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Health Information Technology (AS)

Code diagnoses, protect patient privacy

Health Information Technicians code, analyze, secure, and maintain patient health information. Duties typically include coding diagnoses, processing reimbursements, managing release of information, protecting patient data privacy and assisting in the building and enhancement of electronic health record documentation systems used by healthcare providers.

Upon successfully completing DSU’s online Health Information Technology (HIT) program, you are eligible to take the national exam sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and earn the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential.

Become an expert in Health Information Technology

Learn to understand the meaning and location of data collected in healthcare. Analyze health data and interpret it for reimbursement, improvement and decision making. Comply with the documentation laws and regulations of accrediting agencies.

94%

Part-time students

100%

Graduates employed in health care professions within one year

100%

Employer community satisfaction ratings

Preparation with accreditation

Upon successfully completing DSU's online HIT program, you are eligible to take the national exam, which is sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). You can also earn a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential.

Health data analyst
Clinical coding specialist
Patient information coordinator
Physician practice manager

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the AS degree in Health Information Technology, students will:

Be able to technically analyze and evaluate health records according to standards established by current law, regulations and accrediting agencies
Be able to compile and utilize various types of administrative and health statistics, e.g., patient census, daily discharge analysis, monthly patient data reports and vital statistics
Be able to code symptoms, diseases, operations, procedures, and other therapies according to recognized classification systems
Be able to release health information in accordance with professional ethics and in conformity with institutional policy and legal provisions
Be able to maintain and utilize a variety of health record indices, storage and retrieval systems
Be able to perform patient registration activities
Be able to understand and demonstrate knowledge of the transcription function within a health care organization
Be able to complete and/or verify discharge data abstracts; be able to prepare health data information for computer processing, storage and retrieval
Be able to maintain specialized registries, such as cancer, trauma, stroke, organ
Be able to abstract and retrieve health information used for evaluating patient care and planning in health care and health-related programs
Be able to participate in committee functions relative to health information management and patient information systems
Be able to abstract electronic health record data
Be able to prepare, scan, and index health data for processing, storage and retrieval
Be able to abstract and retrieve health information used for evaluating patient care and planning in healthcare and health-related programs
Be able to participate in committee functions relative to health information management and patient information systems
Be able to provided data to healthcare facility staff in quality management studies, utilization review, risk management, planning and research activities
Be able to supervise one or more health information management services activities such as transcription, word processing, filing, coding and indexing, statistics, and correspondence

Plan of study

Related Programs

students in the health care coding classroom

Health Care Coding Certificate

Health Information Specialist Certificate