Health Information Technology
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Health Information Technology prepares students to meet the increasing demands for formally trained health information management professionals in healthcare agencies such as clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, state health departments, and other organizations. Health information technicians are trained in the domains of health informatics, revenue cycle management, data analytics, and information governance. Certificates of Completion (CCL) in Medical Billing and Coding: Physician-Based, Medical Coding: Hospital-Based, or Health Information: Long Term Care Settings are also available.
Graduates are eligible to apply to take the examination of the American Health Information Management Association for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) designation.
Details
Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Health Information Technology (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3324
Total credits required
72-77
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2022
Admission criteria
High school diploma, OR GED equivalent.
Formal application and admission to the Health Information Technology program is required.
Ability to participate fully in classroom, laboratory settings, if applicable.
Applications available from advisement or the College website.
Background Check Requirements
Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.
Notes
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Students in this program participate in mandatory professional practice placements in health care settings.
Students must be willing to undergo a background check performed by the MCCCD approved vendor. (Students who are unsure of their background status may take a preliminary background check at their own expense before entering the program, results of which will not be sent to the college.)
The following Prerequisite courses must be completed within five (5) years of the Required Course(s) for which they are requisite requirements: BIO201, BIO202, BPC110, HCC145, HCC164, HCC204, and HIM200.
What You'll Learn
- Demonstrate professional and ethical behavior, and cultural competency skills according to health information management professional practice standards. (HIM101, HIM103, HIM180, HIM207, HIM208, HIM210, HIM211, HIM213, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234), (COM))
- Promote awareness of the health information management profession. (HIM101, HIM207, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234)
- Communicate oral and written communication that corresponds to health information management professional practice standards. (HIM101, HIM106, HIM160, HIM180, HIM200, HIM203, HIM207, HIM219, HIM225, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234, [FYC], (COM))
- Work effectively within health information management departmental and interdisciplinary teams and committees. (HIM207, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234, [COM])
- Use critical and creative thinking skills in decision-making and problem-solving processes in accordance with health information management best practices. (HIM101, HIM106, HIM160, HIM203, HIM207, HIM208, HIM210, HIM211, HIM213, HIM219, HIM225, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234, (COM), (CRE))
- Interpret health data for statistical functions, and research and quality improvement efforts. (CIS114DE, HIM203, HIM207, HIM225, HIM231, HIM232, (CRE))
- Evaluate health information according to legal and ethical principles and regulatory guidelines. (HIM106, HIM203, HIM207, HIM208, HIM209, HIM210, HIM211, HIM213, HIM219, HIM225, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234)
- Evaluate health informatics, health information technologies, and health information systems in accordance with federal, state, local, and HIM industry standards. (BPC110, HIM101, HIM106, HIM160, HIM203, HIM211, HIM213, HIM219, HIM232, HIM234)
- Use health informatics, health information technologies, and health information systems in accordance with federal, state, local, and health information management industry standards. (BPC110, CIS114DE, HIM101, HIM106, HIM160, HIM203, HIM211, HIM213, HIM219, HIM232, HIM234)
- Apply anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology concepts in the management of health information. (BIO201, BIO202, HCC145, HIM180, HIM200, HIM208, HIM209, HIM210, HIM211, HIM213, HIM234)
- Apply clinical nomenclatures, vocabularies, classification systems, revenue cycle management, and coding compliance concepts according to acute, ambulatory, and alternative care standards. (BIO156, BIO181, BIO201, BIO202, HCC145, HIM180, HIM208, HIM209, HIM210, HIM211, HIM213, HIM234)
- Manage health information services in accordance with strategic, project, financial, and human resource management principles, practices, and legislation. (HIM207, HIM231, HIM232, HIM233, HIM234)
- Apply relevant knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to seek career opportunities in the field. (FYE101, FYE103)
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Part-time Sequence
Course Area Key
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=176653).
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Health Information Technology