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Health Information Technology-Summer Entry

Curriculum Description

The Health Information Technology curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to process, analyze, abstract, compile, maintain, manage, and report health information.

Students will supervise departmental functions; classify, code, and index diagnoses and procedures; coordinate information for cost control, quality management, statistics, marketing, and planning; monitor governmental and non-governmental standards; facilitate research; and design system controls to monitor patient information security.

Graduates of this program may be eligible to write the national certification examination 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.

The Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S) degree in Health Information Technology program at Forsyth Technical Community College is currently in candidacy status with the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Upon approval of the accreditation process, graduates will be eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). For additional information on CAHIIM accreditation, please visit their website at https://www.cahiim.org/

The following represents one way in which the program of study can be completed. Students who aren’t able to follow the recommended curriculum model below should consult their academic advisor to be sure that they take courses in the best order for their success.

Associate in Applied Science

A45360 REVISED
NC CIP: 51.0707
Day
POS Approved: Fall 2020

Summer Term

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
CIS 110 Introduction to Computers 2 2 0 3
ENG 111 Writing and Inquiry NEW VERSION 3 0 0 3
HIT 110 Fundamentals of HIM 3 0 0 3
MED 121 Medical Terminology I REVISED REQUISITE 3 0 0 3
  Total: 11 2 0 12

Fall Semester

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
BIO 168 Anatomy and Physiology I REVISED REQUISITE 3 3 0 4
HIT 112 Health Law and Ethics 3 0 0 3
HIT 114 Health Data Sys/Standards 2 3 0 3
MAT 143 Quantitative Literacy NEW VERSION 2 2 0 3
MED 122 Medical Terminology II 3 0 0 3
  Total: 13 8 0 16

Spring Semester

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
BIO 169 Anatomy and Physiology II 3 3 0 4
DBA 110 Database Concepts 2 3 0 3
HIT 124 Prof Practice Exp II 0 0 3 1
HIT 210 Healthcare Statistics 2 2 0 3
HIT 211 ICD Coding 2 6 0 4
Select one:
Public Speaking REVISED REQUISITE 3 0 0 3
  OR        
Prof Research & Reporting (3) (0) (0) (3)
  Total: 12 14 3 18

Summer Term

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
HIT 214 CPT/Other Coding Systems 1 3 0 2
HIT 220 Health Informatics & EHRs 1 2 0 2
HIT 226 Principles of Disease 3 0 0 3
HUM 115 Critical Thinking NEW VERSION 3 0 0 3
  Total: 8 5 0 10

Fall Semester

Course Course Title Class Hours Lab/Shop Hours Clinical/WBL Hours Credit Hours
HIT 215 Reimbursement Methodology 1 2 0 2
HIT 216 Quality Management 1 3 0 2
HIT 218 Mgmt Principles in HIT NEW 2020FA 3 0 0 3
HIT 222 Prof Practice Exp III 0 0 6 2
HIT 280 Professional Issues 2 0 0 2
PSY 150 General Psychology REVISED REQUISITE 3 0 0 3
  Total: 10 5 6 14

Total Credit Hours: 70

Additional Information

2018SP New AAS Degree

2018FA Summer Entry added

A45360 REVISED