Health Information Technology: A.A.S.

Associate in Applied Science

CIP Code: 51.0707

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Mission

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program is designed to help students acquire the knowledge and develop the technical skills necessary to earn the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential, and to obtain a professional job in a related field in healthcare upon graduation. Students will learn about professional ethics, and develop skills in critical thinking and problem solving, communication, and inter-professional relationships, in addition to core HIT courses such as medical coding, medical terminology, diseases & disorders, etc. Students who graduate and enter the profession have the opportunity for competitive wages while serving society through the collaborative, professional management of health information.

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Communicate effectively in the healthcare environment, while being respectful of cultural, ethnic, gender, and lifestyle differences.
2. Comply with appropriate legal regulations, standards, policies and procedures, for control and management of the health record, and for protection, security, and release of health information.
3. Demonstrate appropriate use of management principles, technology, and decision support tools to effectively manage human, physical, and financial resources to improve performance.
4. Apply healthcare reimbursement principles by understanding the complexities of reimbursement systems and how they affect providers and payers.
5. Code diagnoses and procedures according to current legal, ethical, and federal standards for reimbursement, analysis, and improved patient care.
6. Perform data analytic functions for quality improvement, risk management, utilization review, and compliance.
7. Maintain and utilize the electronic health record, and various indexes, storage, and retrieval systems.
8. Score at or above 70 percent on all American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) competency domains on the Health Information Technology (HIT) Comprehensive exam.
9. Explain the impact of continuing education on professional growth and competence.

Accreditation

The Health Information Management accreditor of SUNY Broome Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for its associate of applied science degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2030. 

All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 233 N. Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at +1 (312) 233-1134; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

Program Supervisor

Stephanie Albitz, Chairperson
Office: Decker Health Science Center, Room 317I
Telephone: +1 (607) 778-5507
E-mail:  albitzsa@sunybroome.edu

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Health Information professionals play a critical role in maintaining, collecting and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers rely on to deliver quality healthcare. They are experts in managing patient health information and medical records, administering computer information systems and coding the diagnosis and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients and for reimbursement and research. HIM professionals work in a multitude of settings throughout the healthcare industry including hospitals, physician offices and clinics, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, government agencies and home care providers.

Practice in health information laboratory exercises and the Electronic Health Record, as well as in health information departments of various healthcare facilities, provides additional educational experience.

Students who graduate from the program are eligible to take the National Certification Examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Graduates may continue health information management education toward a baccalaureate degree at four-year colleges.

Sequence of Courses

The following coursework must be successfully completed to earn the A.A.S. degree in Health Information Technology. Courses are sequential and have prerequisites.