Health Information Technology, AS

Purpose

The Associate in Science (AS) program in Health Information Technology (HIT) prepares students for further education and careers in the healthcare industry. Health Information Technology professionals play a critical role in maintaining, collecting, and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses and other health care providers rely on to deliver quality health care. Graduates of the HIT program at FSW are eligible to take the national certification exam to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

They are experts in:

• managing access to patient health information and electronic health records
• establishing policies to protect patient health data and comply with federal, state and local regulations
• utilizing computer information systems
• coding the diagnosis and procedures for health care services provided to patients
• reviewing medical claims data and managing the revenue cycle.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030, as fast as the average for all occupations.” The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages and will lead to an increased need for specialists to organize and manage the associated information in all areas of the healthcare industry. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm#tab-6 

Health Information Technology professionals work in a multitude of settings throughout the healthcare industry, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, home health agencies, medical coding and auditing companies, insurance companies, government agencies, release of information companies, and health information computer system companies.

Accreditation

The Associate Degree in Health Information Technology is accredited by the:

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100

Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: 312-235-3255

Email: info@cahiim.org

Program Structure

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 70 credit hours that include 20 credit hours of General Education requirements and 50 credit hours of Health Information Technology Program requirements.

The curriculum includes a combination of classroom, laboratory, and professional practice experiences. General Education coursework may be taken on various campuses, but the Health Information Technology courses are only offered on the Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus.

Admission to the program is open to all students interested in the field of study. However, upon selection of the A.S. in Health Information Technology, students are required to contact the Program Director to determine an appropriate curriculum sequence. The program can be completed in 5 semesters by students who are college-ready (i.e., who have completed all developmental coursework). Students will progress through the program as a cohort and courses must be taken in sequence. Full time and part time cohort sequencing is available. Note that some courses are only offered one time per academic year.

Internship Requirements

There are three professional practice experience (internship) courses in the Health Information Technology, AS program. Students will be assigned to a specific health care facility or virtual lab simulation for the completion of these experiences. Applicants should note the following regarding these internships:

• Student assignment to facilities or lab simulation is made by the Health Information Technology Program Director and is based upon site availability.
• Facilities will be selected from within the Southwest Florida region which includes Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hendry, Glades, and Sarasota Counties.
• Students are expected to provide their own transportation to and from their assigned professional practice sites.
• Professional Practice Experiences can only be completed on weekdays.

In the final semester of the program, students will complete an internship at an off-campus agency. This internship course, HIM 2940 Health Information Technology Capstone Experience, requires preparation before registration will be allowed. Students will be responsible for the cost and completion of the following:

• Criminal Background Check
• Drug test
• Health Form completed by Physician
• Record of all current Immunizations
• Tuberculosis screening exam
• Basic Life Support Provider Certification (CPR and AED)
• Proof of Current Health Insurance

Course Prerequisites

Many courses require prerequisites. Check the description of each course in the list below for prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, and other restrictions. Students must complete all prerequisites for a course prior to registering for it.

Graduation Requirements

Students must fulfill all requirements of their program to be eligible for graduation. Students must indicate their intention to attend commencement ceremony by completing the Commencement Form by the published deadline.