Health Information Technology - Curriculum
HIT Program Mission
91ӣƵ’s Health Information Technology (HIT) program will provide the knowledge and technical skills needed for a career in health information management to ensure the maintenance, security, integrity, confidentiality, and availability of healthcare information in every setting.
HIT Program Vision
The HIT Program is dedicated to providing quality education and training to students who will be prepared to fulfill the workforce needs of the healthcare sector for professionals who specialize in the quality management of health information as registered health information technicians.
HIT degree graduates are eligible to apply for American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Registered Health Information Technician credential exam, and allow students to enter a specific career and/or transfer to a baccalaureate level program. Coding Diploma and Ambulatory Coding Certificate graduates are eligible to apply for various AHIMA coding credentials.
The Health Information Technology curriculum equips students with the advanced technical skills required to manage, analyze, and secure vital health data. In an increasingly digital healthcare landscape, our program focuses on ensuring data integrity, accessibility, and privacy to support high-quality patient care and organizational efficiency.
Course work includes diagnosis and procedure coding/classification systems, privacy and security strategies, health informatics, data analytics and use, revenue cycle management, regulatory compliance, and organizational leadership.
Graduates of this program may be eligible to sit for the national certification exam to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Employment opportunities include hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, health insurance organizations, outpatient clinics, physicians’ offices, hospice, and mental health facilities.
Graduates of the coding diploma and coding certificate programs of study may be eligible to sit for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) “CCS” (Certified Coding Specialist) and/or the “CCS-P” (Certified Coding Specialist-Physician based), and/or other industry mastery level coding specialist examinations. Employment opportunities without one of these coding certifications are limited to entry-level positions. Therefore, students are encouraged to continue their education and complete the degree to receive the full benefits of this growing healthcare field.
All programs of study are offered completely online with the exception of the Professional Practice Experiences (PPE). Our HIT program ensures you are career-ready through two required clinical rotations:
HIT 124: Students gain mastery in medical coding completed online focusing on advanced coding scenarios and data integrity.
HIT 224: Students build professional networks and apply their skills in person. This face-to-face experience can be completed at a variety of healthcare sites, ranging from large hospitals to non-traditional healthcare environments. Placement for the face-to-face clinical (PPE) is subject to site availability and the student’s geographic location. While every effort is made to secure a local placement, students may be required to travel to an available healthcare facility to fulfill this requirement.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
91ӣƵ’s HIT Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS) degree prepares students for various entry-level roles in health information technology. Your HIT AAS degree can be the first step in your professional and educational journey. Graduates of the two-year AAS HIT degree at 91ӣƵ interested in pursuing their bachelor’s degree in health information management may be eligible to apply to the Health Information Management Bachelor’s degree at ECU in preparation for leadership roles.
ECC has an articulation agreement with ECU, allowing students who complete an AAS degree in HIT at ECC to enter ECU as a junior upon acceptance to the ECU HIM Program. Admission to the Health Information Management Program is competitive. A completed application does not guarantee admission to the program.
For more information, contact Nacole T. Everette at everetten@edgecombe.edu or (252) 618-6624.