Health Information Technology, Career Associate of Science

The online associate degree program in Health Information Technology at Albany State University is designed to prepare the student for entry-level employment as a health information technician who performs tasks related to the use, analysis, presentation, abstracting, coding, storage and the retrieval of health care data in manual or electronic form.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), 233 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601-5800, (312) 233-1100, http://www.cahiim.org, in association with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), 233 North Michigan Avenue, 21^st Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-5809, http://www.ahima.org.

Graduates are eligible to write the national certification examination given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Upon successful completion of the examination, the health information technician is awarded the professional credential of a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) by AHIMA.

Students may declare a HIT plan of study upon university enrollment for the purpose of advisement while completing coursework required for entry to the program. However, this does not guarantee admission into the program.

The HIT program admits one class per year that begins each Fall semester (mid-August). Program applications are due by June 1^st of the year you wish to enter the program.

The deadline for applying (June 1^st) occurs during the SUMMER semester prior to the FALL semester start date. If a student is enrolled in courses that will complete all requirements during the Summer semester of the June 1^st deadline, the student may submit the application with those required courses still in progress.

An application is considered complete only when all requested information is received. Students are responsible for making sure their application is complete. Incomplete application packets and/or applications received after June 1^st may not be considered. Selection criteria, including GPA and pre-requisite hours completed, are ranked by the HIT Selection Committee and interviews may be set up. Offers of acceptance will be made based on the final ranking of those students who meet all admission criteria. Applications can be picked up in the Health Sciences office, J-210.

Program Admission Requirements

For full consideration for admission to the Health Information Technology program, the student must:

1. Be admitted to Albany State University.
2. Complete all required Learning Support courses.
3. Complete all courses required for entry to the program with a “C” or better. Courses required for admission to the program include ALHE 1120, BIOL 2411K, BIOL 2412K, BUSA 2101, and ENGL 1101.
4. Have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
5. Complete and submit an application for admission to the HIT program to the Program Director by June 1^st.

Additional Requirements

1. Before registering and being enrolled in the HIT program, students should access Distance Learning on the ASU website for orientation to online system requirements.
2. To continue in the Health Information Technology Program, a minimum grade of "C" is required in all HITE courses. If the student fails to make a "C" in an HITE course, and it is the student's first failure, the student may reapply to the HITE Program. All of the student's previous HITE work will be evaluated by the program director. More than one “W”, "D" and/or "F" in HITE courses will result in permanent dismissal from the program (this may be two courses or failure in the same course twice).
3. High speed internet connection is highly recommended for optimal use of AHIMA’s Virtual Lab applications.
4. Professional liability insurance is required and is available through the college. The cost of this insurance is approximately $17.50 per year and is included in the fees.
5. Because of the nature of the profession, the student is required to sign and abide by a statement that the student will honor the confidential nature of health/medical records (HIPAA). A charge of breach of confidentiality will be treated according to the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook, "Code of Conduct.”
6. Once enrolled in the HIT program, failure to exhibit professional behavior will result in the student being withdrawn from the program and deemed ineligible for re-admission to the HIT program. Unprofessional behavior is defined as:
   1. misrepresentation of self or falsifying information on program application
   2. disruptive or abusive behavior in an online class
   3. breach of confidentiality statement and/or
   4. suspicion of cheating will be dealt with in accordance with the Student Handbook, "Code of Conduct.”
7. Student membership to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is recommended. The cost of student membership is $49.00 per year.
8. A student may be denied permission to continue in the HIT program if, in the opinion of the HIT faculty, the Chair of Health Sciences, the Dean of the Darton College of Health Professions, and the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the student does not demonstrate the necessary qualifications for a health information technician.
9. To satisfactorily complete the curriculum and to develop the skills required of an entry level health information technician, the student must demonstrate: 
   1. Visual Acuity (with or without corrective lenses): to read paper, microfilm, and electronic documents.
   2. Physical Ability: to process reports and records, to operate equipment necessary for record keeping (for example, manually operated filing equipment, printers, microfilm reader/printers, computer keyboard), and to move about in space limited by compacted filing.
   3. Manual Dexterity: to perform the fine motor functions necessary to document analysis of records (i.e., must use pens, pencils, and manage papers), and to operate electronic equipment (i.e., computers, word processors).
   4. Hearing (with or without aids): to hear the spoken voice in order to be able to respond verbally.
10. The student must abide by the policies and procedures of the Health Information Technology Program as defined by the Program Handbook.
11. Albany State University Code of Conduct Policies related to Disruptive and Obstructive Behavior will be enforced in an online program just as it would be in a traditional classroom. Exhibit of such behavior may result in dismissal from the program.

For additional Health Science Division policies that apply to this program, please refer to Academic Regulations, Section R – T.

*All HITE courses are only offered online with the exception of HITE 2610. HITE 2600 and HITE 2610 constitute 120 hours of the professional practice experience, with HITE 2610 being completed in an acute care facility.

Students may declare an HIT plan of study upon college enrollment for the purpose of advisement while completing courses required for admission to the program. However, declaring this plan of study does not guarantee admission to the HIT Program. A separate application is required for consideration of acceptance into this program.

Full-time Track

Part-time Track

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Pre-requisite courses must be taken prior to program admission. 

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Humanities requirement may be met by taking any literature or appreciation course in the Humanities Area of the Core IMPACTS.