Health Information Technology, A.S.

Program Code: 0350/0351

The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) Associate in Science program emphasizes skills in health data collection, quality, monitoring, and adhering to legal and regulatory standards.

These technicians serve as medical coders, clinical data specialists, data quality managers, and information security officers. They hold supervisor, manager, and director positions in health care settings across the continuum of the health care industry.

Courses include design and implementation of systems for the collection of complete and accurate health records on each patient and the processing, storage, retrieval, security and release of health information and statistics in a timely manner for appropriate uses.

Students are instructed in regulatory compliance, performance improvement, quality assurance, utilization review, risk management, and departmental management.

The program consists of 70 semester hours of general education and health information technology core courses.

The HIT program is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Students are eligible to sit for the national certification credentialing exam to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) after completion of the program or during their last semester with approval from the director for early testing. The RHIT exam is a national certification offered through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

For additional information, visit our website at SJRstate.edu/alliedhealth or call (904) 808-7465.

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the Health Information Technology program at St. Johns River State College is to provide an excellent educational experience, produce graduates with the skills to acquire entry-level health information management positions as Registered Health Information Technicians, and contribute to a stronger healthcare community by providing credentialed professionals to serve in the industry.

The Health Information Technology courses are offered via distance education (online). Students are required to participate in a 64 hour internship at a healthcare facility during their final semester in the program. The internship must be approved by the Health Information Technology Director and coordinated by the student. A student must earn a grade of “C” or above in all courses required in the program. The program is a full-time program and students must follow the Health Information Technology program rotation.

Applicants may apply:

April 1 - June 15 for fall enrollment

Admission Requirements

The Health Information Technology program is a limited access program.
To apply for admission to the Health Information Technology program, a student must have completed all of the following:

1. Application to SJR State;
2. Application to the Health Information Technology program;
3. Achieved satisfactory scores on college placement tests for reading and writing scoring equivalent to placement in ENC 1101  or completion of ENC 1101 ;
4. Achieved satisfactory scores on college placement tests scoring equivalent to placement in MAC 1147  or completion of General Education Core Mathematics*.

* Refer to A.S. degree General Education  core requirements.

Admission Requirements (Post Degree with Licensure/Certification)

To apply for admission to the Health Information Technology (post degree) a student must have completed all of the following:

1. Application to SJR State;
2. Application to the Health Information Technology (post degree);
3. Provide an official transcript with an earned degree and one of the following licensure/certifications: CCS, CCA, CCS-P, RHIT, RHIA;
4. New applicants will be considered after all current Health Information Technology seats are filled.

Applicants are considered on a space available basis. Priority will be given based on the date admission requirements have been completed.

Post Admission Requirements

Following acceptance into the Health Information Technology program, students must complete/attend the following:

1. All students are required to sign a consent and waiver to perform a criminal and professional background check and drug screen. Failure to provide consent will render the applicant ineligible for admission to the program. Admission to the program is conditional upon the results of the criminal and professional background check and drug screen. Additional random and scheduled drug screening may be required at any time during the program.
2. Have a physical examination verifying that the student is free of communicable diseases; exam must include TB screening; however, Hepatitis B vaccination and Flu shot are optional
3. All students are required to sign a confidentiality statement which is kept on file in the Health Information Technology department.
4. Attend a Health Information Technology student orientation on the specified date

Note: Failure to comply with these requirements may result in administrative withdrawal from the Health Information Technology program.