Health Information Technology Program
Health Information Technologists gather information such as medical history, symptoms, exam results, diagnostic tests, and treatment methods, and organize it for use by physicians and other health care professionals. They play a key role in any medical facility.
Our program in Health Information Technology is designed to teach you how to use technology to collect, analyze, monitor, maintain and report health data. These functions include, among other duties, processing requests for the release of personal health information, the coding of clinical information, processing and using health data for clinical quality management, billing and reimbursement, and compliance while protecting patient privacy.
The training program is divided into eight, 10-week quarters and incorporates a blended schedule consisting of courses taken both on campus and online. Since this program consists of an online component, a laptop computer will be provided. Students may choose to use their own laptop if it meets the requirements needed to fulfill the online component of the HIT curriculum. The program is composed of general education, anatomy and physiology, core health information technology, and clinical practicum courses. Each quarter is comprised of prescribed subjects or studies that build upon each other.
Click here to contact an Admissions Advisor to learn more or call 877-832-0790
What will I be trained to do in this field?
A Health Information Technologist plays a critical role in monitoring, maintaining, collecting, analyzing, and reporting critical data that doctors, nurses and other health care providers rely on to provide quality health care to their patients.
As the role of electronic medical records increases, the responsibilities and opportunities for Health Information Technologists will also increase. Accurate, accessible data is crucial to patient care.
What will I learn?
In the Associate of Occupational Science in Health Information Technology program, you'll learn both medical terminology as well as industry software and computer techniques.
As you work toward your degree, you’ll have courses on subjects like:
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II
- Health Care Delivery Systems
- Electronic Health Records
- Healthcare Data Management
- Management Concepts in Healthcare
- Legal and Regulatory Issues in Health Information Technology
- Medical Terminology
- Pathophysiology I & II
- Pharmacology Principles
One of the exciting things about this course is that your education will be a blend of classroom and online instruction. This online component is a great way for you to become familiar and comfortable with the computer skills this career requires.
What are some career opportunities?
Health Information Technologists work with physicians, nurses, and other health care providers in a variety of professional settings including:
- Government Agencies
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
- Nursing Care Facilities
- Outpatient Care Centers
- Offices of Physicians
- Insurance Companies
What's the career outlook?
Employment for this essential career is expected to grow by as much as 20% between 2008 and 2018.*
The Health Information Technology program is available at the following campus:
Program Information Disclosure
In candidacy status, pending accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
| O*Net Occupation Titles | Soc Code | Links to Occupational Profiles on O*Net |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians: Medical Records Clerk, Health Information Clerk, Medical Records Technician, Office Manager, File Clerk, Medical Records Coordinator, Medical Records Analyst, Medical Records Director, Receptionist, Coder | 29-2071.00 | http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2071.00 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers: Office Manager, Nurse Manager, Health and Social Service Manager, Program Manager, Clinical Director, Director of Nursing, Medical Records Manager, Mental Health Program Manager, Nutrition Services Manager, Practice Administrator | 11-9111.00 | http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-9111.00 |
| Medical Transcriptionists: Medical Transcriptionist, Transcriptionist, Radiology Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriber, Medical Language Specialist, Pathology Transcriptionist, Documentation Specialist, Medical Transcription Supervisor | 31-9094.00 | http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/31-9094.00 |
| On-time Completion Rate | |||
| Los Angeles | Orange County | Ontario | Consolidated Rate |
| N/A | N/A (no graduates in this period) | N/A | N/A |
| Placement Rate Reported to ABHES | ||
| Los Angeles | Orange County | Ontario |
| N/A | N/A (no graduates in this period) | N/A |
| Median Loan Debt (2010/2011 Award Year) |
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| Los Angeles | Orange County | Ontario | |
| Title IV HEA Programs: | N/A | N/A (no graduates in this period) | N/A |
| Private Loans/Institutional Financing Plan: |
N/A | N/A (no graduates in this period) | N/A |
Current Estimated Tuition and Fees: $35,112.50
To review the terms and definitions for the chart above, or to see the outcome information for ACC's other programs, and to view state disclosure information, visit: americancareercollege.edu/disclosures.
*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11
**Many employers of health information technicians either limit their hiring, or give hiring preference to candidates who are Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). In order for a student to become an RHIT upon graduation, the student must pass a certification examination for RHIT administered by the Council on Certification of the American Health Information Management Association.
For details on what prospective HIT students should know, please visit: http://www.cahiim.org/whatyoushouldknow.html. The HIT program at the Orange County Campus is in candidacy status with CAHIIM. If this program does not become accredited by CAHIIM by the time a student graduates from this program, the graduate will not be allowed to take the Certification Exam to become an RHIT. A graduate of this program is unlikely to qualify for any employment opportunities involving the management of health information, unless and until he or she is able to take and pass the Certification Exam.
Not all programs are offered at all locations.
Career Fact
With the increasing use of electronic medical records, more technicians will be needed to manage these records in the coming years.
