Blinn’s Health Information Technology Associate Degree Program earns national accreditation
HIT Program prepares students for technical career in health-care industry
March 3, 2017
Blinn College’s Health Information Technology (HIT) Program has earned national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Blinn’s HIT Associate of Applied Science Degree Program prepares students to work in the field of Health Information Management (HIM) in a variety of healthcare settings after taking the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) national certification examination. The RHIT credential demonstrates proficiency in information technology, medical coding, data analysis and management, legal issues, quality, revenue cycle, and compliance of the health record. One of the initial RHIT eligibility requirements is a degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program.
“The RHIT credential is the certification many employers – especially hospitals – expect of their employees,” said Jaime Schroeder, HIT Program Director. “Most employers will not consider applicants who have not earned this credential.”
Blinn’s HIT Program offers Associate of Applied Science degrees in HIT and Medical Office, as well as two certificates – Medical Billing and Coding Specialist and Medical Office Specialist. The HIT Associate of Applied Science Degree is the only portion of the program that has been nationally accredited.
An HIT career is a great option for students who have an interest in working in the healthcare industry, but would prefer not to work in direct patient care. Health information technicians organize and manage patient health records to ensure that the information maintains its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security in both paper files and electronic systems. Blinn’s HIT program prepares graduates to perform technical duties essential to health information departments in various health-care settings, including hospitals, office-based physician practices, and home health agencies.
Students who successfully complete the program are eligible for a variety of health information careers, including medical coder and biller, HIM technician, health record analyst, documentation specialist, insurance specialist, and patient access representative.
“The great thing about this program is that there are so many career avenues you can enjoy,” Schroeder said. “Blinn’s HIT Associate of Applied Science Degree is highly transferrable. Students who complete the program have the opportunity to further their education with a four-year bachelor’s or master’s degree program, which holds potential for advancement to management positions.”
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for certified health information technicians are expected to grow 15 percent between 2014 and 2024. Health information technicians can earn an average median wage of $17.84 per hour.
All HIT courses are available online with the exception of clinical rotations, which take place at local health-care facilities during the last semester of the degree plan. For more information, visit: www.blinn.edu/twe/hit.
