Health Information Technology

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School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety

CONTACT INFORMATION

Program information is available from the School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety office at (505) 224-4111 or Academic Advisement and Career Development (505) 224-4321 or from Program Director/Chair at (505) 224-3905.

cnm.edu/depts/hwps/progs

Program Description

The Health Information Technology (HIT) associate of applied science degree program provides students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and technical skills necessary for managing health information within the health care delivery system. Students will study: anatomy and physiology; medical terminology; diseases; pharmacology and laboratory procedures; the scope of the health information management system; the origin, use, content and format of health records and release of information; ICD-9-CM and CPT coding; health care reimbursement; legal/ethical aspects; data analysis, quality and supervision in health information.

The HIT program is an associate of applied science degree and is designed for the working student. Many students are part-time and carry 6–7 credit hours per term while continuing to work full time. The HIT program courses are offered evenings and weekends. Some HIT courses are offered every other term or once a year based on demand.

The HIT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). For further information on accreditation, contact CAHIIM at 233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60601-5519, (312) 233-1100. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the national certification exam. Successful candidates earn the professional credential of Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

Special Requirements

Students are encouraged to enroll in arts and sciences courses prior to admission to the program. Two unpaid clinical experiences must be completed during the program. Volunteer hours are recommended in addition to Health Information Practicum I and II. BIO 1310 /BIO 1392  must be no more than 10 years old at the time of admission into the program.

The specific requirements that must be met before entering the HIT program include:

• Official transcripts must be on file in the CNM Records Office. High school diploma or GED score is required. College transcripts that are to be evaluated for transfer credit should be requested as soon as possible.
• Completion of program prerequisite courses.
• Completion of HIT 1010 - Introduction to Health Information Technology .
• Completion of HIT 1030 - Health Data Content and Structure .
• An information interview with the HIT program director. 

Career and Educational Opportunities

The health information field has opportunities in hospital medical records/health information departments, clinics, physician offices, long-term care facilities, ambulatory care facilities, managed care organizations, insurance agencies, state health departments, the federal government, entrepreneurship and private industry. Additional career information is available from the American Health Information Management Association at ahima.org.

Exit competencies (see Program Exit Competencies ) for this program of study are available at cnm.edu/exitcomp.

For the graduation policy refer to the Moving On  section, cnm.edu or the Students tab in my CNM.

Students should see an academic advisor to customize their educational plans. Students must meet prerequisites by placement scores or specific course work. Please see Course Descriptions for prerequisite(s) information.

See  Prerequisite Requirement Guide   for Accuplacer score equivalencies.

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