Health Information Technology
Health Information Technology is an associate of applied science degree program designed to lead to employment in a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, behavioral health facilities, public health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, insurance firms, and health product vendors. In fact, employment opportunities exist for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) in any organization that uses patient data or health information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Health Information Technicians do?
Registered Health Information Technicians are the technical experts in health data collection, analysis, monitoring, maintenance, and reporting activities in accordance with established data quality priniciples, legal and regulatory standards, and professional best practice guidelines. These functions encompass, among other areas, processing and using health data for billing, compliance, and surveillance purposes. In an electronic health information environment this individual performs these functions through the use of various electronic systems.
What is the National Certification Exam?
For graduates of the Health Information Technology program, certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is achieved by passing the national certification examination administered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Is Employment Available?
There is a high demand both in the Ozarks and on a national level. The long term outlook is outstanding and employment projections indicate that there will be a 55.17% growth rate between the years of 2000-2010 in the Ozark Region (MO Department of Economic Development). In addition health information management has been named the 6th fastest growing occupation in the United States (U.S. Department of Labor).
What is the range of wages?
$9.50 - $17.84 ($25,889 mean related salary) as of December 2004
Questions about financial assistance or student services?
Information about student services, refunds, and financial aid is included in OTC's college catalog. An itemized list of estimated program costs is available on request from the Allied Health Office.
Financial Aid is available to qualified students through AHIMA Foundation of Research and Education (FORE), which offers both loans and scholarships. Consult AHIMA's web site, http://www.ahima.org for further information.
Program Description (pdf)
Additional Links
American Health Information Management Association
