The Health Information Technology (HIT) associate of applied science degree is designed to prepare graduates for entry level employment as health information technicians.
Registered health information technicians perform technical medical record functions vital to the operation of the organization, including analyzing, coding, and health record evaluation. Registered health information technicians process, maintain, complete and report health information data for reimbursement, facility planning, marketing, risk management, utilization management, quality assessment and research. Graduates may be employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and other health care facilities.
Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 18 percent through 2016 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is faster than the average for all occupations because of rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers. Technicians will be needed to enter patient information into computer databases to comply with federal legislation mandating the use of electronic medical records. Students admitted to the program will be required to pay liability insurance during the semesters involving off-campus practicums or internships.
The general education core will transfer to a variety of colleges and universities. Contact a counselor, academic advisor, or faculty member at any of the colleges/universities for specific information and to obtain the recommended sequencing of courses.
To meet graduation requirements for any of the certificate or degree programs in the health information technology department, students must attain a grade of "C" or better in each major and general education course. Courses with grades less than a "C" must be repeated. In addition, students must meet the Texas Success Initiative requirements as established by the THECB for the AAS degree.
In order to be considered for admission to the HIT program, students must meet the Texas State Initiative requirements. Students must take the TSI Assessment unless you are exempt. Please visit the placement testing website for more information. In order to be part of the program, students must be at college-level placement in reading, writing, and completion of MATH 0306 or higher.
Applicants seeking admission into the Health Information Technology AAS degree program must successfully complete the background check. For more information please see the HIT department webpage. A drug screen may also be required based on terms of our clinical affiliation agreement. Information on approved vendors will be provided by the program director. Students may be required to show proof of immunizations such as tetanus and MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella). Students may also be required to document negative results from a tuberculosis test. Applicants must cover the cost of the background check, immunizations and drug screen if required by clinical affiliates.
The Associate of Applied Science degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. Program accreditation allows AAS degree graduates to apply for certification examination to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT).
Credits earned in the Coding Certificate Level II program may be applied to this degree.
First Semester Courses | 13 Credits | |
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BIOL 2401 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
ENGL 1301 | Composition & Rhetoric I | 3 |
HITT 1301 | Health Data Content & Structure | 3 |
HITT 1305 | Medical Terminology I | 3 |
Second Semester Courses | 14 Credits | |
BIOL 2402 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
HITT 1253 | Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health Information | 2 |
HITT 1255 | Health Care Statistics | 2 |
HITT 1345 | Health Care Delivery Systems | 3 |
HITT 1342 | Ambulatory Coding | 3 |
Third Semester Courses | 9 Credits | |
HPRS 2301 | Pathophysiology | 3 |
SPCH 1311 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
PSYC 2301-or-SOCI 1301 | General Psychology-or-Principles of Sociology | 3 |
First Semester Courses | 10 Credits | |
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HITT 1260 | Clinical - Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician | 2 |
HITT 1211 | Health Information Systems | 2 |
HITT 1341 | Coding & Classification Systems | 3 |
HITT 2343 | Quality Assessment & Performance Improvement | 3 |
Second Semester Courses | 11 Credits | |
HITT 2335 | Coding & Reimbursement Methods | 3 |
HITT 2239 | Health Information Organization & Supervision | 2 |
HITT 2346 | Advanced Medical Coding | 3 |
Elective | Creative Arts/Language, Philosophy, & Culture1 | 3 |
Third Semester Courses | 3 Credits | |
HITT 2149 | RHIT Competency Review | 1 |
HITT 2260 | Clinical - Medical Records Technology Technician2 | 2 |
Health Information Technology AAS Degree Program Total | 60 Credits |
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Representative career titles and job positions for this program plan include:
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Figuring out how to pay for college is one of the toughest parts of earning a degree but attending LSC is an affordable option for most students. Tuition rates are based on residency and you can get an estimate of your costs by using our LSC Tuition & Fees chart.
Average full-time tuition is $862 per semester.
Financial aid helps students and their families pay for college. There are several types of financial aid available to LSC students and financial aid packages may include more than one type of award.