C-RHI study plan

Map the components of an information governance framework, including data stewardship, ownership, and stewardship roles, by writing a one-page summary from memory.

Differentiate among data content standards (e.g., vocabulary, terminology, classification) and data structure standards (e.g., HL7, X12, DICOM) and give two examples of each.

Explain the data lifecycle from creation to destruction and identify at least three governance controls at each stage.

Describe the purpose and key elements of a data governance policy and procedure, including data quality, privacy, and security accountabilities.

Compare and contrast the legal health record, designated record set, and electronic health record, and explain how each is used in release-of-information decisions.

Outline the major requirements of HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, including permitted disclosures, minimum necessary, and patient rights.

Identify the key provisions of the HITECH Act and the 21st Century Cures Act related to information blocking and interoperability.

Apply retention and destruction requirements to a sample record type, citing at least two legal or accreditation drivers.

Explain the elements of a corporate compliance program (per OIG guidance) and describe how a health information management (HIM) department supports each element.

Analyze a hypothetical breach scenario and determine notification obligations, risk assessment steps, and documentation requirements.

Describe leadership styles and change management models (e.g., Kotter, Lewin) and apply one to an HIM process improvement initiative.

Identify key performance indicators for HIM operations (e.g., coding accuracy, turnaround time, ROI response time) and explain how to use them for performance monitoring.

Trace the revenue cycle from scheduling and registration through coding, billing, and collections, and identify HIM's role at each step.

Explain the impact of coding accuracy and documentation on reimbursement, including MS-DRG, APC, and RBRVS payment methodologies.

Differentiate among ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS and describe the structure and coding conventions of each.

Apply official coding guidelines to assign codes for a set of sample cases, including principal diagnosis and procedure selection.

Describe the components of clinical documentation integrity (CDI) programs and their role in revenue cycle and quality reporting.

Explain the structure and use of the OASIS, UHDDS, and other specialty data sets in coding and quality reporting.

Calculate common healthcare statistics (e.g., average length of stay, occupancy rate, mortality rate, complication rate) from given data sets.

Interpret quality measures and reporting programs such as HEDIS, Hospital Compare, and value-based purchasing, and describe HIM's role in data validation.

Apply data quality dimensions (accuracy, completeness, timeliness, consistency) to evaluate a sample data set and propose improvement actions.

Describe the phases of the data analytics lifecycle and the role of data governance in analytics.

Differentiate among descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics and give a healthcare example of each.

Explain common data visualization best practices and select appropriate chart types for given healthcare data scenarios.

Identify key data sources for clinical and operational analytics (e.g., EHR, claims, registries) and discuss data integration challenges.

Calculate and interpret basic epidemiological and quality metrics (e.g., incidence, prevalence, risk-adjusted rates) from sample data.

Synthesize content across all domains by completing a 60-question mixed practice exam under timed conditions.

Review incorrect answers and categorize them by domain to identify remaining knowledge gaps.

Revisit weak areas by creating concise summary sheets for each domain, focusing on key definitions, regulations, and formulas.

Practice explaining complex concepts aloud (e.g., information blocking, risk adjustment, CDI) to reinforce recall.

Complete a full-length 150-question practice exam under timed conditions, simulating the C-RHI exam environment.

Review all incorrect and flagged questions, and update summary sheets for any missed concepts.

Rehearse test-taking strategies, including time management, question deconstruction, and educated guessing.

Confirm exam-day logistics, including identification requirements, testing center rules, and technology checks for remote testing.