CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
A health information professional collects, analyzes and manages
the information that steers the health care industry. At the heart of
the profession's information responsibilities are records, both computer-based
and paper, of an individual's health care. The health information professional
orchestrates collection of many kinds of documentation from a variety
of sources, monitors the integrity of the information, and ensures appropriate
access to the individual record.
The professional also manages aggregate data based on the care of patients,
collects health care data by abstracting and encoding information, uses
computer programs to interpret data, and ensures the data's validity.
The Health Information Technology (H.I.T.) program provides both lecture
and clinical affiliations ("clinicals") where students gain
practical experience and learn many technical aspects of processing and
maintaining health information. After completing the two-year program,
graduates are eligible to take the national examination for attaining
a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) title.
The H.I.T. program also offers three certificates:
Physician
Office Coding and Billing
Acute
Health Care Coding
Ambulatory
Coding
Health Information Technology is one of the top 10 growing fields that
does not require a baccalaureate degree. Graduates work in hospitals,
outpatient clinics, surgi-centers, nursing homes and other health care
facilities.
Persons interested in pursuing this program should have an interest in
the health care field, although actual patient contact is very rare. Such
persons should enjoy organizing, preparing and retrieving detailed work.
Accreditation Status
The H.I.T.
program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).