2022-2023 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Health Information Technology, AAS
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The Health Information Technology AAS degree is designed to meet growing demands for trained health information specialists and data managers in the health IT industry. Graduates may pursue work in a variety of health care settings including, but not limited to, hospitals, clinics, and insurance companies.
Coursework combines elements of business, computers, health sciences and health IT with practical computer lab and professional practice experiences.
In addition to the AAS degree, there are many certification options for health IT professionals, depending upon the desired career path. Certifications will enhance the AAS degree. Credentials may require work experience prior to certification and continuing education hours to maintain certification. Costs and qualifications vary.
The Health Information Technology program utilizes a background check service to conduct criminal background/abuse checks. Immunizations and a physical exam are required prior to placement at professional practice sites. Students are responsible for the cost of this service. Criminal convictions or documented history of abuse may delay or prevent students from participation in the health IT professional practice experiences.
The following are recommended program entrance assessment scores:
- Math: a minimum ALEKS Math placement score of 30 or ACT score of 19
- Reading: a minimum ACCUPLACER Next Gen READING score of 248 or ACT score of 19
- Writing: a minimum ACCUPLACER Next Gen WRITING score of 254 or ACT score of 19
For more information about the Health Information Technology program, please visit our website at www.dmacc.edu/programs/health/healthinfotech.
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Students start any semester
Graduation Requirements
To earn a Health Information Technology AAS degree, a student must complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. A grade of 2.0 (C) or better is required in all HIT courses. Option 1 - Select 3 Credits
Option 2 - Select 3 Credits
Option 3 - Select 3-4 Credits
Option 4 - Select 3 Credits
Option 5 - Select 3 Credits
Total Credits Required to Complete this AAS Degree: 67*
*Total credits are calculated using the least number of credits needed to satisfy the option requirements
Fixed Costs
Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$178.00 per credit
The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.
Varied Costs
| Costs |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Semester 3 |
Semester 4 |
Semester 5 |
| Books (approximate/new books) (HIT courses only) |
550 |
90 |
250 |
200 |
200 |
| Background Check/Immunization Tracker (see below) |
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60 |
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| Immunizations (est cost-varies with each student) |
150 |
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| Practicum Student Expenses (gas/meals) (varies) |
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220 |
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220 |
| Association/Other Meetings (varies) |
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The HIT program utilizes a background check service to conduct criminal background/abuse checks and to track immunizations and health records for each student after their acceptance into the program. Students are responsible for the cost of this service.
Approximate total for the program: $13,866**
**Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate cost.
What Kind of Work Will You Do?
- Assist with implementation/upgrade and provide ongoing support of electronic health record systems and other health IT application/IT projects.
- Assure compliance with laws/regulatory and voluntary accreditation requirements related to healthcare/health IT.
- Train and support other end users on health IT systems to ensure optimal functionality.
- Extract, analyze and complete data reporting to assist with research, coordination of care, population health management and value-based payment models
- Utilize data and code sets such as ICD10 and CPT.
- Participate in and complete reporting for quality improvement projects utilizing tools from different performance models.
- Support HIPAA privacy and security compliance.
- Participate on project teams and complete project status reports to ensure implementation and support of project solutions.
- Work in a variety of health care settings
What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?
- Effective communication in both writing and speaking.
- General business knowledge, self-starter, motivation, work without supervision.
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently both as an individual and in a team environment.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Good problem-solving skills.
- Attention to detail.
- Adaptability to change.
- Keyboarding test score of 30 wpm or higher.
What Else Should I Consider about this Degree program?
- Most coursework can be arranged to accommodate working professionals. Traditional health IT courses are located at Ankeny Campus with a majority of them being online and web-blended.
- There are many optional certifications for Health IT professionals depending upon desired career path. Certifications will enhance the AAS degree.
- Student must provide their own transportation to practicum sites.
Salary per Iowa Workforce Development Iowa Wage Report 2019. https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/iowa-wage-report - Entry wage: $32,424/year
- Average wage: $43,279/year
- With experience: $48.706/year
For additional information about job outlook and salary, visit the Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook at HIT Technicians, Computer Support Specialists and Computer Systems Analysts. Program Competencies
This Program will:
- Demonstrate how health records need to be maintained consistent with medical, legal, ethical, administrative and regulatory requirements related to the health information infrastructure.
- Apply an organization’s health information policies, procedures and standards to collect, store, analyze and/or report accurate data from health IT systems that supports diagnosis, progress, clinical findings and discharge status.
- Use and format data from health IT systems to effectively facilitate education, knowledge sharing and informed decision making within health care organizations.
- Examine methodologies and health IT tools for quality improvement and analytics to measure and improve health care outcomes.
- Analyze data, query data, and produce reports from electronic records and database systems for organizational initiatives, regulatory reporting and registries.
- Examine different clinical vocabularies, datacode sets and terminologies used in the health IT industry.
- Interpret the reimbursement methodologies of health care provided by health IT applications.
- Use appropriate medical and IT terminology to communicate with both clinical and IT personnel in a healthcare organization.
- Differentiate types of health IT systems and software used in the industry
- Summarize how health IT is utilized to assist in managing and monitoring operational, financial, compliance and improvement activities of a health care organization.
- Apply the principles of release of information for maintaining secure access and disclosure of protected health information required by HIPAA guidelines.
- Identify vulnerabilities and protection schemes related to HIPAA data security requirements
- Incorporate IT project management tools and techniques utilized in the health IT field.
- Examine core foundational principles of informatics and IT systems
- Integrate “real world” experiences with the ability to work effectively both individually and within a team through interaction and communication with professionals, staff and fellow students.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, or hiring practices, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.
Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost’s office, the Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515/964-6857, dso@dmacc.edu. Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA 50023, phone 515/964-6216, Title9@dmacc.edu. Questions or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczysnki Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604-7204, phone 312/730-1560, fax 312/730-1576, TDD 800-877-8339 Email OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.
DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
Agriculture, Natural and Environmental Science
Architecture, Engineering, and Construction
Arts, Design, and Visual Communication
Business, Management, and Marketing
Education, Public, and Human Services
Health Science
Hospitality and Culinary
Information Technology
Manufacturing
Transportation & Logistics
Entrance requirements for specific programs can be found at https://www.dmacc.edu/admissions/Pages/checklist.aspx.(2021)
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