Program

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Records/Health Information Management

The Medical Records/Health Information Management program will prepare you for an exciting career as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). A Registered Health Information Technician is skilled in health information management systems and procedures, has completed an academic program and has satisfactorily passed a national certification exam. A RHIT specialist is trained in assembling, analyzing, and abstracting medical records, as well as coding and indexing diagnoses and treatment used for research, reimbursement and statistical analysis.

Registered Health Information Technicians may also perform data retrieval for quality assurance activities, transcribe medical reports and medical staff committee meeting minutes, protect confidential patient information and assist physicians and other health care personnel with appropriate medical record documentation practices.

Program Outcomes

The following outcomes are skills, behaviors, and attitudes cultivated in students seeking the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Records/Health Information Management:

• Applies codes accurately using current and appropriate technology;
• Communicates effectively with internal and external customers;
• Exhibits skills that promote quality improvement;
• Exhibits skills to insure the security of Personal Health Information (PHI);
• Utilizes current technology efficiently to manage and interpret data;
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills (i.e. managing time, meeting deadlines, reacting to change appropriately, behaving ethically); and,
• Utilizes guidelines and regulations to ensure compliance with internal and external policies.

Curriculum

Career Opportunities

The Medical Records/Health Information Management program prepares you for positions ranked by health care facilities as among the five positions in greatest demand. Technicians are employed by hospitals, ambulatory care centers, nursing homes, mental health agencies, substance abuse agencies, hospices, consulting firms, insurance companies, large physician group practices, veterinary hospitals, government facilities, and federal and state prisons. Health information management technicians may work from home as coders, medical editors, claims analysts, medical billers or independent contractors working as consultants for nursing facilities, large group practices, lawyers and small rural hospitals.

Occupation Profile