Get the Skills to Become a Health Information Technology Professional

18-Month^* Accelerated Program in Health Information Technology

If you are interested in working in healthcare, but not directly with patients, then becoming a Health Information Technician might be the perfect career choice for you. Health Information Technology (HIT) is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. It is a combination of business, science, and information technology. Health Information Technology professionals care for patients by caring for and protecting their medical data.

Your Future in Health Information Technology

With a degree in Health Information Technology, you’ll be prepared to work in hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and other medical institutions. As regulations and technologies evolve, Health Information Technicians can expect to be in high demand as the medical sector continues to grow due to an aging population. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that there will be a 17% growth rate for health information technologists and medical registrars, with approximately 3,400 new jobs each year, on average, over the decade – much faster than the average for all occupations.

Beal University’s Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program is CAHIIM accredited, which is crucial for your ability to become employed. Being CAHIIM accredited means graduates of this program are eligible to sit for their RHIT and CPC certification exams, which allows them to become certified professionals. Our students’ pass rate for the RHIT and CPC are traditionally quite high.

The best way to see if Beal University is the right fit for you is to contact an admissions representative. Get more information on the Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program, class schedules, and financial aid options so that you can make an informed decision about your future. Get more info or Book a Tour.

Become Qualified in Health Information Technology

Beal University’s program includes some of today’s most in-demand training for the health field, including courses in ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding & Classification Systems, Health Care Quality Improvement, Health Care Information Systems, Health Care Reimbursement Methodologies, Health Care Data Analysis & Statistics, plus many others.

With flexible online and on-campus schedules, smaller class sizes, and accelerated programs, you will feel prepared and supported to pursue your career goals upon graduation.

As a student in the Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program, you’ll take courses such as:

• Introduction to Health Information Technology
• Fundamentals of Law for Health Information Management
• Evaluation and Management Coding
• Health Information Organization and Supervision
• Health Care Data Analysis & Statistics
• Health Care Reimbursement Methodologies
• ICD-10-CM Coding
• ICD-10-PCS Coding
• CPT Coding
• Advanced Coding
• Pharmacology & Pathophysiology
• Medical Terminology
• General Education Courses

Note:  Upon completion of your Health Information Technology Associate Degree, you can immediately enroll and advance into our Health Information Management program to earn your Bachelor Degree.

100% Online

This program is offered 100% online. Distance learning provides the convenience and flexibility to balance work and family commitments with school. Course materials are accessible online at any time of the day. Beal University is here to help you get a quality education online at a pace you can keep up with.

Transfer Credits Accepted

Already have an associate’s degree? You could get credit for your previous coursework and graduate even sooner! Get info today to learn if you qualify.

Get Real-World Experience

As a student of this program, you’ll complete a 40-hour externship before graduation. The externship provides valuable career-related experience in a hands-on setting. Some of our current Health Information Technology approved externship sites are: Northern Light (HIT Department), Penobscot Community Health Center, and St. Joseph Hospital.

Certifications

The Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program prepares you to take two industry certification exams through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA):

• Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)
• Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
• Certified Coding Specialist-Physician Based (CCS-P)

Obtaining these certifications is the key for you to pursue employment in the Health Information Technology industry.

Download AHIMA’s Salary Survey Here >

About Health Information Technology

Health Information Technology (HIT) professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications. They understand the workflow in many healthcare provider organizations, from large hospital systems to private physician practices. HIT professionals are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records (EHRs). Ensuring a patient’s health information – the data related to a person’s medical history, including symptoms, diagnoses, procedures, and outcomes – is complete, accurate, and protected is one of the HIT professional’s main duties.

Health Information Technology professionals (HIT) work in a variety of different settings and hold different job titles. They often serve to bridge roles, connecting clinical, operational, and administrative functions. HIT specialists affect the quality of patient information and patient care at every touchpoint in the healthcare delivery cycle. They work on the classification of diseases and treatments to ensure they are standardized for clinical, financial, and legal uses in healthcare.

Professionals who work in HIT focus on the technical side of managing health information, working with software and hardware to manage and store patient data. They are usually from information technology backgrounds and provide support and security for systems that Health Information Management (HIM) professionals use. As technology advances, HIT professionals are necessary to ensure that health information electronic data is maintained and exchanged accurately and efficiently.

Diverse Career Prospects

Industries with an increased demand for Health Information Technology professionals include academic institutions, consulting agencies, government agencies, and healthcare software companies. As Health Information Technology becomes more prevalent, Health Information practitioners will continue to be critical members of the electronic health record workforce. According to the US Department of Labor, HIT will grow to encompass new support positions, including mobile support adoption positions, public health informatics, implementation support specialists, and information management redesign specialists.

After completing the Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program, you’ll be eligible for positions such as:

• Medical Coder
• Medical Records
• Clerk, Release of Information Specialist
• Cancer Registrar
• Data Analyst
• Health Information Specialist
• Health Information Clerk
• Health Information Technician
• Medical Records Analyst
• Medical Records Coordinator
• Medical Records Technician
• Registered Health Information Technician
• Clinical Data Manager
• Billing Technician
• Health Information Services Associate
• Outpatient Coder
• Inpatient Coder
• Risk Manager
• Patient Access Associate
• More

A career in HIT is right for you if you have an aptitude for science, but also like management, law, and computers; enjoy working with professionals such as physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators and executives; and want a career where you can choose to work on your own, with others, or some of both.

Health Information Technician Professionals Are Needed to Fill Many Roles

Health Information Technicians are responsible for ensuring the quality of health records and healthcare data by verifying completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems. These skills can be applied in a variety of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, and public health agencies. They use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs. HIT professionals often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research.

As a Health Information Technician, you may:

• Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained
• Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and the extent of a disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into a computer
• Compile and maintain patients’ medical records to document conditions and treatments and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts
• Process patient admission or discharge documents

Programmatic Accreditation

The Health Informatics accreditor of Beal University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The University’s accreditation for the Health Information Technology degree in Health Informatics has been reaffirmed through 2022-2023. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at [email protected]

Student Achievement / Outcomes

Reporting Period: August 2019 – July 2020

• Graduation Rate:  67% (2/3)
• Employer Satisfaction:  100% (3/3)
• Beal University *Pass Rate for RHIT Exam, 2020*:  100%** (3/3)

*2020 national average RHIT pass rate for first time test takers is 73%.
**First time Beal University examinees who passed the RHIT exam.

Is a Rewarding Career in Health Information Technology Right for You? Get More Info…

If you’re interested in learning more about a career in Health Information Technology, fill out the form on this page to receive more information. A friendly Beal University Career Advisor can answer career questions, guide you to our virtual tour, and get you helpful financial aid information. Get the answers you need to discover the perfect career path for you.

For immediate questions, call 207-307-3900

*Program length when completed in normal time.

Get Info!