+ Associate of Applied
Science in Health Information Technology
Mona
M. Burke, M.A., RHIA, program director
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, attorneys' offices,
health maintenance organizations, professional
review organizations, ambulatory care facilities,
public health agencies, mental health facilities,
and many others. The positions include all aspects
of medical record technical-level tasks: medical
office management and supervision, filing and
retrieval, analyzing, coding, indexing, compiling
statistics, answering subpoenas, utilization
review, quality assessment, medical research,
legal correspondence, abstracting, and compiling
and presenting medical data through the use
of computer-based systems.
Directed
practice allows the student to apply theory
learned in the classroom and technical-level
skills developed in the laboratory to a health
information management department setting. Directed
practice 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. This clinical direction takes
place during the second year of study. Students
may not take the responsibility or the place
of "qualified" staff. However, after
demonstrating proficiency, students may be permitted
to perform procedures with careful supervision.
Students may be employed in the clinical facility
outside regular education hours, provided the
work is limited so it does not interfere with
regular or academic responsibilities. The work
must be non-compulsory, paid, and subject to
employee regulations.
This
degree program has been granted accreditation
status through the Commission
on Accreditation for Health Informatics and
Information Management Education. This accreditation
allows graduates to sit for a national examination
sponsored by the American Health Information
Management Association. Upon successful completion
of the accreditation examination, the student
receives RHIT credentials.
The
health information technology curriculum is
consistent with and responsive to the demonstrated
needs and expectations of the health care community
served by BGSU Firelands.
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, including the use of database
software applications and other tools and
techniques for collecting, storing, and retrieving
health care data;
- The
ability to accurately assign diagnostic and
procedural codes and use the appropriate classification
systems to correlate the timeliness, completeness,
and accuracy of this type of data to reimbursement
data for the health care facility;
- The
ability to apply principles of organization
and supervision in order to develop effective
skills in leadership, motivation, and team-building
techniques for effective monitoring of health
information management staff;
- The
ability to apply principles of legal and ethical
behavior as they relate to issues applicable
to legal aspects of health information, including
an appreciation for the BGSU core values;
- The
ability to interpret and apply rules for security,
confidentiality, retention, integrity, and
access of health information;
- The
ability to perform and participate in health
information analysis tasks such as abstracting
data and calculating, interpreting, and presenting
statistics and other data.
To
be admitted to, as well as continue in, the
professional program in health information technology
(directed practice or other clinical experience),
the student must meet the following matriculation
standards:
- Successful
completion of HIT
1000, 1120;
AHTH
1310, 2300;
MEDT
3010;
- GPA
of at least 2.5 or better in all HIT coursework
attempted, and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better;
- Permission
of instructor.
Students
who have been academically suspended or otherwise
suspended/dismissed from the University and
later reinstated must also reapply for reinstatement
to the program. Reinstatement to the University
does not carry with it automatic reinstatement
to the program.
Any
HIT student enrolled in a course that involves
a clinical experience (HIT
2010, 2200)
may not participate in that clinical experience
if he or she is currently on academic or other
college-related warning, probation, suspension,
or dismissal.
Before
a clinical assignment can be made, the student
must have the results of a physical examination
on file with the HIT program director, show
evidence of auto insurance policy, apply for
liability insurance through BGSU, and receive
permission from the program director for clinical
assignment.
Preparation
for various coding credential examinations can
also be obtained by taking selected coursework
within or outside the degree program. Students
interested in obtaining coding credentials in
addition to the RHIT, or instead of the RHIT,
are encouraged to contact the degree program
director.
Click
for 2009-2010 course requirements
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