Health Information Technology
Associate Degree

The Health Information Technology Associate Degree in Applied Science Program is offered at the community colleges through the Southern Illinois Collegiate Common Market. SICCM is a consortium of four Southern Illinois community colleges, SIU at Carbondale and SIU at Edwardsville.

The Health Information Technician possesses the technical skills necessary to maintain components of health record systems consistent with the medical, administrative, ethical, legal, accreditation, and regulatory requirements of the health care delivery system.

The Health Information Technician technically analyzes and evaluates health records according to standards; compiles various types of administrative and health statistics for use in planning and evaluating; codes symptoms, diseases, operations, procedures, and other therapies; releases health information; and maintains and utilizes a variety of health record indexes and storage and retrieval systems.

In addition, the Health Information Technician operates word processing equipment, abstracts discharge data to support quality improvement activities, supports committee chairpersons in carrying out committee functions, and supervises one or more health record service activities.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1.	Graduated from an approved high school, or shall demonstrate equivalent competency. (G. E. D. examination).
2.	Fulfill admission policies for the institution to which application is made. Each participating institution in SICCM has its own admission procedure. Please follow these directions.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this Health Information Technology Program, the technician must be able to demonstrate the entry-level competencies for Health Information Technicians. The graduate will possess the technical skills necessary to:

1.	Maintain health record systems consistent with medical legal, ethical, and administrative requirements;
2.	Interpret and implement various regulations of the modern health care delivery system;
3.	Apply specific standards in analyzing and evaluating records;
4.	Compile various statistical reports;
5.	Code diseases, systems, operations, and procedures;
6.	Maintain and utilize a variety of health record indexes, storage; and
7.	Understand the importance of confidential communications and apply the principles of release of information.

THE SICCM/HIT PROGRAM IS ACCREDITED BY AHIMA AND THE AMA

CURRICULUM COURSE REQUIREMENTS
First Year, Fall Semester	Semester Hours
HIT 101 - Introduction to Health Information	3
BIO 111 - Introduction to Biology	4
COM 111 - Business Computer Systems	4
HIT 100 - Medical Terminology	3
SEM 111 - College Orientation	1
MAT 210 - Elementary Statistics	4
Total Hours	19
Spring Semester	Semester Hours
HIT 102 - Health Records Systems	3
HIT 103 - Health Records Systems Lab	1
HIT 215 - Fundamentals of Medical Science	4
BIO 212 - Anatomy and Physiology	3
HIT 104 - Advanced Terminology	3
HIT 105 - Medical Transcription	3
Total Hours	17
Second Year, Fall Semester	Semester Hours
HIT 201 - Health Data and Statistics	2
HIT 202- Clinical Practicum I	2
HIT 203 - Management in Health Care	3
HIT 204 - Coding	4
HIT 211 - Medical Legal Aspects	2
ENG 111 -English Composition	3
Total Hours	16
Spring Semester	Semester Hours
HIT 210 - Clinical Application of Health Data	2
HIT 212 - UR/QA Risk Management	3
HIT 213 - Clinical Practicum II	2
HIT 214 - Health Information in Non-Traditional Setting	2
ENG 212 - English Composition	3
Elective (social science, math, or physical science)	3
Total Hours	15