Health Information Technology

Program Description:

Admission Requirements: View Selective Admission for detailed information

The Health Information Technology program focuses on the information needs of health care. Its graduates are prepared with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage health care data used to support patient care, make business and clinical decisions, conduct research, evaluate services, and contribute to the development of computer‑based patient record. The profession offers career flexibility and a variety of workplace options. Presently, opportunities for practice are found in numerous areas including hospitals, rehabilitation, pharmaceutical companies, mental health, home health, long term care, veterinary medicine, insurance companies, law firms, private industry, and colleges and universities. Graduates of the program are eligible to write the national accreditation examination for the designation of Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). While providing students with the skills necessary for immediate employment, the Health Information Technology program also prepares the students for further study if they choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Information Management.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

1. Evaluate health records by applying external standards, regulations and initiatives that pertain to the healthcare delivery system and the guidelines to the clinical classification system.

2. Apply the legal guidelines that pertain to the privacy, security, confidentiality, storage and the protection of health information.

3.  Generate healthcare data for statistical analysis, decision support, and strategic planning.

4. Evaluate the revenue cycle process and payment methodologies/systems.

5.  Interpret legal and regulatory requirements related to the health information management.

6.  Validate appropriate coding assignments and physician queries.

7.  Evaluate data for facility-wide outcomes reporting for quality management and performance improvement.

8.  Measure staffing levels and productivity standards for health information functions.   

9. Analyze information and data strategies in support of information governance initiatives.

10. Prepare a departmental budget.

11. Evaluate the consequences of a breach of healthcare ethics.

Requirements & Specific Information:

Students must achieve grade “C” or better, or grade “Pass” (if the course is a Pass/Fail course) for all the Core and the General Education courses which are prerequisites and/or considered a part of this program.  Other General Education courses which are not part of the program, but are required for the degree, require only a passing grade.

Accreditation:

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) (www.cahiim.org). CAHIIM recognizes degree‑granting programs in Health Informatics and Information Management that have undergone a rigorous process of voluntary peer review and have met or exceeded the minimum accreditation standards set by the professional association in cooperation with CAHIIM.

Career Opportunities:

Health Information Technology- Associate of Applied Science: Job titles such as Coding Specialist, Health Data Analyst, Clinical Documentation Specialist, and Health Information Technicians are attainable upon completion of this course of study. To learn more from a career specialist, visit the Office of Career Services at either campus or explore online at www.ahima.org.

Transfer Pathways:

Students intending to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree need to make early decisions concerning an academic major and a transfer destination. Statistics show that students who make these decisions early are more likely to persist to graduation than their undecided counterparts. Students planning to transfer credits earned at Macomb are strongly urged to see a counselor or academic advisor as early as possible in their college careers.

• Transfer Resource Guide
• Transfer Plan Database

Programs

• Health Information Technology, AAS (full-time)