Health Information Technology: A.A.S.

Program Mission

The mission of the Health Information Management Program is to prepare confident, innovative, contributing professionals who can identify and use a variety of information resources and technologies to accomplish the objectives of diverse practice environments. It provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become self-directed learners who possess critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities, as well as communication and interpersonal skills. It instills a commitment to life-long learning and important ethical values. As practitioners, graduates of this program will serve society and the profession through collaborative practice, innovative teaching, and the generation and application of new knowledge about health information management.

Program Learning Outcomes

Communicate effectively in the healthcare environment, while being respectful of cultural, ethnic, gender, and lifestyle differences.
Comply with appropriate legal regulations, standards, policies and procedures, for control and management of the health record, and for protection, security, and release of health information.
Demonstrate appropriate use of management principles, technology and decision support tools to effectively manage human, physical, and financial resources to improve performance.
Apply healthcare reimbursement principles by understanding the complexities of reimbursement systems and how they affect providers and payers.
Code diagnoses and procedures according to current legal, ethical, and federal standards for reimbursement, analysis, and improved patient care.
Perform data analytic functions for quality improvement, risk management, utilization review, and compliance.
Maintain and utilize the electronic health record, and various indexes, storage, and retrieval systems.
Demonstrate by scoring at or above the national average on all competencies on the mock RHIT exam.
Demonstrate understanding by explaining the impact of continuing education on professional growth and competence.

Health information management professionals hold many diverse roles, yet all share a common purpose: providing reliable and valid information that drives the healthcare industry. They are specialists in working with health information systems, managing medical records, and coding information for reimbursement and research. Health information management professionals are uniquely qualified to:

Ensure health information is complete and available to legitimate users
Code and classify data for reimbursement
Analyze information necessary for decision support
Protect patient privacy and provide information security
Enhance the quality and uses for data within healthcare
Administer health information computer systems
Comply with standards and regulations regarding health information
Prepare health data for accreditation surveys
Analyze clinical data for research and public policy

HIT professionals play a key role in the planning, implementation and management of the electronic health record (EHR). As a Health Information Technician, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality of medical records, checking them for completeness, accuracy, and appropriate entry into computer systems in a multitude of healthcare settings. You might specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for billing and reimbursement or research.

The program includes a clinical practicum (professional practice) experience, and is designed for students planning on entering the workforce immediately, as well as for those looking to upgrade skills or change direction. It awards the Associate in Applied Science ( A.A.S.) degree and prepares students to transfer, if they wish to pursue a Baccalaureate Degree in Health Information Management.

Program Notes

There are dedicated faculty members in the department who are credentialed professionals and strive to provide a quality education to our students. We have clinical affiliations with many types of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, long term care and home health care facilities, mental health organizations, and large group physician practices. Our goal as a department is not only to prepare students for their RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) certification exam and to provide the technical basis for employment, but also to mold graduates into the professional health information technician who sees the value, importance, and confidentiality of the patient’s health information and the vital role they play in contributing to quality patient care.

In order to participate in clinical rotations, which are required to graduate from this program, students are required to submit proof of a current physical and up-to-date required vaccinations, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Specific instructions about required documentation and deadlines are provided by the Program Director.

Outcome Measures

Student Achievement/outcomes for academic year 2021 - 2022:

Graduation rate: 100%
Employment rate: 100%
Registered Health Information Technology Certification Exam pass rate: 75%

Student Achievement/outcomes for academic year 2020 - 2021:

Graduation rate: 100%
Employment rate: 100%
Registered Health Information Technology Certification Exam pass rate: 100%

Student Achievement/outcomes for academic year 2019 - 2020:

Graduation rate: 100%
Employment rate: 88%
Registered Health Information Technology Certification Exam pass rate: 100%

The following HIT program outcome measures are for academic year 2017-2018:

RHIT Certification Exam Pass Rate - 81%
Graduate Satisfaction Rate - 100%
Employer Satisfaction Rate - 100%

Course Requirements

Contact Information

New Students:

Admissions Office
+1 (607) 778-5001
admissions@sunybroome.edu

Current Students:

Holly R. Jones
+1 (607) 778-5063
joneshr@sunybroome.edu
Decker Center Room 217

100% of this program can be completed online.

The Health Information Management accreditor of SUNY Broome Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for Associate in Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology has been reaffirmed through 2021. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at +1 (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

Health Information Technology in the News

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Transfer Opportunities

The program includes a clinical practicum (professional practice) experience. This program is designed for students planning on entering the workforce immediately, and for those looking to upgrade skills or to change direction. It awards the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) and prepares students to transfer if they wish to pursue a Baccalaureate Degree in Health Information Management.

Many SUNY Broome graduates transfer on to SUNY Polytechnic Institute at Utica.