We are no longer enrolling new students into any of our Health IT programs
Health Information Technology
Objectives
The objective of our Health Information Technology (HIT) associate and bachelor’s degree programs is to prepare graduates to manage the health databases that keep electronic health records up-to-date and secure. HIT grads know the guidelines and practices for these systems and have the ability to operate within industry-wide regulations and standards for healthcare information. HIT focuses on the interaction of healthcare information with storage and retrieval systems. Such systems must be designed, built and maintained to insure the reliability and security of patient records. These managers oversee the technological system and must keep up with current computer and software technology as well as legislative requirements.
Our program is based on an interdisciplinary curriculum that is aligned with the multiple skillsets hiring organizations are looking for. Students are taught not only technology skills, but also critical thinking skills, communication (oral and written), facilitation, and teamwork skills, as well as a solid knowledge of medical language, regulations, and practices.
The application of computer technology to healthcare information gives this program an interdisciplinary flavor that will appeal not only to first-time college students, but also to adults with credits or experience in related fields.
All BFIT students are required to successfully complete a Career Success Seminar, typically in the semester prior to graduation.
Student Outcomes (AS and BS Programs)
Bachelor’s Degree: Upon successful completion of the bachelor’s degree in HIT, the graduate will be able to:
- Design and develop entry-level database application systems.
- Create, edit, and manipulate spreadsheets and charts to solve various problems.
- Install, maintain, upgrade and manage Windows-based operating systems.
- Design and develop websites using contemporary web design software.
- Administer computer, network and web services and security.
- Apply and integrate the basic knowledge attained in networking, computer programming, scripting, web and database technologies to develop healthcare information solutions.
- Apply knowledge of healthcare concepts and terminology to the creation and maintenance of computerized information storage and retrieval systems.
- Apply HIT communication standards, such as the HL7 messaging standard, to improve and maintain the interoperability of health information systems.
- Effectively communicate technical observations, results, issues, and successes, in both speech and writing.
- Explain the importance of HIT concepts such as meaningful use, health information exchange, and clinical decision support.
- Observe administrative, legal, and medical constraints and rules in the implementation and use of HIT systems.
- Provide entry-level computer programming and scripting to maintain and improve HIT systems.
- Recognize the need for and develop the ability to engage in lifelong learning.
- Understand mathematics, including statistics, and apply this knowledge to solve HIT related problems.
- Evaluate different HIT solutions, and as part of a capstone project, recommend the best one(s) that can effectively address identified problems facing the healthcare industry.
- Understand professional, ethical, and social responsibilities.
- Use scientific knowledge, including basic principles of physiology, to guide work in HIT.
- Understand the duties and responsibilities assigned to Health IT specialists in a real-world healthcare setting.
Associate Degree: Upon successful completion of the associate degree in HIT, the graduate will be able to:
- Design and develop entry-level database application systems.
- Create, edit, and manipulate spreadsheets and charts to solve various problems.
- Install, maintain, upgrade, and manage Windows-based operating systems.
- Design and develop websites using contemporary web design software.
- Apply and integrate the basic knowledge attained in networking, computer programming, and web and database technologies to support healthcare information solutions.
- Apply knowledge of healthcare concepts and terminology to assist users of computerized information storage and retrieval systems.
- Effectively communicate technical observations, results, issues, and successes, in both speech and writing.
- Explain the importance of HIT concepts, such as meaningful use, health information exchange, and clinical decision support.
- Observe administrative, legal, and medical constraints and rules in the implementation and use of HIT systems.
- Provide entry-level computer programming and scripting to maintain and improve HIT systems.
- Recognize the need for and develop the ability to engage in lifelong learning.
- Support the administration of computer, network, and web services and security.
- Understand mathematics at the level of college algebra and pre-calculus and apply this knowledge to solve HIT related problems.
- Understand professional, ethical, and social responsibilities.
- Use scientific knowledge, including basic principles of physiology, to guide work in HIT.
