Health Information Technology, AAS

Health Information Technology Degree (M025)

BCCC’s Health Information Technology (HIT) graduates perform a variety of technical, health information management functions including organizing, analyzing, and technically evaluating health information; compiling administrative and health statistics; and coding diseases, operations, and other procedures. Responsibilities also include maintaining and using a variety of health information indices, special registries, storage and retrieval systems; inputting and retrieving computerized health data, and controlling the release of health information. The majority of health information practitioners work in acute care hospitals, ambulatory, long-term, and mental health facilities, state and federal agencies, and at insurance companies, and colleges. Some are self-employed in businesses such as transcription services and consulting.

Graduates are eligible to take the certification examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association. Passing the examination entitles a person to use the initials RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) after his/her name. This national exam is offered once a quarter.

BCCC’s HIT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Students must score 35 or higher on the science placement test to be exempt from BIO 101  or BIO 102 .

Transfer and returning students may be required to repeat any AH and HIT course whose credits are more than three years old. Students must earn a “C” or better in BIO 202 \BIO 203  and all AH and HIT courses.

Students in the Health Information Technology degree program who wish to receive the Coding Specialist Certificate must take HIT 226 - Coding Practicum II . No course may be repeated more than twice (initial and one repeat).

Upon acceptance into the Program, students:

1. Must complete an American Heart Association CPR course. A copy of both sides of the card must be provided on the first day of class.
2. Are required to carry health insurance as long as they are in the program or sign a medical waiver accepting responsibility for their own health and safety in the classrooms and clinical areas to which they are assigned.
3. Must show proof of current health status by physical exam less than a year old.
4. Have up-to-date immunization/titres:
   1. The Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) must be done annually
   2. Rubella, Rubeola and Mumps titre and immunization, if necessary
   3. Varicella (chicken pox) titre and immunization, if necessary
   4. Hepatitis B screening, vaccine if necessary, or written waiver
5. Seasonal flu and other immunizations may be required by the assigned clinical health care facility.
6. Will be required to have a criminal background check and a drug screen per clinical agency regulations. Check with the Program Coordinator for more information.
7. Must maintain a minimum of “C” in each required course to progress through the course and semester sequence.
8. Must maintain a 2.0 GPA throughout the duration of the program.

In addition students:

1. Will incur expenses for books, tuition, etc.
2. Are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical practicums.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

** All BCCC students must meet the College’s Computer Literacy requirements in order to receive a degree or a certificate. All first-time, full- and part-time degree and certificate seeking students are required to complete the PRE 100  course within the first six credits.

** BCCC reserves the right to modify the above regulations/requirements at anytime in the student’s enrollment.