Program Overview

This 60 credit-hour program prepares the graduate to enter a career which blends two rapidly expanding fields, healthcare and information technology. The HIT AAS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) for both the Data Management Track and the Revenue Management Track. Students who successfully complete the academic requirements for this program are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The RHIT credential is recognized by healthcare organizations nationwide.

Admission Requirements: The Health Information Technology AAS is an application-based fully online program with a fall start only for both full-time and part-time cohorts. For admission requirements, including a mandatory information session, please contact the Admissions Outreach Office at 847.925.6700 or visit harpercollege.edu. Students who apply for this program are obligated to meet current admission requirements and follow program curriculum as defined at the time of acceptance to the program.

Program Requirements

A grade of C or better in all coursework is required.

Plan of Study Grid

First Semester		Hours
BIO 135	Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology 1	4
CAS 160	Introduction to Business Software Packages	3
HIT 125	Healthcare Data Structure, Content and Standards	2
HIT 150	Health Information Protection, Analysis, and Technology	2
MTH 165	Elementary Statistics	4
	Hours	15
Second Semester
CIS 143	Introduction to Database Systems	3
ENG 101	Composition I	3
HIT 165	Pathopharmacology for Health Information Professionals	3
HIT 175	Revenue Management, Compliance, and Leadership	2
HSC 112	Medical Terminology	2
	Hours	13
Summer Session
HIT 196	Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding	3
SPE 101	Fundamentals of Speech Communication	3
	Hours	6
Third Semester
HIT 197	International Classification Of Disease (ICD) Coding	3
HIT 199	Health Care Reimbursement	3
HIT 225	Electronic Health Records for Health Information Systems	3
HIT 230	Health Care Information Analysis	3
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology +	3
	Hours	15
Fourth Semester
HIT 235	Advanced Medical Coding	4
HIT 240	Health Information Technology Externship	2
HIT 250	Law for Health Information	3
HIT 299	Health Information Technology Capstone	2
	Hours	11
	Total Hours	60

¹

BIO 260 and BIO 261 may be substituted for BIO 135 (formerly 160 and 161).

+

This course meets the World Culture and Diversity graduation requirement.

Program Learning Outcomes

Domain I. Data Structure, Content, and Information Governance

1. Describe health care organizations from the perspective of key stakeholders.
2. Apply policies, regulations, and standards to the management of information.
3. Identify policies and strategies to achieve data integrity.
4. Determine compliance of health record content within the health organization.
5. Explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures.
6. Evaluate data dictionaries and data sets for compliance with governance standards.

Domain II. Information Protection: Access, Use, Disclosure, Privacy, and Security Information Protection

1. Apply privacy strategies to health information.
2. Apply security strategies to health information.
3. Identify compliance requirements throughout the health information life cycle.

Domain III. Informatics, Analytics, and Data Use

1. Apply health informatics concepts to the management of health information.
2. Utilize technologies for health information management.
3. Calculate statistics for health care operations.
4. Report health care data through graphical representations
5. Describe research methodologies used in health care.
6. Manage data within a database system.
7. Identify standards for exchange of health information.

Domain IV. Revenue Cycle Management

1. Determine diagnosis and procedure codes according to official guidelines.
2. Evaluate revenue cycle processes.
3. Evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement methodologies.

Domain V. Health Law & Compliance

1. Apply legal processes impacting health information.
2. Demonstrate compliance with external forces.
3. Identify the components of risk management related to health information management.
4. Identify the impact of policy on health care.

Domain VI. Organizational Management & Leadership

1. Demonstrate fundamental leadership skills.
2. Identify the impact of organizational change.
3. Identify human resource strategies for organizational best practices.
4. Utilize data-driven performance improvement techniques for decision making.
5. Utilize financial management processes.
6. Examine behaviors that embrace cultural diversity.
7. Assess ethical standards of practice.
8. Describe consumer engagement activities.
9. Identify processes of workforce training for health care organizations.