Health Care Information Technology (Associate Degree)

Health Care Information Technology

Beal University – 18-20 months online

18-Month* Accelerated Program in Health Information Technology

 

If you are interested in working in healthcare, but not directly with patients, then becoming a Health Information Technician might be the perfect career choice for you. Health Information Technology (HIT) is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information vital to providing quality patient care. It is a combination of business, science, and information technology. Health Information Technology professionals care for patients by caring for and protecting their medical data.

Beal University’s Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program is CAHIIM accredited, which is crucial for your ability to become employed. Being CAHIIM accredited means graduates of this program are eligible to sit for their RHIT and CPC certification exams, which allows them to become certified professionals. Our students’ pass rate for the RHIT and CPC are traditionally quite high.

The Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program prepares you to take two industry certification exams through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA):

Certified Coding Associate (CCA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA®) 

Coding professionals who hold the CCA credential have demonstrated coding competency across all settings, including hospitals and physician practices. 

Since 2002, the CCA designation has been a nationally recognized standard of achievement in the health information management (HIM) field. 

CCAs: 

  • Exhibit a level of commitment, competency, and professional capability that is valued by employers. 
  • Demonstrate a commitment to the coding profession. 
  • Distinguish themselves from others as having passed AHIMA’s rigorous CCA exam. 

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to sit for the CCA examination. 

While not required, at least one of the following is recommended: 

  • 6 months coding experience directly applying codes; 
  • Completion of an AHIMA approved coding program (PCAP Program); 
  • Completion of other coding training program to include anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, basic ICD diagnostic/procedural and basic CPT® coding. 

Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)

Coding specialists are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, often in a hospital setting but also in a variety of other healthcare settings. The CCS credential demonstrates a practitioner’s tested skills in data quality and accuracy as well as mastery of coding proficiency.  

The CCS certification is a natural progression for professionals experienced in coding inpatient and outpatient records. Coding specialists create coded data used by hospitals and medical providers to obtain reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Researchers and public health officials also use this data to monitor patterns and explore new interventions. 

CCSs: 

  • Review patients’ records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure. 
  • Possess expertise in the ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT® coding systems. 
  • Are versed in medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology concepts. 

Eligibility Requirements

While not required, one of the following are recommended to sit for the CCS examination: 

  • Complete courses in all the following topics: anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic coding, and procedural coding and medical services (CPT/HCPCS) plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Hold the CCA® credential plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Hold a coding credential from another certifying organization plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Hold a CCS-P®, RHIT®, or RHIA® credential

Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based (CCS-P®) 

Coding specialist – physician-based professionals perform coding in physician offices, group practices, multi-specialty clinics, or specialty centers. The CCS-P certification exam assesses mastery-level proficiency in coding of health services delivery beyond the hospital setting. 

CCS-Ps: 

  • Review patient records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure 
  • Possess in-depth knowledge of the CPT® coding system and familiarity with the ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level II coding systems 
  • Are experts in health information documentation, data integrity, and quality 
  • Play a critical role in a health provider’s business operations, often as liaison to insurance companies or the government for expense reimbursement 

Eligibility Requirements

While not required, one of the following are recommended to sit for the CCS-P examination: 

  • Complete courses in all the following topics: anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic coding, and procedural coding and medical services (CPT/HCPCS) plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Hold the CCA® credential plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Hold a coding credential from another certifying organization plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Hold a CCS®, RHIT®, or RHIA® credential
  •  

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) 

While most RHITs work in hospitals, they are also found in other healthcare settings including office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities, and public health agencies. RHITs may also be employed in any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors. 

RHITs: 

  • Ensure the quality of medical/health records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems. 
  • Use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs. 
  • Often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. An additional role for RHITs is a cancer registrar — compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients. 

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements to sit for the RHIT examination:  

Beal University’s program includes some of today’s most in-demand training for the health field, including courses in ICD-10-CM/PCS Coding & Classification Systems, Health Care Quality Improvement, Health Care Information Systems, Health Care Reimbursement Methodologies, Health Care Data Analysis & Statistics, plus many others.

With flexible online and on-campus schedules, smaller class sizes, and accelerated programs, you will feel prepared and supported to pursue your career goals upon graduation.

As a student in the Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree program, you’ll take courses such as:

  • Introduction to Health Information Technology
  • Fundamentals of Law for Health Information Management
  • Evaluation and Management Coding
  • Health Information Organization and Supervision
  • Health Care Data Analysis & Statistics
  • Health Care Reimbursement Methodologies
  • ICD-10-CM Coding
  • ICD-10-PCS Coding
  • CPT Coding
  • Advanced Coding
  • Pharmacology & Pathophysiology
  • Medical Terminology
  • General Education Courses

Note:  Upon completion of your Health Information Technology Associate Degree, you can immediately enroll and advance into our Health Information Management program to earn your Bachelor Degree.