Business Technology
Health Information Management
Average Length of Program:
103 credits, 6 quarters
NOTE:
For students entering the program fall 2012, the curriculum has been revised. The following courses and requirements have been added:
Prerequisites:
Keyboarding at 30 WPM or BT 101
Program Courses:
BIOL& 160 has been added to the curriculum instead of remaining a prerequisite, BIOL& 241 will replace HED 108, BIOL& 242 will replace HED 109
Completion Award:
A.A.S. degree
Health information has gone high tech! Using skills from science-based courses
like anatomy, physiology, disease process and computer applications, the
health information technologist (HIT) assists in the documentation of
patient care, and provides clinical information for research as a basis
for planning and continuity of care. Health information professionals work
in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, group practice clinics, mental
health facilities and health insurance agencies.
Career Preparation
"Most employers prefer to hire Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT), who must pass a written examination offered
by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). To take the examination, a person must graduate from a
2-year associate degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information
Management Education (CAHIIM). Technicians trained in non-CAHIIM-accredited programs or trained on the job are not eligible
to take the examination. In 2007, there were about 245 CAHIIM accredited programs in Health Informatics and Information
Management Education." - Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2008)
The Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and
Information Management Education (www.cahiim.org). Upon graduation
with a degree, the student is eligible to apply to write the national qualifying examination of the American Health
Information Management Association (www.ahima.org) for certification
as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Learn more about the Health Information profession at www.hicareers.com.
Placement and Test Scores
2010-2011 Academic Year
- Graduate job placement rate: 80%
- RHIT exam pass rate (national average): 75%
- RHIT exam pass rate (SCC average): 75%
Program Goals
Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:
- Abstract and process data from patient records using a variety of computer
programs.
- Collect, tabulate, compute and prepare statistical reports for use by the
medical staff, administration, governing board and authorized agencies.
- Code clinical data for research and other reporting purposes.
- Perform review of health information for patient care evaluation, quality
improvement, and utilization management.
- Apply legal principles, policies, regulations and standards for the control,
release and use for health information.
- Utilize computers to compile data, process information for prospective
payment systems and perform various other data analysis projects.
Career Opportunities
Employment opportunities for graduates of approved health information
technology programs are excellent. Changing standards and governmental
regulations cause the volume and complexity of the health record system to be
dynamic and challenging. Types of facilities utilizing health information technology professionals include those
providing inpatient care, ambulatory care, long-term care, psychiatric care,
cancer registry and medical insurance providers.
Potential Positions
Release of information technician, health information technician, coder,
assistant manager of health information services of large hospitals, manager of
health information services of small hospitals or skilled nursing facilities,
utilization manager, quality improvement coordinator, compliance officer, privacy officer,
health information analyst, clinical documentation specialist, auditor
Other Employment Opportunities Available
Mental health facilities, skilled nursing facilities, health maintenance
organizations, health insurance agencies, ambulatory care facilities, large
physician group practice facilities, consulting
Special Requirements
- Physical examination
- Appropriate scores in one of the following: ASSET, SAT or ACT
- Recommended courses prior to entry: MATH 96 and CHEM 161
Persons with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, accommodations for
students with disabilities will be considered at the student's request. The student will be required to register
with the Disability Support Services office and provide documentation of disability. Once the student is qualified
by the DSS Manager as having a disability, requested accommodations will be considered. Accommodations for the
classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting will be considered according to reasonableness. Accommodations that
compromise patient care, or that fundamentally alter the nature of the program or activity, are not considered
to be reasonable. A student denied accommodation may request an individualized determination to assure that the
denial is not a result of disability discrimination by contacting the Manager of Disability Support Services and
Testing at 533-7498. Contact the SCC Disability Support Services office to obtain a copy of the procedures for
appeal of an accommodation denial. Other than accommodation issues, procedures for student grievances including academic
dismissal are outlined in the following SCC website:
www.scc.spokane.edu/?concerns.
For additional information, please contact Disability Support Services.