Health Information Technology - HIIM.AS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The new HIT program at STCC will prepare students for certification and practice as Registered Health Information Technicians. These professionals manage a wide variety of healthcare information needs, ensuring that medical records are complete and accurate and maintained in accordance with the law and governmental regulatory bodies. Graduates from our new program will have strong technical knowledge of health care delivery systems and electronic health record systems, as well as the skills to process and prepare health information for insurance submission, quality assurance compliance, and reporting. Our new program is designed to integrate the latest medical record coding systems, computer technology, and the proper management of health information data.

RHIT credentialed candidates will hold increasing value in the healthcare industry. The transition to ICD-10, federal mandates regarding electronic health records implementation, and the ever increasing demands from insurance and reimbursement stakeholders, all affect the need for these credentialed professionals.

The associates degree Health Information Management (HIM) Program is in Candidacy Status, pending accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Enrollment is limited for this program.

Student must achieve a “C” (73%) or better in all HIIT, MEDC, MAST, and BIOL courses. Students unable to meet the minimum requirements will be withdrawn from the program.

A laptop computer may be required for certain courses.

Upon successful completion of requirements for this program, the degree of Associate in Science in Health Information Technology will be awarded.

Applying to this Program

The Health Information Technology program has special admission requirements and limited enrollment. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all admission requirements are met, and all documents and scores are submitted before the application deadline for this program of April 1 of the application year. Only complete application files will be reviewed for admission.

Documents to be Submitted for a Complete File

Springfield Technical Community College application for admission by April 1 of the application year.
Official high school transcript showing date of graduation (or a GED certificate).
Official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended (if applicable)

Minimum Academic Requrements

One year of high school algebra, or ALGB-087 or higher in Math at STCC (or an equivalent course at another college) with a grade of “C” or above.
Keyboarding proficiency of 30 words per minute
A minimum grade point average of 2.0 based on a four-point system. The high school GPA will be used only if students have attempted fewer than 12 college credits. A GPA of 2.5 will be assigned if the student completed a GED rather than graduate from high school.

Strongly Recommended

Completion of Medical Terminology (MAST-101 ), with a grade of C or better or its equivalent.
Completion of Computer Basics (CMPA-160 ), with a grade of C or better, or its equivalent.

Health Information Technology Program Goals

This education, training and certification enables the graduate to work in the healthcare field as a credentialed RHIT and perform the following functions:

Plan, direct, control and manage health information in various healthcare settings.
Compile, process and maintain medical records in a manner consistent with various administrative, legal, regulatory, or accreditation standards.
Ensure that patients’ healthcare information is complete, accurate, protected, and readily available to healthcare providers when needed.
Analyze medical information vital to quality medical care, using and understanding both traditional and electronic records.

(HIIM.AS) Curriculum

Semester 1

BIOL-104 - Human Biology 1 4 credits (Note)
ENG-101 - English Composition 1 3 credits
MAST-321 - Introduction to Pharmacology 1 credits (Note)
MEDC-140 - Health Information Management 3 credits (Note)
PROG-109 - Information Systems Fundamentals 3 credits

Total: 14 credits

Semester 2

BIOL-204 - Human Biology 2 4 credits (Note)
ENG-102 - Composition 2: Intro to Literature 3 credits
HIIT-142 - Healthcare Informatics 3 credits (Note)
MATH-142 - Statistics 3 credits
MEDC-120 - Introduction to Diagnostic Coding 1 4 credits (Note)
MEDC-122 - Introduction to Procedural Coding 3 credits (Note)

Total: 20 credits

Semester 3

HIIT-143 - Directed Clinical Practice 1 3 credits (Note)
HIIT-240 - Strategic Health Information Technology 3 credits (Note)
MEDC-300 - Facility/Hospital Billing and Reimbursement 3 credits (Note)
ENG-105 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication 3 credits
MANG-110 - Principles of Management 3 credits

Total: 15 credits

Semester 4

HIIT-243 - Directed Clinical Practice 2 3 credits (Note)
HIIT-244 - Law & Ethics in Healthcare 3 credits (Note)
HIIT-245 - RHIT Exam Prep Course 1 credits (Note)
MEDC-230 - Electronic Health Record 2 credits (Note)
PSY-101 - General Psychology 3 credits
EL-GED - General Education Elective 3 credits

Total: 15 credits

Total (HIIM.AS) Curriculum Program Credits: 64

Notes

Student must achieve a “C” (73%) or better in all HIIT, MEDC, MAST and BIOL courses. Students unable to meet the minimum requirements will be withdrawn from the program.

Department Personnel

Name	Title	Office	Phone	Email
Tracey McKethan, MBA, RHIA, CCA	Professor/Department Chair/HIIM Program Director - Health Information Technology	02/235	413-755-4680	tmckethan@stcc.edu
Louise Corcoran, MBA, RHIT, CCS	Associate Professor - Health Information Technology	02/234	413-755-4126	lgcorcoran@stcc.edu