Health Information Technology

( Catalog Description to include Minimum Overall GPA of 2.0; minimum Grade of “C” or “P” for each course in the major; Completion of IGETC and/or CSU GE Breadth; address a valid workforce preparation purpose and/or address transfer preparation.)

The Health Information Technology program offers various avenues for students interested in a career in the health information field. The program is designed to prepare students to work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, behavioral health facilities, government health agencies, long-term care facilities, and various health information industry vendors.

DIRECTED CLINICAL PRACTICE (DCP) REQUIREMENT 

Most allied health students are required to successfully complete DCP, clinically-based courses held in health care facilities. These facilities may require background checks, including fingerprinting and drug screening, as a condition of placement at the clinic. Refusal to submit to a background check, or failure to meet clearance criteria established by the health care facility, may prevent placement in DCP courses and thus, it may not be possible to successfully complete the program. Health care facilities also require adherence to strict standards of conduct. Facilities may refuse educational access to any person who does not adhere to the facility's standards of safety, health and ethical behavior. This may be cause for removal from the program.

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The Health Information Technology Associate of Science degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). Graduates of the degree are eligible to sit for the national accreditation examination of the American Health Information Management Association, and upon passing this exam become credentialed as an RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician). 

Graduates are prepared for a career in health information. The specialty of the health information technicians is to ensure the quality of medical/health records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems. Health information professionals use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs. Many often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research.

Students who complete the Associate of Science/Health Information Technology will be able to: 

• Apply all required health care documentation policies and procedures that ensure the highest quality of healthcare delivery.

 • Utilize the evolving information technology in the completion of health information management  processes. 

• Ensure compliance with all payment systems, such as Medicare, Medicaid, managed care, and other sources of reimbursement. 

• Produce data required for healthcare quality improvement, utilization management, risk management and other related activities. 

• Protect the privacy, confidentiality, and security of health information as well as promote legal and ethical standards of practice for health information professionals