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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	Credit Hours
BIO 168	Anatomy and Physiology I	3	3	4
CIS 110	Introduction to Computers	2	2	3
HIT 110	Intro to Healthcare & HIM	3	0	3
HIT 114	Health Data Sys/Standards	2	3	3
MED 121	Medical Terminology I	3	0	3
	Total:	13	8	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:
COM 231	Public Speaking	3	0	0	3
	OR
ENG 114	Prof Research & Reporting	(3)	(0)	(0)	(3)
	Total:	8	8	0	11

Fall Semester

Course	Course Title	Class Hours	Lab/Shop Hours	Credit Hours
DBA 110	Database Concepts	2	3	3
HIT 213	Inpt Proc Coding & Reporting	1	3	2
HIT 214	Op Procedure Coding/Reporting	1	3	2
HIT 218	Mgmt Principles in HIT	3	0	3
HUM 115	Critical Thinking	3	0	3
	Total:	10	9	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

A45360 REVISED