New IC chairman appointed - said. “The first few years, students in our program will be mostly workers who are already in the hospitals. They'll be brought up to standard in terms of qualifications,” he said. The courses require ee president of Myers Mortuary, I President Stephen D. Nadauld noted that the college is in the process of reviewing academic offerings at the college “to get a feeling of where we'll make cuts and what programs we'll to “This is the time to make some substantive changes in terms of where we're going,” Nadauld said. Those changes are necessitated by tight budgets, he said, but will result in a more refined institution. Referring to the college’s limited revenues, Smith reported that 13 teaching positions currently vacant would not be filled for the coming year. Council in September that the college was on schedule in preparing a six percent budget cut requested by the tional Council meeting. Douglas suggested the college work to become exempt from the six percent Ogden City utility franchise tax. Even governor. though WSC is a tax exempt organiza- the WSC to prepare their 1987-88 budgets as if they were 94 percent of the current budgets. The outline of that budget reduction must be ready for the Oct. 24-25 meeting of the state Board of Regents. In Weber State’s case any reduction means cutting “severely” into the academic programs, as there is no “fat to trim” at the college, Nadauld said. “During our years of rapid growth we did not receive sufficient funding. Now we're talking about which pro- grams we have to starve to death,” he told the council. “I want to go on record as saying that I think the 94 percent budget does damage to education. I hope the governor understands that,” said Dr. James Douglas, a former Ogden area dentist who is currently a botany major at the Accounting students take national honors Two students won first place national business honors and two others placed high during competition held in Washington, D.C. The students competed June 30 to Ju- ly 3 in a national tournament sponsored by Phi Beta Lambda, a national business service organization, in a tournament that pitted top students counting. Baxter had three minutes to prepare a speech that was presented before national judges, and Edgell completed a two-hour written exam to win the top accounting spot. Scott Knell, a recent graduate of WSC, placed sixth in the “Mr. Future Business Teacher” category. Nola from throughout the country in such areas as speaking, accounting, teaching Wagstaff, also a recent graduate, cap- and other business related topics. Business Teacher” competition. “We have participated for advisor to the business organization. During the national convention, which went from June 30 to July 3, Talbot was selected as a member of the National Board of Directors for Phi Beta Lambda. To qualify for the national meet, students had to win first place in state competition. The student organization emphasizes tu speaking, while Becky Edgell, an ac- said Dr. Alden A. Talbot, chairman of the business education and ad- the promotion of service, organization and leadership skills. This year the students acted as tutors at Davis Alternative High School. In years past they have worked in the Sub for Santa program and with the handicap olympics. “We have some pretty sharp. counting major, won first place in ac- ministrative students,” Talbot said. Scott Baxter, a business junior and next year’s student body Vice President for Academics and Administration, took first place nationally in impromp- tured eleventh place in the “Ms. Future many years (in national competition), but this is about as good as we have done,” systems department and G0. a 2 country, but they are being taxed because of the demand. Unless we have one right here, we won't fill the needs,” he added. | college and who attended the Institu- officials emphasize.” and there still aren't enough. There are — a number of these programs in the Pres- glum told “It will be extraordinarily difficult to meet a 94 percent budget. We'll have to eliminate some programs and some positions, but we know what we're doing and we're on target,” said Dr. Stephen D. Nadauld. Utah Governor Norman H. Bangerter has asked higher education — Harold Steed Institutional Council Chairman “There’s a real urgent need in the health care industry. Hospitals have had to go out of state to find people, Institutional ident was selected as vice chairman during the group’s July meeting. Steed has served on the Institutional Council for a total of 16 years. Myers served on the council for one year in 1965 and was reappointed last year for a four-year term. In other matters, the Institutional Council approved a large list of changes for the Faculty Senate. ‘This is the first time in some years that the faculty senate has taken a thorough look at their constitution, and they have made some major changes in the bylaws,” Academic Vice President Robert B. Smith told the group. Those changes are mostly a streamlining of the organizational structure and a redefining of a number of committees and boards, he said. years opportunities,” he said. College faces budget cufs noticeably he WSC Institutional Council appointed a new chairman and approved a number of changes in the constitutional bylaws of the Faculty Senate. Harold Steed, president of Clearfield State Bank, became the new chairman of the council, and Richard Myers, two gram like this. We're excited about the a ee Ot eg the set amount, © received tion they are required to pay approx- imately $6,000 per month in the utility franchise tax. There will be a movement this year to increase taxes, but politicians might call for the tax increase in the name of education, then use the money in other areas, Nadauld said. “The governor asked me to list priorities as to what is most important at the college. I asked the governor to list his priorities, and higher education better be high on the list,” Nadauld said. Admissions applications up 14 percent Admissions applications for fall quarter at WSC are running 14 percent higher than last year. “Historically, approximately 70 percent of those who complete the applications process actually enroll in classes,” said Dr. L. Winslow Hurst, director of WSC admissions and registration. By Aug. 22, 522 more students ap- plied to the school than applied last fall at the same time. That is reflected in a 26 percent increase in new freshmen and a 32 percent increase in transfer students, Hurst said. “We've made greater efforts in recruitment than ever before and we hope we're seeing the result of that,” he said. “Our emphasis was particularly on new freshmen and _ transfer students.” The college has 2,000 new and returning freshmen applications that could generate one of the largest first year classes in the school’s history. “Last year we had a total on-campus enrollment of 9,995. We have our fingers crossed that we'll go above that this quarter. The signs point in that direction,” Hurst said. oe the hospital ek two weeks, if the disease is the same, Hospital coding has become a very critical part in the reimbursement of funds,” he said. The preliminary step to fill the shortage of trained records personnel is to upgrade current professionals, Smith Rael incurred during a Smith said. Now a set amount depenwrong. Whether the hospital two days or et for every expense patients covered by those programs hospital stay, hospitals receive ding on what is patient is in the by the disease will result in a different amount, and the records technician needs to know the difference, Smith explained. “No longer are they simply librarians in record keeping function. minology, the processing of medical records, and other related topics, he said. “The program was approved by the | Board of Regents last February, but was given no state funds. We wouldn't have gotten started this soon if we'd had to wait for state money,” Smith said. “It’s rather unusual for private industry to fund a higher education pro- Fe lege will seek state appropriations to continue the course work, he said. Medical records technicians are the connecting link between patient notes made by the physicians and hospital budgetary and archival sections, he said. Health facilities have always had Until the early 1980's hospitals were reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid complete, and result in an associate degree, Smith said. The program will take 20 students each year, and will teach anatomy, physiology, ter- Fr The state group of hospitals gave the | college $176,000 to establish the medical records program for a minimum of two years, said Dr. Phil Smith, associate dean in the School of Allied Health Sciences. The program begins this fall. “The hospital industry felt the need for medical records technicians to be so critical that they've guaranteed the first two years of the program. This shows how critical the need is,” Smith said. After the initial two years, the col- recorded, Smith said. A mistake could cost hospitals a considerable amount, he added. An infection resulting in a disease, patients has created a tremendous demand for records technicians with ad- | for example, will bring the hospital one set compensation. An infection caused vanced training, Smith said. rRrraimnmn to fill an “urgent need in the health care industry,” and is doing so with funding from the Utah Hospital Association. records technicians, but recent changes in how hospitals collect government payments on Medicare and Medicaid Aa program era) ae technician Gait ale C is starting a medical rec- ords