Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Science Degree

The Health Information Technology Program is a two year associate of applied science degree designed to prepare individuals to manage and code the medical information obtained in medical records, organize the coded information from the medical records for reimbursement purposes, abstract other data to meet administrative and governmental requirements, and manage medical and legal inquires for medical record information.   Employment of individuals with these skills is essential for healthcare providers whether the provider is a hospital, clinic, physician’s office, nursing home, or other healthcare agency.   Graduates of this program will be prepared for a variety of positions in the health information services market, such as technicians, supervisors, coordinators, assistant directors, and directors.   The program is designed to offer a wide variety of learning experiences including classroom lecture, use of computers, and software designed for health information technology, and professional practice experience in various medical settings. 

The Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

 

Admission Retention and Graduation Requirements 

Any student desiring to pursue an associate of applied science degree in Health Information Technology must:

1.                  Apply, meet admission requirements and be accepted by WSCC.

2.                  Indicate Health Information Technology as the desired major on WSCC Application form.

3.                  See an advisor from the Health Information Programs department or division of Health Programs and obtain clearance to register.

4.                  Complete all required developmental education courses prior to making application for the Health Information Technology program.

5.                  In addition, admission into an allied health program requires the following:  (a) a completed physical health form; (b) evidence of malpractice liability insurance; (c) a signed and dated acknowledgement of the Drug/Alcohol Abuse Policy and Consent forms.  The physical health form, malpractice insurance, and Tennessee Professional Assistance fees are at the student’s expense.

6.                  Each student enrolled in the Health Information Technology program will be monitored, advised and counseled.  Students’ grades will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the director of the program.  A student must maintain the following standards or be dismissed from the program: (a) a grade of “C” or better in each course; (b) complete designated prerequisite/corequisite courses.

7.                  Program graduation requirements include the successful completion of the courses listed below with a minimum grade of “C” in each course.

8.                  Successful completion of BIOL 2010/2011 and BIOL 2020/21 with a grade of “C” or better is a prerequisite to HITC 2050/HITC 2060.

Frequently Asked Questions concerning this program:

·         Beginning salary ranges from $20,000 - $30,000 annually.

·         Pay is better in larger cities such as Knoxville and Johnson City than in the more rural areas.

·         Students will be qualified for supervisory positions in Health Information Management departments in hospitals and supervisory positions in physician office settings.

·         If students have further questions about the profession, pay, etc. refer  to the following web address :  www.healthinformationcareers.com 

Estimated Expenses

Textbooks	$400-500 per semester
Professional Liability Insurance	$40

Health Information Technology Program Curriculum

Course No.	Course Title	Credit Hours
BIOL 2010	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	3
BIOL 2011	Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab	1
CPSC 1100	Using Information Technology	3
Elective	Behavioral/Social Sciences	3
HITC 2010	Fundamentals of Health Information Management	3
MDTR 1010	Medical Terminology	5
BIOL 2020	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	3
BIOL 2021	Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab	1
ENGL 1110	Composition I	3
HITC 2020/21	Applications in Healthcare Information Systems/Lab	3
HITC 2070	Supervisory and Legal Aspects	3
MDTR 1030	Fundamentals of Medical Science	3
HITC 2040	Health Statistics and Registries	2
HITC 2050	Health Information Technology Practice I	3
MDCD 1010	Basic ICD-9-CM Coding	3
MDCD 1020	Basic CPT/HCPCS Coding	3
HITC 1021	Coding Lab I	2
Elective:	HUMANITIES/FINE ARTS	3
HITC 2060	Health Information Technology Practice II	3
HITC 2030/31	Quality Improvement and Assessment in Healthcare Lab	3
MDCD 1030	Intermediate ICD-9-CM Coding	3
MDCD 1040	Advanced Coding for Reimbursement	3
HITC 1051	Professional Seminar	2
	Total Credit Hours	64

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