UA - Pulaski Tech offers the Health Information Technology program as an online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology degree. The Associate Degree Health Information Technology Program is in Candidacy Status, pending accreditation review by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The associate’s degree program requires 22-semester credits of general education, and 38 credits of HIT program coursework for a total of 60-semester credits. The degree program is offered year-round with courses offered in the fall, spring, and summer. Students are admitted to begin the HIT program in the fall and spring semesters. The classes are online with the exception of professional practice rotations which are obtained in hospitals and other health care related agencies. Some travel is required. There’s a $100 HIT program fee per semester. Class size is limited and not all applicants are selected for participation in the HIT program. A selective admissions process is utilized. Admission to the program is competitive and based on the following criteria:
a. Academic achievement
b. Academic aptitude
c. Computer competency
d. Leadership and professionalism
e. Personal endorsement
f. Written and oral communication
Application for admission into the HIT program must be received by July 1 for fall and November 1 for spring. The minimum requirements for candidates to be considered for entrance into the program include the following:
a. Completion of all required general education courses per the program guide
b. A minimum cumulative grade point average (cGPA) of 2.25
c. Completion of all application documents including the computer literacy test
d. A clear criminal background check and negative drug screening conducted through the HIT program’s approved agency
Students accepted to the HIMT program are required to complete all HIMT courses with a C or better. Student earning a D or F will be dismissed from the program. Students may reapply to the program but are not guaranteed acceptance. In addition to satisfying the Institutional Learning Outcomes, program graduates are expected to successfully address the following program learning outcomes:
a. Able to create and compile new information in both written and oral forms of communication
b. Able to breakdown information into parts and identify reasons to support generalizations which is the foundation of creative/critical thinking skills
c. Demonstrates an understanding in ethical and social responsibility skills as well as cultural diversity
d. Able to work with others as a leader, member, or follower in a teamwork capacity
e. Become a lifelong learner
f. Demonstrate knowledge in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology
g. Interpretation and creation of information in health data management
h. Apply HIM knowledge to basic methods when calculating descriptive, institutional, and health care vital statistics, as well as analyzing data for quality management, risk management, and utilization management
i. Understanding of health law, privacy, security, confidentiality, and release of information
j. Utilize electronic systems for data collection and analysis at entry-level competency to assure the healthcare system can deliver excellence in care, enabling confidence of healthcare consumers, clinicians, researchers, and secondary users of health information
k. Whether in simulated circumstances, in clinicals or preceptorships, the student will demonstrate organizational management and supervision skills
l. Apply coding and billing skills as well as reimbursement methodologies
m. Be able to analyze acquired problems and by using data governance principles reduce or totally eliminate the problem in the quality of health data and assure patient care/identity has not been compromised
n. Be able to demonstrate all HIM competencies as learned in didactic classes when participating in the clinicals and preceptorship
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