A Health Information Technology degree programs aim to prepare students to manage electronic health records. This may include learning computer software or how to code diseases and operations. Some programs may also prepare you to manage other employees. You may also want to consider a program that prepares you to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) national certification exam.
Courses for a Health Information Technology degree may include:
Medical terminology can be very complex. It is important that students learn how to grasp these concepts. This course aims to teach students these terms and become fluent in them. These terms often are rooted in latin. Thus, the course usually focuses on root terms as well as prefixes and suffixes.
HIPPA, the privacy and security laws that govern healthcare management are critical to the health care industry. They govern everything from how research is conducted to development of policies for privacy. This course aims to teach students about these laws and procedures.
Medical records and billing are a series of coded numbers. This type of course aims to teach students how to correctly apply the correct ICD-9-CM and CPT classifications. The course may also cover the history of the classification system.
This course aims to provide students with an overall view of the healthcare systems. Topics may include current issues in health care. The course may also cover the complex nature of health care in the United States.
Health information technology programs may be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Accredited programs meet the standards of quality set by the accrediting agency. Along with that, they are regularly reviewed.
Health Information Technology degree programs may open various career paths including pursuing a career as a health information technician or a health services manager. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers may include:
Health information technicians manage, maintain, and organize health information data. To do so, they use both paper and online filing systems. Also, they classify and code patient information. Importantly, they are in charge of maintaining the privacy of patients.
Health services managers manage medical services. Usually, they manage a particular facility, department, or practice. This may mean that they develop goals, manage finances, or hire and train staff. Besides all of this, they ensure the safety and efficiency of the facility.
Medical Transcriptionists listen to recordings made by doctors and other health care workers. Then then convert them to written reports. This may include translating jargon to the right long form. Or, they may find errors and missing information. They then submit these reports back to the doctors.
Administrative medical assistants schedule patient appointments and talk with patients. In addition, they fill out insurance forms and code patients’ medical information. They may also do other administrative tasks in a healthcare facility.
*This is an offer for educational opportunities that may lead to employment and not an offer or guarantee of employment and that may help prepare students to meet the certification requirements of the field they choose to study. Students should check with the appropriate certifying body to make sure the program they apply to will help meet any certification requirements. Students should also consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution's specific program curriculum.
Source for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.