Health Information Technology
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 and Online
POS Approved: Fall 2022
Fall Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIO 168 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| CIS 110 | Introduction to Computers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 110 | Intro to Healthcare & HIM | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 114 | Health Data Sys/Standards | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MED 121 | Medical Terminology I | 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 |
| ENG 111 | Writing and Inquiry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 112 | Health Law and Ethics | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 124 | Prof Practice Exp II NEW VERSION 2022FA | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| MAT 152 | Statistical Methods I | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| MED 122 | Medical Terminology II | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 15 | 5 | 3 | 18 |
Summer Term
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIT 211 | Diagnosis Coding & Reporting | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 220 | Electronic Health Records | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| HIT 226 | Pathophysiology & Pharmacology | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Select one: | |||||
| Public Speaking | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| OR | |||||
| Prof Research & Reporting | (3) | (0) | (0) | (3) | |
| Total: | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | |
Fall Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DBA 110 | Database Concepts | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 213 | Inpt Proc Coding & Reporting | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| HIT 214 | Op Procedure Coding/Reporting | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| HIT 218 | Mgmt Principles in HIT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| HUM 115 | Critical Thinking | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 10 | 9 | 0 | 13 |
Spring Semester
| Course | Course Title | Class Hours | Lab/Shop Hours | Clinical/WBL Hours | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HIT 215 | Revenue Cycle Management | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| HIT 217 | Quality & Data Analysis | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| HIT 222 | Prof Practice Exp III | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| HIT 280 | HIM Capstone | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| PSY 150 | General Psychology | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total: | 8 | 6 | 6 | 12 |
Total Credit Hours: 70
Additional Information
2018SP New AAS Degree
2018FA Summer Entry
2022FA Fall Entry