Health Information Technology, Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Locations: Gonzales, Online
The Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science is designed for students who are interested in becoming a member of the Health Information Management (HIM) team in various types of healthcare organizations and agencies. The program prepares students for employment in a hospital or physician’s office or can enhance medical coding skills of those currently employed with emphasis on the medical coder’s role within the revenue cycle specific to reimbursement. Students may wish to continue their studies towards a higher degree in HIM. Students interested in transferring to a baccalaureate degree program upon completion of the AAS should consult with the program Department Head to assure transferability of credit to one of the state universities with an accredited Health Information Management program. This program offers the opportunity to shadow and participate in an offsite externship. Before completion of the program students will be eligible to sit for the Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) exam from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) upon graduation.
Curriculum
First Semester | Hours | |
---|---|---|
ENGL 1013 | English Composition I (General Education, English Composition) | 3 |
General Education, Natural Science - BIOL 1033 | 3 | |
HEIT 1713 | Introduction to Health Informa | 3 |
HEIT 1103 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
Hours | 12 | |
Second Semester | ||
HEIT 1723 | Healthcare Law, Ethics, & Comp | 3 |
HEIT 1743 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacolo | 3 |
General Education, Mathematics/Analytics Reasoning - select one of the following: | 3 | |
College Algebra | ||
Applied Algebra | ||
Finite Mathematics | ||
BIOL 2213 | Hum Anat & Physiology I | 3 |
BIOL 2211 | Hum Anat & Physiology Lab I | 1 |
Hours | 13 | |
Third Semester | ||
BIOL 2223 | Hum Anat & Physiology II | 3 |
BIOL 2221 | Hum Anat & Physiology Lab II | 1 |
HEIT 1313 | ICD-10 Coding I | 3 |
HEIT 1323 | CPT Coding | 3 |
HEIT 2753 | Health Data Content and Struct | 3 |
Hours | 13 | |
Fourth Semester | ||
HEIT 2313 | ICD-10 Coding II | 3 |
HEIT 2323 | Advanced Coding | 3 |
HEIT 2393 | Medical Coding Externship | 3 |
General Education, Social Science - PSYC 2013 | 3 | |
Hours | 12 | |
Fifth Semester | ||
#GEHU: any HIST, PHIL 1013 or PHIL 2013, or RELS 2213 | 3 | |
HEIT 2763 | Health Infor & Rev Cyc Mgmt | 3 |
HEIT 2792 | HEIT Externship II | 2 |
HEIT 2772 | HEIT Seminar | 2 |
Hours | 10 | |
Total Hours | 60 |
Additional Academic Awards
MEDICAL CODING SPECIALIST, CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (CAS)
The Certificate of Applied Science in Medical Coding Specialist is designed for students who are interested in becoming a member of the Health Information Management (HIM) team in a healthcare facility. Medical coders review clinical documentation and assign universal alphanumeric codes as necessary for the medical billing process. Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take coding certification exams. All courses applied to the certificate must be passed with a “C” or better. Developmental courses will not be applied to the degree. Students may wish to continue their studies towards a higher degree in HIM. Students who plan to transfer should consult with an RPCC Advisor, as well as an advisor from the other college/university, to assure transferability of credit. Students will take the AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) Exam from during their last semester.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
ENGL 1013 | English Composition I (General Education, English Composition) | 3 |
General Education, Mathematics/Analytics Reasoning – choose one of the following: | 3 | |
College Algebra | ||
Applied Algebra | ||
Finite Mathematics | ||
BIOL 1033 | Principles of Biology I (General Education, Natural Science) | 3 |
HEIT 1103 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
BIOL 2213 | Hum Anat & Physiology I | 3 |
BIOL 2211 | Hum Anat & Physiology Lab I | 1 |
HEIT 1313 | ICD-10 Coding I | 3 |
HEIT 1743 | Pathophysiology and Pharmacolo | 3 |
HEIT 1323 | CPT Coding | 3 |
BIOL 2223 | Hum Anat & Physiology II | 3 |
BIOL 2221 | Hum Anat & Physiology Lab II | 1 |
HEIT 2313 | ICD-10 Coding II | 3 |
HEIT 1723 | Healthcare Law, Ethics, & Comp | 3 |
HEIT 2323 | Advanced Coding | 3 |
HEIT 2753 | Health Data Content and Struct | 3 |
HEIT 2393 | Medical Coding Externship | 3 |
Total Hours | 44 |
HEALTHCARE ACCESS SPECIALIST, CERTIFICATE OF TECHNICAL STUDIES (CTS)
The Healthcare Access Specialist CTS prepares students for entry-level work in the healthcare access specialist role at hospitals and clinics. The program includes a 40-hour Externship. In their last semester of the program students will sit for the Certified Healthcare Access Associate (CHAA) certification exam.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BUSN 1103 | Customer Service | 3 |
HEIT 1713 | Introduction to Health Informa | 3 |
HEIT 1723 | Healthcare Law, Ethics, & Comp | 3 |
HEIT 1103 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
HEIT 1733 | Healthcare Reimbursement | 3 |
HEIT 2753 | Health Data Content and Struct | 3 |
HEIT 2793 | Healthcare Access Proc & Exter | 3 |
Total Hours | 21 |
Patient Care Representative, Career and Technical Certificate (CTC)
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
BUSN 1103 | Customer Service 1 | 3 |
HEIT 1723 | Healthcare Law, Ethics, & Comp | 3 |
HEIT 1103 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
Total Hours | 9 |
- 1
Upon successful completion of BUSN 1103 Customer Service, students are eligible to take the National Retail Federation Foundation exam for earning the Customer Service and Sales industry-based certification (IBC).
Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:
- Use electronic records technologies to access patient records.
- Assign diagnostic and procedure codes using ICD-10.
- Assign procedure codes using.
- Implement reimbursement policies, methodologies, and systems.
- Demonstrate compliance with the legal and ethical standards of HIPAA.
- Use medical terminology, coding, and collaboration with Health Information Managers to prevent medical record duplication.
- Allocate human, financial, and physical resources to optimize operations within a health information department.