Associate of applied science in health information technology

Program Information

If you possess stellar organizational, technological, and people skills and are interested in a career in health care, then San Jacinto College’s Health Information Technology program is the career path for you. This program is designed to train future health information technology technicians to perform a variety of technical functions including organizing, analyzing, coding, and technically evaluating health information. Health information technicians work to ensure that complete and accurate records are kept for each patient in a health care facility.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management (CAHIIM). Upon completion of this program, the student is eligible to apply to take the national Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) examination, administered by the American Health Information Management Association.

Career Opportunities

A career in health information technology combines patient care management and technology in various professional work settings including:

  • Hospitals, 
  • Physician's offices/clinics,
  • Law firms,
  • Insurance companies,
  • Long-Term care (nursing homes),
  • Home Health, 
  • Hospice,
  • Behavioral Health, and
  • Health information technology software vendors.

Earning Potential

  Registered Health Information Management Technician (RHIT) with 1-2 years' experience national average salary: $38,7101

For more information, students may email  or call 281-459-7608.

Campus

North Campus

San Jac Online

Information

The Health Information Technology program includes one clinical (practicum) course. Clinicals are unpaid positions in which students are supervised by a health information technology professional at the health care facility. Clinicals are scheduled during the day shift according to the availability of the site supervisor. The program cannot guarantee a specific site, but every effort will be made to accommodate the student. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the clinical site. A criminal background check is required of all program students and must be submitted prior to enrollment in the clinical course. Documentation of immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella, completion of the Hepatitis B series, and annual Tuberculosis screening are also required prior to enrollment in the clinical course. Drug screening may be required by the clinical site.  

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site. 

Plan of Study

3HITT-HIT

Plan of Study Grid
First TermCredits
HITT 1305 Medical Terminology I 3
HITT 1301 Health Data Content and Structure 3
BIOL 2404 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology (lecture & lab) (or BIOL 2301 and BIOL 2101 and BIOL 2302 and BIOL 2102) 4
ITSC 1309

or BCIS 1305

Integrated Software Applications I

or Business Computer Applications

3
  Credits 13
Second Term
HITT 2330 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 3
HITT 1341 Coding and Classification Systems 3
HITT 1311 Health Information Systems 3
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
MATH 1342 Elementary Statistical Methods (Statistics) 1 3
  Credits 15
Summer Year One Term
ITSW 1307 Introduction to Database 3
HITT 1353 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information 3
  Credits 6
Third Term
HITT 1342 Ambulatory Coding 3
HITT 2335 Coding and Reimbursement Methodologies 3
HITT 2343 Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement 3
HITT 2339 Health Information Organization and Supervision 3
Language, Philosophy, and Culture (Humanities) or Creative Arts (Fine Arts) 3
  Credits 15
Fourth Term
HITT 2249 RHIT Competency Review 2
HITT 2361 Clinical-Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3
SPCH 1315

or SPCH 1321

Public Speaking

or Business and Professional Speech

3
  Credits 11
  Total Credits 60

External Learning Experience: HITT 2361 Clinical-Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician

National Certification Exam: Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) 

Note: Students must pass each HITT course listed in the AAS degree plan with a grade of C or higher to be eligible to receive the degree.

What is the difference between medical coding and health information technology?

Health information management involves data in a broader sense. It would include the same information as medical coders and billers use but go beyond it. For example, health information management covers all patient data while certified billers and coders stick with payment processing information.

What is the difference between an associate of applied science AAS degree and an associate of science as degree?

An Associate of Science (AS) degree is a 2-year degree offered by most community colleges and some 4- year colleges. The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree prepares graduates to enter a career immediately after graduation and have been considered terminal degrees.

What is the meaning of health information technology?

The term “health information technology” (health IT) refers to the electronic systems health care professionals – and increasingly, patients – use to store, share, and analyze health information. Health IT includes: ▪ Electronic health records (EHRs).

What is a hit program?

Health Information Technology (HIT) is a degree program that will teach you specific skills to work in the health information management (HIM) profession.