Health Information Technology, A.S.

Program Code: 3520

The Health Information Technology (HIT) associate in science degree is a CAHIIM-accredited 70-credit hour online program with required professional practice experience and proctored testing.

Health Information (HI) professionals are highly trained in the latest management technology applications, so they understand the workflow process in healthcare provider organizations-from large hospital systems to private physician offices. They work with all healthcare providers and departments, to help ensure patient information is correct and to promote patient safety through the best documentation practices. They may also work for insurance companies, consulting firms, government offices, pharmaceutical companies, nursing homes, law firms and colleges.

By earning an associate degree in health information technology from Santa Fe College’s HIT program, students will have a bright future in the healthcare and business industry.

Employment in health information technologists and medical registrars, revenue cycle management, and data analytics occupations is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Registered Health Information Technology (RHIT) National Certification exam, an AHIMA, or American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) coding certification exam (student decides). Other coding certification options are: Certified Coding Associate (CCA), Certified Coding Specialists (CCS), Certified Codin Specialist - Physician Based (CCS-P), Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA.)

When eligible, graduates also may take AHIMA Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) National certification exam. HIM professionals work in a multitude of settings throughout the health care industry.

Accreditation
The Health Information Management accreditor of Santa Fe College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Associate Degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2029.

All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed:

By mail: CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601
By phone: 312-233-1134
By email: info@cahiim.org

Requirements for Admission

There are no Admission requirements for this program.

If a student is not at college level, they would take prep classes before beginning the program courses but could still be admitted.

Biomedical courses such as BSC 2085  and BSC 2086  plus labs and/or HSC 2531  is highly suggested to take prior to taking coding courses or as co-requisites.

Students can pursue two programs at the same time, such as an A.S. degree and an A.A. degree, or a primary degree and an alternate degree or supplement A.A., A.S. degree with certifications.

DRC and Testing Accommodations
Requests for testing accommodations must be made in advance with the Disabilities Resource Center (DRC) located on the Northwest Campus. Please be prepared to provide documentation of disability to the DRC when making the request. Contact 352-395-4400v/TTY for further assistance.

Program Goals and Outcomes
2018 AHIMA Health Information Management Curricula Competencies

Each academic level is comprised of six common domains representing the areas of mastery important for all HIM students and practitioners regardless of academic degree.

Domain I. Data Structure, Content, and Information Governance
Domain II. Information Protection: Access, Use, Disclosure, Privacy, and Security
Domain III. Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use
Domain IV. Revenue Cycle Management
Domain V. Health Law & Compliance
Domain VI. Organizational Management & Leadership

At the associate degree level, programs can choose one or both specialty tracks which include Data Management and Revenue Management.

Competencies are broadly written to allow for program flexibility and attainment of the required Bloom’s levels regardless of academic program. The competencies represent progression across all academic levels.

Program Learning Outcome (PLO) Summary (AHIMA 38 Competencies across A.S. curriculum)

PLO1: Students will apply policies, regulations, and standards to the management of information strategies to achieve data integrity.

PLO2: Students will identify compliance requirements through the health information life cycle all while applying privacy and security strategies.

PLO3: Students will apply health informatics/data analytics concepts to the management of health information through the utilization of technologies databases all while supporting the secure electronic exchange of data to promote quality of healthcare.

PLO4: Students will validate assignment of diagnostic and procedure codes and groupings in accordance with official guidelines, regulatory requirements all while contributing to the revenue cycle management and clinical documentation improvement processes.

PLO5: Students will apply legal processes impacting health information by demonstrating compliance with external forces and identifying the components of risk management related to health information management.

PLO6: Students will demonstrate fundamental leadership skills by identifying the impact of organizational change, workforce training, human resource strategies for organizational best practices by utilizing data -driven performance improvement techniques for decision making and financial management processes.

Supporting Knowledge Courses:

• BSC2085 and BSC2086 and labs Anatomy/Physiology
• HSC2531 Medical Terminology
• STA2023 Statistics (Math)
• CGS2100 Computer for Business
• 5 Gen Ed courses
   

Lawful and Non-Discriminatory Practices:
All activities associated with the program, including student and faculty recruitment, student admission, and faculty employment practices, must be non-discriminatory and in accordance with federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations.

Performance Standards
The Health Information Technology Program is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective and psychomotor performance requirements. Applicants should assess their aptitude and ability to perform professional duties by reviewing the Program Performance Standards below and discussing them with their healthcare provider. Applicants who identify potential difficulties with meeting the Program Performance Standards should communicate their concerns to the Academic Chair for Business Programs. If the concern is related to a documented disability, applicants are responsible for contacting the Disabilities Resource Center for determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodation.

HIT Program students should possess the following general qualities: critical thinking, sound judgment, written/verbal professional communication, emotional stability and maturity, empathy, physical and mental stamina, and the ability to learn and function in a wide variety of didactic and clinical settings. Graduates of the HIT Program must have the minimal skills, essential functions, and knowledge to function in a broad variety of clinical settings.

Attribute

• Standard
• Example
   

Critical Thinking

• Critical thinking sufficient for business, clinical and technical judgment.
• Interpret medical records, regulations, data analysis, technology in order to process and make better clinical and business decisions.
   

Interpersonal

• Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with internal and external stakeholders from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
• Communicate and present effectively, appropriately, and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders.
   

Communication

• Ability to effectively communicate sufficiently with internal and external stakeholders in a verbal and written form.
• Communicate effectively, appropriately and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders. Gather, manager, analyze, protect and secure information responsible for treatment, operations and payment for organization. The student must be able to read, write, see, speak, hear and interpret written and verbal communication in English.
   

Mobility

• Physical abilities sufficient to move independently from room to room and through hallways; maneuver in small places.
• Perform complex motor skills necessary to provide sufficient management, security, protection, analysis of information that contributes to clinical, business and technological aspects of organization. Be able to sufficiently and adequately contribute to the treatment, operations and payment for services rendered.
   

Tactile and Motor Skills

• Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to safely and effectively perform functions that affiliate with treatment, operations and payment of services provided.
• Possess fine and gross motor skills to accurately assess, monitor, gather, secure, protect health information for treatment, operations and payment for services rendered.
   

Hearing

• Auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health information, business and technology needs.
• Hear to accurately assess vital signs, monitor equipment, alarms and alerts; communicate verbally with patients, family, staff and other healthcare providers.
   

Visual

• Visual ability sufficient to gather, interpret, manage, secure information for data analysis, medical coding so effectively and successfully perform business and technological practices through treatment, operations and payment of services provided.
• Read patient charts, flow sheets and equipment; use visual inspection to monitor and assess business, clinical and technological aspects of treatment, operations and payment of services provided.
   

Technical Standards
The goal of the Santa Fe College’s Health Information Technology (HIT) Program is to prepare students for the practice of acquiring, managing, analyzing, and securing health information for the purposes of treatment, payment and operations (TPO) of any organization. The HIM professional is an allied health profession who brings value to any organization.

Modern allied health education requires that the accumulation of scientific knowledge be accompanied by the simultaneous acquisition of essential skills, functions, and professional attitudes and behavior. The college must ensure that patients are not placed in jeopardy by students with impaired intellectual, physical, or emotional functions. Students will be judged not only on their scholastic accomplishments but also on their physical and emotional capacities to meet the full requirements of the college’s curriculum and to graduate as skilled and effective practitioners.

Students in the Health Information Technology Program must demonstrate the following minimum abilities to:

• Acquire and apply information from classroom instruction, laboratory experience, independent learning, and team projects.
• Communicate effectively in English in oral and written form with colleagues, clerical employees in Health Information Management departments and other health professionals as part of the healthcare team.
• Communicate effectively in English in oral and written form with patients, attorneys, workers’ compensation representatives, insurance companies, and other third-party payers and other individuals and agencies who need information from patient records or databases maintained in Health Information Management departments.
• Computers and complete computer-based assignments in a timely fashion.
• Function (consult, negotiate, share) as part of a team.
• Read, interpret, comprehend material used in HIM settings such as coding manuals, policies and procedures, patient medical records.
• Calculate mathematical information such as hospital statistics, budgets, and productivity information.
• Have the manual dexterity necessary to file medical records and cards as well as assemble paper medical record forms. (E H R and paper medical records)
• Have the visual and manual dexterity necessary to prepare office layouts and to design forms and computer screens.
• Operate equipment, word processors, transcription equipment, electronic movable files, copier, etc. (E H R and paper medical records)
• Synthesize information regarding health care outcomes for formal, verbal and/or written presentation to health care professionals.
   

The essential abilities listed in this document can be accomplished through direct student response, the use of prosthetic or orthotic devices or through personal assistance, e.g., readers, sign language interpreters, note-takers. Reasonable accommodation in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be provided on an individual basis. Students seeking accommodations should initiate their request with the Disabilities Resource Center, Santa Fe College. Students will then discuss their needs with the appropriate course instructor(s).

Professional Appearance
Students must abide by specific professional appearance requirements while in the program. These requirements have been agreed upon by Santa Fe College and its clinical partners. Hair must be maintained within the range of natural color and must be conservative in length and style. Completely shaved or bald styles are acceptable; however, not partially shaved or one-sided haircuts are permitted. Visible tattoos must always be covered. Visible body piercings are not allowed, and earlobe gauges must be covered. Earrings are limited to one stud-style pair per ear. Clothing and footwear must comply with standards prescribed by the program. Facial hair should be kept neat and trimmed short. Artificial nails, nail polish, jewelry, watches, and perfume are not permitted. Professionalism is to be maintained throughout the program, professional practice experience and beyond. Remember, you represent YOU, the program, and the college.

Program Mission
Our mission is to add value to students’ lives and enrich the community by providing students/graduates the opportunities to ethically lead, be progressive in thought, gain knowledge in information management and analysis; be life learners and apply practical skills that are required to compete in an ever changing, global, culturally diverse labor market.