Health Information Technology

Program Director: Staci Waldrep
Office: Multipurpose Building, Room 247
Address: 802 E. Lavaca St., Beaumont, TX 77705
Phone: (409) 839-2918
E-mail: healthinfotech@lit.edu

Health Information Technology professionals play a critical role in maintaining, collecting, and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers rely on to deliver quality healthcare. They are experts in managing patient health information and health records, administering computer information systems, coding the diagnoses and procedures for healthcare services provided to patients, preparing health-care statistics, and providing continuous quality improvement.

The Health Information Technology Program (HITT) is a two year program. The 60 SCH HITT Program prepares students for employment in multiple workplace settings in the healthcare industry including hospitals, physicians' offices and clinics, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, government agencies, cancer registries, and home care providers. Graduates are prepared to serve as health information technicians and coding professionals. Practicums are non-paid and require attendance at Select health care facilities. Upon successful completion of the program, students earn an Associate of Applied Science degree.

The program now offers a Medical Coding Specialist Certificate (HICC). The 40 SCH Coding Certificate prepares students to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) credential. Graduates are prepared to work as a coder/biller in physician's offices, outpatient clinics, emergency centers and day surgery centers. Students will be instructed under ICD-10 coding guidelines and rules. The practicum is non-paid and offered online but also requires attendance at select health care facilities.

Also available is a Health Informatics, Certificate . The 20 SCH Certificate of Completion in Health Informatics is designed to prepare students for employment as entry level Health Informatics personnel or to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in related health record occupations. Students will learn the fundamentals of healthcare informatics by focusing on resources, devices, and methods used to acquire, store, retrieve, and utilize electronic health records.

The Health Information Technology Program, the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate and the Health Informatics Certificate are selective enrollment programs. Students must apply and be accepted into the program to register for classes. The Health Information Technology program and the Health Informatics certificate begin in the fall each year while the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate begins in the spring of each year. The number of students is limited to space available in clinical agencies. Admission to the program is based on academic success, ability to meet physical requirements, completion of a phone interview of a health information professional and past medical experiences. It is highly recommended but not required for applicants to complete all the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative and to complete BIOL 2101 /BIOL 2301  and BIOL 2302 /BIOL 2102  to be accepted into the Health Information Technology Program. In addition, students are required to obtain a criminal background screening and must meet acceptable established criteria.

Applications and information for selection criteria for admission are available in the Health Information Program office. Applications and supporting documentation are due either April 15 or October 15 of each year. Students are encouraged to take supporting courses prior to applying to the program. Each semester all courses in the curriculum must be completed with a grade of "C" or better to progress in the program. Health Information Technology (HITT) courses must be taken in the order listed in the program of study.

At this time each program is available in an on-line format and students who apply for the program should have excellent computer skills and be disciplined to complete coursework. Future options may include traditional classes, as demand necessitates.

The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education. (http://cahiim.org). Students enrolled in their final term of study in the Health Information Technology Associate Degree or the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate are eligible to apply for admission to the national examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association (http://www.ahima.org).

Students who complete their Associate Degree may continue their education to acquire a Bachelor's Degree in Health Information Management (HIM) through a progression agreement established with Texas State University.

Awards

• Health Information Technology, A.A.S

• Health Informatics, Certificate
• Medical Coding Specialist