Programs of Study
Health Information Technology
Associate In Science
The Associate in Science Degree in Health Information Technology combines the expanding arena of health care with the cutting edge of technology. As a health information management professional, you are the expert on patient data that physicians, nurses, and other providers rely on to perform their jobs. Health Information Technicians ensure the quality of medical records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems, and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or costs control. HITs often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. Students who complete the degree are eligible to sit for the CCA or CCS exam through the American Health Information Management Association -AHIMA. For more information, visit www.AHIMA.org. Health Information professionals work in a multitude of settings throughout the healthcare industry including hospitals, physician offices and clinics, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, government agencies and home care providers. All HIT, MOAA, and AH courses must be completed within five years of entry into the program.
Program Outcomes
Graduates with a degree in Health Information Technology will:
- Comply with the professional code of ethics of AHIMA and maintain effective professional conduct at all times.
- Be prepared for testing for the CCS or CCA exam.
- Maintain, collect and analyze the data that doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers rely on to deliver quality healthcare.
- Manage patient health information and medical records.
- Administer computer information systems.
- Code the diagnosis and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients for reimbursement and research.
- Demonstrate clear and effective communication skills, critical thinking, and problem solving within their scope of practice.
Technical Standards
- Visual acuity sufficient to read and analyze materials contained in medical records in paper and computer generated formats.
- Manual dexterity sufficient to access and work with records stored in filing and computer systems.
- Emotional stability sufficient to maintain record completion, to demonstrate good judgment, to deal effectively with conflict situations, and to demonstrate ethical behavior and responsibility for themselves and their actions.
- Maintain medical confidentiality standards of the profession.
- Mobility sufficient to allow access to areas within the healthcare facility in which healthcare information is generated, stored, and analyzed.
- Communication skills sufficient to allow for communication with fellow healthcare information staff and professionals, healthcare facility staff and providers, clients of the facility and their families, and individuals from outside of the facility who seek information regarding clients.
- Sufficient hearing skills to successfully interact with all team members.
Admissions Requirements
- Complete an application for the program.
- Provide an official copy of high school transcripts or GED.
- Provide an official copy of prior college transcripts if seeking transfer credit.
- Complete computer placement testing.
- Place into college level math, reading, and writing or demonstrate equivalent competencies through a college transcript or SAT scores.
Health Information Technology Program Suspension Information
Students matriculated in the HIT Program who are withdrawn or do not achieve the required minimum grade of a "C" in all HIT, MOAA and AH courses will not able to continue in the program.
Health Information Technology Readmission policy
Students who withdraw or are Program Suspended may be eligible for readmission consideration. A student may be readmitted to the program one time only. Students who have failed a course because of lack of professionalism or unsafe practice involving actions or non-actions are not eligible for readmission to HIT Program. The student applying for readmission will be required to meet the curriculum requirements in effect at the time of readmission. In order to be reconsidered for admission the student must:
Submit a written, dated letter requesting readmission consideration to the Director of the Department of Health Information Technology. In this letter, briefly outline the reasons you were unable to continue in the program and identify the HIT course and level to which you are requesting readmission. Students will then be readmitted based on the Director of Health Information Technologies review of the facts. Students will then be notified of the status of the request in writing by the Admissions Department.
Health and Internship Considerations:
- Transportation to Internship sites is the student's responsibility. Students should be prepared to travel an hour or more from campus.
- Students are advised to decrease outside work obligations during internship placement for HIT 220, 240.
- Health Information Technicians are required to have a criminal background check prior to employment. Students may be required to submit to this prior to internship placement. Criminal background check fees will be the responsibility of the student.
- Participation in an internship requires the student to follow the college's immunization policy.
- Depending upon the site, the student may be required to possess and maintain professional liability insurance. For unpaid internships, the student must possess and maintain accident insurance.
Transfer Credit Policy
In addition to Great Bay transfer credit policies, transfer of courses in health information more than five years old will be evaluated by the program coordinator on an individual basis. In the case of English and math course transfers, it may be recommended that the student take portions of the Accuplacer Placement Test to verify the skill level required for success in subsequent classes within the program.
DEGREE PROGRAM - FIRST YEAR |
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