What It Means:
The health care industry depends on electronic information systems. As health data becomes more and more digitized,
opportunities are created for individuals with skills and knowledge to collect, analyze, monitor, maintain and report health
data in accordance with established data quality principles, legal and information security standards, and professional
best-practice guidelines.
What it means to you:
According to a 2006-2007 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, employment for medical records and health information
technicians is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations from now through 2014.1
The associate's degree program in Health Information Technology offered through the School of Health Sciences at ITT Technical
Institute teaches how to use technology to collect, analyze, monitor, maintain and report health data. These functions
include, among other duties, processing requests for the release of personal health information, the coding of clinical
information, and processing and using health data for clinical quality management, billing and reimbursement, and compliance
while protecting patient privacy. Graduates of this program* may pursue entry-level positions involving health information
technology in a variety of health care settings.
Some of the Courses in the Health Information Technology Program:
- Organization of Health Care Delivery
- Introduction to the Health Care Record
- Medical and Drug Terminology
- Release of Personal Health Information
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Human Diseases
- Health Care Statistics
- ICD-9-CM Coding
- Health Care Data Sets and Specialized Registries
- CPT Coding
- Health Care Reimbursement Systems
- Utilization, Risk and Compliance Management
- Advanced Coding
- Supervision and Personnel Management in Health Care
Equipment Used By Students In the Program:
Students will have the opportunity to use the following school equipment as required throughout the program: computer systems,
printers and other common computer peripherals. Please refer to the Student Equipment provision in the Online Course
Information section of the school catalog for information relating to student equipment requirements for any distance
education courses in this program that are taught online over the Internet.
Length of Program:
Based on the typical class schedule of a full-time student, the associate's degree program is eight quarters in length. A
typical class session lasts approximately four to five hours. Day and evening class sessions are generally available,
depending on student enrollment. The courses in this program may be taught either completely in residence at the
school, completely online over the Internet, or partially in residence and partially online, as determined by the school.
Please refer to the Program Outline and Online Course Information sections of the school catalog for specific information
regarding the courses that may be taught completely or partially online.
Admission Requirements:
Consult the school catalog for an explanation of the admission requirements for this program. Please contact the specific
campus regarding the opportunity to transfer credits earned at other postsecondary institutions to satisfy course requirements
of this program.
*Many employers of health information technicians either limit their hiring, or give
hiring preference, to candidates who are Registered Health Information Technicians ("RHIT"). In order for a student to become
an RHIT upon graduation, the student must pass a certification examination for RHIT administered by the Council on
Certification of the American Health Information Management Association (the "Certification Exam"). In order for a student to
be allowed to take the Certification Exam to become an RHIT, the student must: (a) graduate from a program of study in health
information technology that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management
Education ("CAHIIM"); and (b) pay an examination fee, for which the student is solely responsible. At this time, this program
is not accredited by CAHIIM. If this program does not become accredited by CAHIIM by the time a student graduates from this
program, the student will not be allowed to take the Certification Exam to become an RHIT, unless and until such time as this
program becomes accredited by CAHIIM and the student was enrolled in this program during the candidacy for CAHIIM
accreditation. A graduate of this program is unlikely to qualify for any employment opportunities involving the management of
health information, unless and until he or she is able to take and pass the Certification Exam.
The Health Information Technology degree is available at the following campuses. Please select a campus to learn more about this program.
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