+ 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 of Allied Health Educational Programs, in cooperation with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association. 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:

1. Successful completion of HIT 100, 112; AHTH 131, 230; MEDT 301
2. GPA of at least 2.5 or better in all HIT coursework attempted and an overall GPA of 2.0 or better;
3. 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 201, 220) 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.

Degree requirements

• BG Perspective
  • ENG 110, 111 and/or 112 (3-6)
  • PSYC 101 (4)
  • Electives (3-6)
• Basic courses
  • IPC 102 (3)
  • MIS 200 (3)
  • MATH 115 or STAT 200 (3)
  • BAT 209 (3)
  • LIB 221 (1)
• Core courses
  • HIT 100, 104, 112, 160, 200, 201, 203, 205, 210, 211, 213, 215, 220 (28)
  • AHTH 110 or MEDT 301 (2)
  • AHTH 131, 141, 230 (10)