Accreditation
The Associate Degree Program in Health Information Technology at Athens Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIM).
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Mission Statement
The Business and Public Service Division supports the mission of the College by offering business/public service-related courses and programs that prepare students for employment or advancement in Georgia's economy.
The mission of the Health Information Technology (HIT) program is to prepare graduates to be health data stewards in their chosen field. The program is designed to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and professional integrity to become HIT practitioners who will be assets to their community and to the healthcare profession.
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Work Environment
Medical records and health information technicians work in pleasant and comfortable offices. This is one of the few health-related occupations in which there is no direct hands-on patient care. Medical records and health information technicians usually work a typical 40-hour week. Some overtime may be required. In health facilities that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, technicians may work day, evening, and night shifts. About 14 percent of technicians worked part-time in 2008.
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Nature of the Work
Medical records and health information technicians assemble patients' health information, including medical history, symptoms, examination results, diagnostic tests, treatment methods, and all other healthcare provider services. Technicians organize and manage health information data by ensuring its quality, accuracy, accessibility, and security. They regularly communicate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional information.
The increasing use of electronic health records (EHR) will continue to broaden and alter the job responsibilities of health information technicians. For example, with the use of EHRs, technicians must be familiar with EHR computer software, maintaining EHR security, and analyzing electronic data to improve healthcare information. Health information technicians use EHR software to maintain data on patient safety, patterns of disease, and disease treatment and outcome. Technicians also may assist with improving EHR software usability and may contribute to the development and maintenance of health information networks.
Medical records and health information technicians' duties vary with the size of the facility where they work. Technicians can specialize in many aspects of health information. Some medical records and health information technicians specialize in codifying patients' medical information for reimbursement purposes. Technicians who specialize in coding are called medical coders or coding specialists. Medical coders assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure by using classification systems software. The classification system determines the amount for which Medicare, Medicaid, or other insurance programs will reimburse healthcare providers. Coders may use several coding systems, such as those required for ambulatory settings, physician offices, or long-term care.
Medical records and health information technicians also may specialize in cancer registry. Cancer (or tumor) registrars maintain facility, regional, and national databases of cancer patients. Registrars review patient records and pathology reports, and assign codes for the diagnosis and treatment of different cancers and selected benign tumors. Registrars conduct annual follow-ups to track treatment, survival, and recovery. This information is used to calculate survivor rates and success rates of various types of treatment, to locate geographic areas with high incidences of certain cancers, and to identify potential participants for clinical drug trials.
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Employment
Medical records and health information technicians held about 172,500 jobs nationally in 2008. About 39 percent of jobs were in hospitals. Health information technicians work at a number of healthcare providers such as offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, and home healthcare services. Technicians also gain employment outside of healthcare facilities, such as in federal government agencies. Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 20 percent, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. Employment growth will result from the increase in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that doctors perform.
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Earnings
The median annual wage nationally of medical records and health information technicians was $30,610 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,290 and $39,490. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $50,060. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical records and health information technicians in May 2008 were:
- Federal executive branch - $42,760
- General medical and surgical hospitals - $32,600
- Nursing care facilities - $30,660
- Outpatient care centers - $29,160
- Physicians' offices - $26,210
Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition (http://www.bls.gov/oco/)
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Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the associate degree program in Health Information Technology will be able to complete the following tasks:
- Knowledge - Demonstrate factual, conceptual, and procedural knowledge of health information technology concepts through the five associate degree entry-level competencies
- Problem Solving/Critical Thinking - Demonstrate the use of critical thinking skills to identify and solve problems in discipline-specific situations
- Medical Coding - Accurately select and sequence diagnostic and procedural medical codes from routine in-patient and outpatient records based on official coding and reimbursement guidelines
- People Skills/Communication - Articulate the appropriate interaction with customers/clients and coworkers for health information technology and the healthcare field as demonstrated by internships, role plays, or other discipline-specific methods of evaluation
- Work Ethics - Demonstrate the personal and professional ethics and interpersonal skills that are expected in the workplace
- Technology - Demonstrate competency in the use of health information-related technologies by effectively participating in research, labs, demonstration labs, testing, or other discipline-specific methods of evaluation
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Essential Functions
The purpose of the essential functions list is to allow prospective students who are considering a career to be informed of the physical, emotional, and psychological demands related to training and employment in a field of study. These lists are provided to allow prospective students to make informed career choices by providing them with a summary of the physical abilities and personality traits that are generally required for the successful completion of a curriculum and result in employment in their field of study after graduation.
The tasks below are from the American Health Information Management Association's Registered Health Information Technician Domains, Sub-Domains, and Tasks and represent the program's essential functions:
Domain 1: Health Data Management
Sub-Domain A: Health Data Structure, Content, and Standards
Tasks
- Collect and maintain data sets and databases
- Conduct qualitative analysis to ensure that documentation in the health record supports the diagnosis and reflects the progress, clinical findings, and discharge status
- Comply with national patient safety goals as related to abbreviation usage
- Apply clinical vocabularies and terminologies used in the organization's health information systems
- Verify timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness of data and data sources (such as patient care, management, billing reports, and/or databases)
Sub-Domain B: Healthcare Information Requirements and Standards
Tasks
- Monitor the accuracy and completeness of the health record as defined by organizational policy, external regulations, and standards
- Perform quantitative and qualitative analyses of health records to evaluate compliance with regulations and standards
- Apply policies and procedures to assure organizational compliance with regulations and standards
Sub-Domain C: Clinical Classification
Tasks
- Use and monitor applications and work processes to support clinical classification and coding
- Apply diagnosis/procedure codes using ICD-9-CM
- Apply procedure codes using CPT/HCPCS
- Ensure accuracy of diagnostic/procedural groupings (such as APC, DRG, IPF)
- Adhere to current regulations and established guidelines in code assignment
- Validate coding accuracy using clinical information found in the health record
- Identify discrepancies between coded data and supporting documentation
Sub-Domain D: Reimbursement Methodologies
Tasks
- Apply policies and procedures for the use of clinical data required in reimbursement and prospective payment systems (PPS) in healthcare delivery (such as APC, DRG, RVU, RBRVS)
- Support accurate revenue cycle through coding
- Use established guidelines to comply with reimbursement and reporting requirements (such as National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI), Local Medical Review Policies (LMPRP)
Domain 2: Health Statistics, Biomedical Research, and Quality Management
Sub-Domain A: Healthcare Statistics and Research
Tasks
- Extract and maintain data from clinical indices, databases, and registries
- Collect, organize, and present data for administrative purposes, financial purposes, performance improvement programs, and quality management
Sub-Domain B: Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement
Tasks
- Participate in facility-wide quality assessment program
- Present data in verbal and written forms
Domain 3: Health Services Organization and Delivery
Sub-Domain A: Healthcare Delivery Systems
Tasks
- Comply with accreditation, licensure, and certification standards from government (national, state, and local levels) and private organizations (such as the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations)
- Apply policies and procedures to comply with the changing regulations among various payment systems for healthcare services such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and managed care
- Differentiate the roles of various providers and disciplines throughout the continuum of healthcare and respond to their information needs
- Understand the role of various providers and disciplines throughout the continuum of healthcare services
Sub-Domain B: Healthcare Compliance, Confidentiality, Ethical, Legal, and Privacy Issues
Tasks
- Implement the legal and regulatory requirements related to health information
- Apply regulatory policies and procedures for access and disclosure of protected health information (PHI)
- Maintain user access logs/systems to track access and disclosure of patient-identifiable data
- Identify and report privacy issues/problems
- Demonstrate and promote legal and ethical standards of practice
- Report compliance issues according to organizational policy
- Collaborate with staff to prepare the organization for accreditation, licensing, and/or certification surveys
- Implement health record documentation guidelines and provide education to staff
Domain 4: Information Technology and Systems
Sub-Domain A: Information and Communication Technologies
Tasks
- Use technology, including hardware and software, to ensure data collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and reporting of information
- Use common software in the completion of HIM processes (such as chart management, coding, release of information)
- Use specialized software applications (such as spreadsheets, databases, presentations, and e-mail) to execute work processes
- Apply policies and procedures for the use of networks, including intranet and internet applications to facilitate the electronic health record (EHR), personal health record (PHR), public health, and other administration applications
- Protect data integrity using software or hardware technology in which integrity means that data are complete, accurate, consistent, and up-to-date
Sub-Domain B: Data Storage and Retrieval
Tasks:
- Use appropriate electronic or imaging technology for data/record storage
- Maintain the integrity of patient numbering and filing systems
- Design forms, computer input screens, and other health record documentation tools
- Maintain integrity of master patient/client index/Enterprise Master Patient Index (EMPI)
- Query and generate reports using appropriate software
- Design and generate reports using appropriate software
- Coordinate, use, and maintain archival and retrieval systems for patient information (such as multiple formats)
Sub-Domain C: Data Security
Tasks:
- Apply confidentiality and security measures to protected health information (PHI)
- Apply departmental and organization data and information system security policies
- Use and summarize data compiled from audit trail
Sub-Domain D: Healthcare Information Systems
Tasks
- Collect and report data on incomplete records and timeliness of record completion
- Maintain filing and retrieval systems for health records
Domain 5: Organizational Resources
Sub-Domain A: Human Resources
Tasks
- Apply the fundamentals of team leadership
- Develop and/or contribute to strategic plans, goals and objectives for area of responsibility/responsibilities, and job descriptions
- Develop and conduct performance appraisals
- Participate in intradepartmental and interdepartmental teams and committees
- Develop and implement staff orientation and training programs
- Provide consultations, education, and training to users of health information, including internal users such as healthcare providers and administrators
- Assess, monitor, and report quality standards and productivity standards
- Perform staffing analysis to determine adequate coverage
- Prioritize job functions and activities
- Use quality improvement tools and techniques to assess, report, and improve processes
- Promote customer relations
- Apply the principles of ergonomics in work process design
- Comply with local, state, and federal regulations regarding labor relations
Sub-Domain B: Financial and Physical Resources
Tasks
- Determine and monitor resources such as staff, equipment, and supplies in order to meet workload needs
- Make recommendations for items to include in budgets
- Monitor coding and revenue cycle processes
- Recommend cost-saving and efficient means of achieving work processes and goals
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Program Expenses
The Higher Education Act requires all colleges and universities to notify students and prospective students of all program costs for which they will be responsible. Students will be responsible for the following expenses each semester (unless otherwise noted):
- Tuition ($75 per credit hour)
- Registration fee ($39)
- Student activity fees ($30)
- Accident insurance fee ($6)
- Instructional and technology supply fee ($55)
- Background check (Approximately $40 per required check)
- Malpractice insurance ($11 per year)
- Program supply fee (Varies - see course descriptions for exact amounts)
- Textbooks (Approximately $1,500 for entire program)
- Virtual Lab CD ($116)
- Physical examination (approximately $150)
- Tuberculosis test (approximately $40)
- Drug panel test (approximately $25)
- Hepatitis B series (approximately $275)
- RHIT certification examination ($299 for non-members; $229 for members)
- AHIMA student membership ($35 annually/optional)
- Criminal background check (Approximately $80)
- Malpractice insurance ($20)
These expenses are based on costs in effect at the time this catalog was published. Prices are subject to change.
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Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit the following information to the Admissions Office:
- Completed and signed application for admission and a $20 nonrefundable application fee
- Official high school or GED transcripts and/or official college transcripts from all colleges attended in the past (see General Admission Requirements)
- Valid COMPASS, ASSET, SAT, or ACT test scores (see COMPASS and ASSET Placement Tests)
Applicants to the Health Information Technology Program must meet additional requirements to receive consideration for admission to this program. Applicants must submit all required materials by May 1 of the year for Fall Semester admission or September 1 for a Spring Semester admission to the program. In addition to submitting the documentation as outlined in the section on General Admission Requirements, Health Information Technology applicants must complete the following steps by application deadline:
- Submit official transcripts showing that they earned a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in high school and on all college work attempted (applicants transferring from other colleges will not be required to submit high school transcripts if they completed a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter credit hours of study at one or more colleges)
- Submit completed and signed Intent form (blank forms are available in the Admissions Office and online at www.athenstech.edu - select Prospective Students and then Competitive Health Pgms)
- Submit appropriate Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET V) adjusted individual total score of 59 percent or greater (test scores must be less than five years old on the application date - see Selective Admission Examinations)
- Complete general core courses anatomy and physiology I and II (BIOL 2113, BIOL 2113L, BIOL 2114, and BIOL 2114L), college algebra (MATH 1111) or introduction to statistics (MATH 1127), composition and rhetoric (ENGL 1101), and introduction to computers (COMP 1000) with a minimum grade of C in each course (applicants transferring from other colleges must confirm the transferability of credit for these courses with the college's director of registration and records by the application deadline)
- Submit a signed document acknowledging that the commission of a felony before or during their enrollment in this program may prevent them from participating in practicums or externships courses, which will ultimately prevent them from completing the program and will jeopardize their ability to sit for the RHIT certification examination
- Submit a record of physical exam
- Take a PPD test
- Submit a recent copy of immunization records
- Submit to a background check
- Attend a mandatory orientation session
Although applicants must have a minimum grade of C in all prerequisite courses listed in item d, it should be noted that the prerequisite grade point average is one of the main criteria for selection in the Health Information Technology program, so grades of C are not typically competitive. The Admissions Selection Committee will accept students determined by the availability of space and ranking of applicants according to scores on the program's placement examination and prerequisite courses grade point average. Students must be in good academic standing to receive consideration for admission to this program.
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