Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)

Program Overview:

HIM professionals are highly trained in the latest information management technology applications and understand the workflow in any healthcare provider organization from large hospital systems to the private physician practice. They are vital to the daily operations management of health information and electronic health records (EHRs). They ensure a patient’s health information and records are complete, accurate, and protected. HIM professionals also work on the classification of diseases and treatments to ensure they are standardized for clinical, billing, and legal uses in healthcare.

Health Information Technicians analyze, secure, and maintain patient health information. Other duties include coding diagnoses, processing reimbursements, managing release of information, and protecting patient data privacy. Upon successfully completing RCTC’s online Health Information Technology (HIT) program, you are eligible to take the national exam sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and earn the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Health Information Technology program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Maintain the accuracy and completeness of the electronic health record including intranet and internet applications as defined by organizational policy, accreditation, licensure, and external regulations and standards.
• Apply legal principles, policies, regulations and standards to protect the privacy, confidentiality, and security of health information.
• Code, classify, and index diagnoses and procedures for the purpose of reimbursement, standardization, retrieval and statistical analysis.
• Utilize principles of supervision and the tools used to effectively manage human resources, finances, and critical thinking.
• Apply techniques and tools for quality management and performance improvement including risk, utilization, and case management requirements.
• Demonstrate practical application of theories learned, including the ability to value self and work ethically with others in a diverse population, during the Professional Practice Experience.
• Use appropriate terminology in the areas of human anatomy, physiology, human diseases, and pharmacology when interpreting healthcare reports.

Additional Information:

This program is offered predominately online. Computer requirements are listed on the RCTC Online web page.

Notice of Minnesota Background Check Requirement Minnesota Statute 245C requires that students who have contact with individuals in licensed institutions complete an annual background study with the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Individuals who do not pass the background check will not be allowed to participate in program activities. A list of disqualifying offenses is available at https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=245C.15 Information about completing the background study will be available from program faculty.

HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AAS

MINNESOTA TRANSFER CURRICULUM (MnTC)/GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (17 CREDITS)

GOAL 1: COMMUNICATION (10 CREDITS)

• COMM 1114 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 cr) OR COMM 1130 – Interpersonal Communication (3 cr)
• ENGL 1109 – Introduction to Professional and Technical Communication (3 cr)
• ENGL 1117 – Reading and Writing Critically I (4 cr)

GOAL 3: NATURAL SCIENCES (4 CREDITS)

• BIOL 1107 – Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (4 cr)

GOAL 5: HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (3 CREDITS)

• PSYC 1611 – Psychology of Adjustment (3 cr) OR PSYC 2618 – General Psychology (4 cr)

GOAL 6: HUMANITIES AND THE FINE ARTS (3 CREDITS)

• *RECOMMENDED PHIL 1135 – Bioethics (3 cr)

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (47 CREDITS)

• AOP 2350 – Microsoft Business Applications (3 cr)
• AOP 2870 – Employment Strategies (1 cr)
• HCOP 1620 – Medical Terminology for Health Professions (3 cr)
• HIMC 1800 – Legal Aspects of Health Information (3 cr)
• HIMC 1820 – CPT Coding (3 cr)
• HIMC 1840 – Introduction to Health Records (3 cr)
• HIMC 1850 – Computerized Health Information (3 cr)
• HIMC 1910 – Reimbursement (2 cr)
• HIMC 2010 – ICD-10 - CM Coding (4 cr)
• HIMC 2020 – ICD-10 - PCS Coding (3 cr)
• HIMC 2030 – Advanced Coding (3 cr)
• HIMC 2600 – Human Diseases for Health Professionals (3 cr)
• HIMC 2610 – Pharmacology (2 cr)
• HIMC 2710 – Healthcare Data Analysis (3 cr)
• HIMC 2720 – Quality Management of Health Information (2 cr)
• HIMC 2820 – Supervision of Health Information (3 cr)
• HIMC 2830 – HIT Review (1 cr)
• HIMC 2870 – HIT Capstone Experience (2 cr)

RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES

FULL-TIME

• Semester 1 (17 CREDITS): AOP 2350, BIOL 1107, ENGL 1117, HCOP 1620, HIMC 2600
• Semester 2 (16 CREDITS): ENGL 1109, HIMC 1800, HIMC 1820, HIMC 1840, HIMC 2010
• Semester 3 (16 CREDITS): COMM 1114 OR COMM 1130, HIMC 1850, HIMC 1910 (fall only) OR HIMC 2720, HIMC 2020, HIMC 2610, HIMC 2710 (fall only) OR HIMC 2820 (spring only)
• Semester 4 (15 CREDITS): AOP 2870, PHIL 1135 OR PSYC 1611 OR PSYC 2618, HIMC 2030, HIMC 1910 (fall only) OR HIMC 2720 (spring only), HIMC 2710 (fall only) OR HIMC 2820 (spring only), HIMC 2830, HIMC 2870

PART-TIME

• Semester 1 (7 CREDITS): AOP 2350, ENGL 1117
• Semester 2 (10 CREDITS): BIOL 1107, HCOP 1620, HIMC 2600
• Semester 3 (8 CREDITS): ENGL 1109, HIMC 1800, HIMC 2610
• Semester 4 (8 CREDITS): HIMC 1820, HIMC 1840, HIMC 1910 (fall only) OR HIMC 2720 (spring only)
• Semester 5 (8 CREDITS): COMM 1114 OR COMM 1130, HIMC 1850, HIMC 1910 (fall only) OR HIMC 2720 (spring only)
• Semester 6 (8 CREDITS): AOP 2870, HIMC 2010, HIMC 2710 (fall only) OR HIMC 2820 (spring only)
• Semester 7 (9 CREDITS): PHIL 1135 OR PSYC 1611 OR PSYC 2618, HIMC 2020, HIMC 2710 (fall only) OR HIMC 2820 (spring only)
• Semester 8 (6 CREDITS): HIMC 2010, HIMC 2710, HIMC 2710 (fall only) OR HIMC 2820 (spring only)

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions