Health Information Technology, Associate of Science (AS)
The Health Information Technology (HIT) Program prepares students for a career that places them right where the expanding arena of healthcare meets the cutting edge of technology. HIT professionals are the experts on patient data that consumers need to manage their own health and which healthcare providers rely on to perform their jobs. By collecting, maintaining, and analyzing health information, their work makes an important contribution to the delivery of quality care.
Graduates of this program will be granted an Associate of Science Degree in Health Information Technology. The HIT program is accredited by the Commission for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). A graduate may take the national certifying exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
Associate Degree Graduation Requirements
Complete all of the following:
- All Department Requirements listed below with a “C” or better or “P” in each course (at least 20% of the department requirements must be completed through SBCC).
- One of the following three General Education options:
- OPTION 1: A minimum of 18 units of SBCC General Education Requirements (Areas A-D) and Institutional Requirements (Area E) and Information Competency Requirement (Area F) OR
- OPTION 2: IGETC Pattern OR
- OPTION 3: CSU GE Breadth Pattern
- A total of 60 degree-applicable units (SBCC courses numbered 100 and higher).
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all units attempted at SBCC.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better in all college units attempted.
- A minimum of 12 units through SBCC.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Department Requirements | ||
| Recommended sequence of courses, offered online: | ||
| COMP 101 | Introduction to Computer Applications | 4 |
| or CIS 101 | Introduction to Computers and Information Systems | |
| HIT 135 | Basic Medical Terminology | 3 |
| BMS 146 | Human Form and Function | 3 |
| HIT 101 | Introduction to Health Information Management | 3 |
| HIT 102 | Legal Aspects Of Health Care | 3 |
| HIT 204 | Basic Pathophysiology | 3 |
| HIT 201 | Pharmacology For Allied Health | 2 |
| HIT 202 | International Classification of Diseases, Diagnostic Coding | 2 |
| HIT 203 | International Classification of Diseases, Procedural Coding | 3 |
| HIT 210 | CPT Procedural Coding | 3 |
| HIT 255 | Medical Insurance and Reimbursement Methodologies 1 | 4 |
| HIT 220 | HIM Statistics | 2 |
| HIT 240 | HC Quality Management | 3 |
| HIT 265 | HIM Computer Applications | 3 |
| MATH 117 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| MGMT 101 | Introduction To Management | 3 |
| HIT 275 | HIT Practicum | 4.5 |
| Total Units | 52.50 | |
- 1
This requirement may be met by HIT 150 plus HIT 250.
- 2
It is recommended that all HIT classes be completed before HIT 275 is begun. A background check and drug screen may be required by the host facility at the student's expense.
- Apply biomedical knowledge to the process of clinical code assignment.
- Analyze and communicate clinical and statistical data to improve patient care and facilitate financial planning.
- Apply and demonstrate legal, ethical, accreditation and certification standards to health information.
- Participate in planning and implementing clinical and administrative information systems in traditional and alternative healthcare settings.
- Apply departmental and organizational standards to data storage, retrieval, retention and security.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as an individual and collaboratively in a group to resolve health information management challenges in a changing healthcare environment.