Dakota State HIM program offers loan forgiveness

The Health Information Management Program at Dakota State University is helping students financially through the Sioux Valley Hospital USD Medical Center Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

The program offers students a financial resource, assisting students with expenses in association with completion of their health information management degree. Sioux Valley Hospital USD Medical Center will provide money to students in return for the students’ agreement to become employed full-time at Sioux Valley Hospital USD Medical Center for a period of time following graduation.

“This program will benefit the students by providing some financial assistance,” Dorine Bennett, DSU HIM director said. “Students may already be interested in applying at the facility and working there, so this will fit into their plans.”

The benefits are described as follows:

Eligible students must be enrolled full time in their final year in an accredited HIM program and must successfully graduate and successfully pass the appropriate certification exam following graduation.

Recipients will receive $8000 paid to the student. This money will be paid to the student during the final year of enrollment - with $4000 paid to the student at the beginning of each semester.
Recipients agree to work for Sioux Valley Hospital USD Medical Center in the HIM field in a full-time status for three years.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the program will result in repayment of the loan with interest.

“The program came about because of the need for qualified applicants for health information management positions,” Bennett said. “Many health care facilities are finding that they have positions that are remaining open because they haven’t been able to find people to hire. It is hoped that this incentive will encourage students to enter the HIM profession or encourage current students to apply for positions at Sioux Valley Hospital USD Medical Center.”

For those who decide not to apply for a job at Sioux Valley after getting the assistance, it would be a loan they will need to repay.

For more information or to inquire about the Health Information programs at DSU, please call Dorine Bennett at 605-256-5137 or visit www.dsu.edu.