Program Overview

Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Management Technology

The Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Management Technology program is designed to prepare competent entry-level health information technicians. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), allowing graduates to sit for a national examination sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association.

Program Overview

Health information is found in many places in a variety of formats. As a health information practitioner, a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) specializes in evaluating, controlling, and maintaining the information contained in all types of health records. Career opportunities include positions in group practices, long-term care facilities, hospital health information management departments, attorney's offices, health maintenance organizations, professional review organizations, ambulatory care facilities, public health agencies, mental health facilities, and many others.

Career Opportunities

The positions include all aspects of medical and health record technical-level tasks, such as:

• Information and data governance
• Medical office revenue management and supervision
• Accession and disclosure of private and secure health information
• Analyzing and managing data
• Coding and classifying data
• Compiling statistics
• Utilization review
• Quality assessment
• Medical research
• Developing privacy, security, and confidentiality policies and procedures and infrastructure
• Legally releasing information
• Compiling health record content and documentation
• Managing technology-based solutions for electronic health records, including consumer informatics
• Presenting medical data through the use of computer-based systems

Professional Practice Experience

Professional practice experience allows the student to apply theory learned in the classroom and technical-level skills developed in the laboratory to a health information management setting. Professional practice experience credit can be earned through laboratory simulations, placement in area health care facilities, and application of field and/or life experience credit based on appropriate academic review of documented employment history in the health information field.

Learning Outcomes

The primary goal of the HIT degree program is to prepare competent entry-level health information technicians in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. The health information curriculum encompasses the following areas, demonstrated by the successful graduate of the HIT program:

• The ability to apply the concepts of computer-based and other electronic technology related to health care
• The ability to accurately assign diagnostic and procedural codes and use the appropriate classification systems
• The ability to apply principles of organization and supervision in order to develop effective skills in leadership, motivation, and team-building techniques
• The ability to apply principles of legal and ethical behavior as they relate to issues applicable to health information
• The ability to interpret and apply rules for privacy, security, confidentiality, retention, integrity, and access and disclosure of health information
• The ability to perform and participate in health information analysis tasks
• The ability to utilize data content, structure, and standards as appropriate information governance within facility and among the public
• The ability to comply with various accreditation standards and legal mandates supporting meaningful use of information and clinical documentation improvement

Matriculation Standards

To be admitted to, as well as continue in the professional program in health information management technology, the student must meet the following matriculation standards:

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher
2. Earn a grade of "C" or better in all HIT, AHTH, AHS, and MEDT coursework attempted prior to the placement for HIT 2010, 2200, or 2910
3. Provide signature indicating the receipt and intent to comply with all clinical practice policies and procedures

Clinical Site Assignment

To be placed in a clinical site assignment, the student will:

1. Maintain a GPA of 2.25 or higher
2. Complete all prerequisite course work in good standing
3. Submit a criminal background check according to current clinical policy and procedure
4. Complete and submit a physical examination according to current clinical policy and procedures, including all lab work and immunization requirements
5. Make appropriate transportation arrangements to and from the clinical site assignment
6. Purchase appropriate scrub attire, lab coats, or other appropriate business casual clothing according to the current clinical policy and procedures as well as assigned site dress code policies
7. Receive professional liability insurance through the Risk Management office and appropriate procedures through BGSU
8. Receive permission and assignment to a specific site from the program director and/or appropriate BGSU faculty

Academic Suspension or Dismissal

Any HIT student enrolled in a course which involves a clinical experience may not participate in that clinical experience if he/she is currently on academic or other college-related warning, probation, suspension, or dismissal. Students who have been academically suspended or otherwise suspended/dismissed from the University and later reinstated must also reapply for clinical placement within the program. Reinstatement to the University does not carry with it automatic reinstatement to the HIMT clinical program.

Credential Examinations

Preparation for various coding, privacy, and data analyst credential examinations can also be a career path for students enrolled in the HIT program, by taking selected coursework within or outside the HIT program at BGSU and with experiential background in the field. Students interested in credentials related to the health information field other than the RHIT credential are encouraged to contact the program director for further information on those options.