Health Information Technology
Associate of Arts
Students pursuing programs in the medical office laboratory area are required to complete an Essential Functions form prior to registering for courses
Occupational Major
This major is primarily designed for job preparedness. Students who are considering transferring to a four-year college should be aware that decisions on transferability of courses are made by the four-year colleges and differ from school to school. Students should contact the Transfer Services Office early in their academic program to determine which courses will transfer to the college of their choice.
School of Health Sciences, Kinesiology, and Sport Studies
Founders Hall 112 • Phone 215-968-8353 (option 3)
Curriculum Code No. 2191
The Health Information Technology Associate degree program is designed to prepare the student to function effectively in a technical manner in health information departments in a wide variety of healthcare settings. These settings include: ambulatory care, rehabilitation centers, drug and alcohol facilities, local health departments, third-party payers, pharmaceutical companies, acute care, as well as other healthcare related organizations such as insurance companies, consulting firms and technology companies. The curriculum is designed to prepare entry-level graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to use, analyze, present, abstract, code, add, store and/or retrieve healthcare data for the support of departmental operations and clinical and business decision making in healthcare or related organizations.
Health Information Technology professionals are employed as health data analysts, insurance claims analysts, records technician specialists, clinical coding specialists, physician practice managers, or patient information coordinators.
Graduates of this program are able to
- Perform complex coding and billing tasks using analytical thinking and problem-solving skills;
- Explain how health information is managed, shared, and improved;
- Analyze healthcare data using current software;
- Apply Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations to protect the security and confidentiality of patient health information;
- Communicate effectively with identified stakeholders, including patients and families, hospital departments, physician offices, clinics, and insurance companies; and
- Apply record retention and release of information standards/policies/practices.
HITT280-the clinical externship- is scheduled Monday through Friday during the day. There are no weekend or evening clinical site hours. Students must complete a total of 120 hours, with a minimum three-day-a-week availability recommended.
Prior to Externship placement, students must submit (at their own expense):
- Requests for federal and state background checks
- Child Abuse History Clearance Form
- Certification of Health Status
- Certification in CPR: Health Care Provider (AHA-BLS)
- A mandatory 10-panel expanded opiates drug screen to be completed no sooner than 30 days before the start of the externship.
View a video about this program
Degree Course Requirements
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL181 Human Anatomy and Physiology I C,7 | 4 |
| BIOL182 Human Anatomy and Physiology II C,7 | 4 |
| CISC110 Introduction to Information Systems A,C | 3 |
| COLL101 Orientation to College |
1
|
| COMM110 Effective Speaking C,2,4,5 | 3 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,B,2,10 | 3 |
| MATH115 Elementary Statistics A,B,C,6 | 3 |
| HITT105 Legal Aspects of Health Information Technology | 3 |
| MEDA120 Medical Terminology A | 3 |
| HITT190 Introduction to Health Information Technology | 3 |
| HITT207 Health Information Technology Applications C | 3 |
| HITT208 Healthcare Quality Improvement C | 3 |
| HITT217 Health Insurance and Reimbursement C | 3 |
| HITT250 Basic Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Health Information Technology C | 3 |
| HITT297 Medical Coding D | 3 |
| HITT298 Advanced Procedural Coding C | 3 |
| HITT299 Advanced Diagnostic Coding C | 3 |
| HITT280 Health Information Technology Externship C | 3 |
| MGMT100 Introduction to Business A,2,3,4,8 | 3 |
| MGMT135 Business Communication B,4,10 | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities D,1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 63 |
Recommended Semester Sequence
The recommended course sequence is designed for full-time students who average 15 credit hours per semester. Students may need more time to complete major requirements based on placement testing. This additional time will entail some adjustments to the sequence recommended.
FALL I
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL181 Human Anatomy and Physiology I C,7 | 4 |
| CISC110 Introduction to Information Systems A,C | 3 |
| COLL101 Orientation to College |
1
|
| HITT190 Introduction to Health Information Technology | 3 |
| MEDA120 Medical Terminology A | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 14 |
SPRING I
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIOL182 Human Anatomy and Physiology II C,7 | 4 |
| COMP110 English Composition I A,B,2,10 | 3 |
| HITT105 Legal Aspects of Health Information Technology | 3 |
| MATH115 Elementary Statistics A,B,C,6 | 3 |
| HITT208 Healthcare Quality Improvement C | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 16 |
Summer I
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| HITT297 Medical Coding C | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 |
FALL II
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| HITT207 Health Information Technology Applications C | 3 |
| HITT217 Health Insurance and Reimbursement C | 3 |
| HITT298 Advanced Procedural Coding C | 3 |
| MGMT100 Introduction to Business A,2,3,8 | 3 |
| MGMT135 Business Communication B,4,10 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring II
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| COMM110 Effective Speaking C,4,5 | 3 |
| HITT250 Basic Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Health Information Technology C | 3 |
| HITT299 Advanced Diagnostic Coding C | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities D,1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
Summer II
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| HITT280 Health Information Technology Externship C | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 3 |
A Open to Credit by Examination.
B Placement testing required.
C Course requires prerequisite.
D Consult the list of courses approved for this subcategory.
1 Satisfies Arts/Humanities.
2 Satisfies Critical Thinking.
3 Satisfies Cultural Competency.
4 Satisfies Information Literacy.
5 Satisfies Oral Communication.
6 Satisfies Quantitative Literacy.
7 Satisfies Scientific Literacy.
8 Satisfies Social Sciences.
9 Satisfies Technological Competence.
10 Satisfies Writing.