Health Information Technology AS Major and Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement

Health Information Technology AS Major

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program provides instruction and professional practice experience in the management and quality of health data relating to paper-based, electronic, and hybrid medical records. Health information professionals are responsible for maintaining components of health information systems consistent with the medical, administrative, ethical, legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements of a health care delivery system. This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education

Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement

This certificate program is designed for students entering City College with a degree (A.A./A.S. or higher) or who wish to work in health information technology before completing CCSF graduation requirements

Students who progress to the Health Information Technology AS Major are generally the same population that completed the Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement. For that reason, data for the two programs is similar. Argos data was examined from 2015-2016 through 2017-2018 to identify any enrollment and completion trends.  

During this period, the number of students completing the Health Information Technology AS Major program decreased by 51%. However the drop rate, students who started the program and failed to complete, decreased by 60%. For the Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement, the number of students completing the certificate program decreased by 48%. The number of students who completed the Health Information Certificate was 66% of those completing the Health Information Technology AS Major. During the time when the college experienced challenges with the ACCJC, enrollment in the HIT program decreased but the students who did enroll, completed the program.

As evidenced by the feeder course (HCT 61) and partially as a result of increased marketing of the program, the student club (Health Information Alumni and Student Association - HISA), a dedicated HIT web site, extensive use of social media and professional affiliation with the component local association, North Coast Health Information Association (NCHIA), the number of students entering the program has increased from an average of 25 students to 48. Completion numbers are not consistent across all semesters because many students start as full-time with their cohort and become part-time during the program.  Many of these students, as evidenced by survey, became part-time because they had secured employment in a healthcare facility.

When students achieve employment in a healthcare facility during school, there has been a trend of not sitting for the RHIT exam. Delay in taking the exam increases the possibility that the student will not succeed in passing the exam. As a result of HISA-sponsored RHIT reviews and exam scholarships, the number of students sitting for the RHIT exam has more than doubled and the success rate has also increased. Last year all six graduates sat for the exam within 6 months of graduation and passed. Success in the RHIT exam not only increases the student's opportunity for employment but also for advancement as many health care facilities require certification for upper-level positions.

Based on this trend, it is predicted that the program will continue to grow. The Bay Area market notes more health care positions than we have graduates to fill. It is vital to the economy and population that we continue to grow the program to satisfy industry demand.

Learning Outcomes - Health Information Technology AS Major

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply the knowledge and record management skills necessary for HIM entry-level employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.
• Apply the knowledge and computer skills necessary for HIM entry-level employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.
• Demonstrate the behavioral, interpersonal, ethical, and professional skills necessary for HIM employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.
• Apply and take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) national certification examination offered by the AHIMA
• Apply for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) national certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Assuming students start this AS with transfer‐level math and English eligibility, the minimum time for completion is 4 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of units completed per semester.

Learning Outcomes - Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply the knowledge and record management skills necessary for HIM entry-level employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.
• Apply the knowledge and computer skills necessary for HIM entry level employment as a health information professional in various health care settings.
• Demonstrate the behavioral, interpersonal, ethical, and professional skills necessary for HIM employment as a health information professional in various health care setting.
• Apply for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) national certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The minimum time for completion of this certificate is 4 semesters. Completion time will vary based on student preparation and number of classes completed per semester.

HIT 74

Health Information Technology AS Major AND Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
	Choose one of the following options in Anatomy and Physiology
OPTION 1
BIO 106	Introduction to HUman Anatomy and Physiology	4	S1
OPTION 2
BIO 108	General Human Anatomy	4	S1
	AND choose one of the following physiology courses
BIO 111	Human Physiology	5	S1
BIO 112	Introduction to Human Physiology	4	S1
	1st Semester required courses
HCT 61	Introduction to Health Care	3	S1
HIT 50A	Medical Terminology I	3	S1
HCT 67	Computer Applications in the Healthcare Setting	2	S1
	2nd Semester required courses
HIT 50B	Medical Terminology II	2	S2
HIT 57	Disease Process	3	S2
HIT 63	Health Information Systems	3	S2
HIT 65	Organization of Health Data	2	S2
HIT 73A	ICD-10-CM Coding	2	S2
	3rd Semester required courses
HIT 72	Legal Aspects of HIM	3	S3
HIT 73B	ICD-10-PCS	4	S3
HIT 77A	Professional Practice I	5	S3
HIT 75	Organization and Management in Health	3	S3
	4th Semester required courses
HIT 74 -	Introduction to Quality Improvement	2	S4
HIT 76	CPT Coding	3	S4
HIT 77B	Professional Practice II	5	S4
HIT 78	Reimbursement Methods in HIM	2	S4

To earn the Health Information Technology AS Major, students must complete BOTH Health Information Technology Curricula with a 2.0 grade point average and General Education Requirements from the College.Students holding an associate’s degree, baccalaureate degree or higher in a discipline from an Accredited institution of post-secondary education must petition for the Associate in Science Degree in Health Information Technology. A previous degree does not automatically meet General Education Requirements. (See current CCSF Catalog for concise lists and descriptions of General Graduation Requirements Areas A-H).All first-time applicants must submit an official transcript from their college or university for evaluation toward CCSF’s requirements. The academic qualifications of each candidate will be verified before a candidate is deemed eligible to take the national examination. Successful graduates with an Associate in Science Degree in Health Information Technology are eligible to take the national certification exam approved by the American Health Information Management Association to earn the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential

Requirements for AS in HIT

• Completion of all areas of General Education requirements.
• Completion of mathematics requirement for graduation.
  
• Completion of CCSF Associate Degree Major requirement
• Satisfy unit requirement of at least 60 units.
• Satisfy GPA requirement of at least 2.0
  
• Meet the residence requirement for graduation; completing 12 of the 60 degree applicable units at CCSF.

Completion of the Health Information Technology Certificate of Achievement without meeting the academic requirements at an associate’s degree level of an HIM program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) does not allow a student to take the national certification examination given by the American Health Information Management Association(AHIMA) or earn the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)credential.The academic qualifications of each candidate will be verified before a candidate is deemed eligible to take the examination. All first-time applicants must submit an official transcript from their college or university. 

Students are required to complete all certificate courses, earning a "C" or higher.Students are also required to complete two Professional Practice Experience externships. Students in this program as well as the others are encouraged to participate as a volunteer at a local health care delivery system such as a community clinic. It has been noted that volunteer activity not only provides valuable experience but also increases the student's chance of a hire.

Health information technology programs that prepare a student for long-term professions and successful attempts of the RHIT exam, must graduate from a CAHIIM-accredited program. Employers value the RHIT certification as well as the certificates of achievements. The AS Major in HIT is the capstone achievement in this pathway for students seeking a high-level profession. Some students also elect to continue their HIT studies in a Baccalaureate program. In California, there are presently eight AS degree credentialed programs. Four programs have campus-based options. Only one is located in Northern California. Adult learners benefit from having options for Face-to-face, hybrid and distance classes. The City College HIT program provides a flexible program that offers hybrid courses which is often more supportive of reentering adult learners and fulfills a need in this area for an accredited program.. There are plans to develop a modified on line coding certificate in the future. The CCSF HIT Program offers not only traditional hospital setting Professional Practice Experience externships but also has developed seven specialty options for advanced students. These are Coding, Research Revenue Cycle, Professional Fee Revenue Cycle, Data Governance, ACO Research, Privacy and Compliance. These were developed over three semesters in response to industry demand and the move to the Electronic Health Record. At this time, the face-to-face programs are the only option available to students in the Northern California area. City College of San Francisco fulfills a dynamic need in the Northern California area.

Because this is not a new program, no other program directors were contacted. As part of the California Health Information Association (CHIA) Academic Committee, all California program directors regularly meet for support and collaboration. The CCSF HIT Program Director plays an active role on this committee. Other Northern California programs are: Consumnes River College – online Fresno City College - online Health care professions are the fastest growing occupations. There are multiple opportunities at a variety of levels needing quality students. Skilled coders ae in very high demand and faced with few options, employers are “growing their own” by hiring well-prepared new graduates and training in-house.