Continuing Studies Certificate Prep Courses
The A.A.S. degree in Health Information Technology, offered jointly with Camden County College, is designed for the student seeking a professional career based in the healthcare arena. Health information technology deals with the gathering, storage, and abstraction of health data that can be transformed into meaningful and useful information utilized by various professionals for a variety of purposes.
Students educated in the field can perform various job duties and are employed in a variety of settings. Acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation facilities, insurance agencies, and pharmaceutical companies are just a sampling of employers. Positions include EHR (electronic health records) specialist, clinical data specialist, medical record coder, APC (ambulatory payment classification) coordinator, privacy officer, compliance specialist, and data quality manager.
The health information technology profession offers opportunities with a wide scope of responsibility, flexible hours, and considerable potential for growth. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA; www.ahima.org), a national professional organization with approximately 50,000 members, maintains current information regarding growth of the field, salaries, and employers.
Graduates of this program will receive a joint degree from both Camden County College and Mercer County Community College. MCCC provides courses for the first year of study; Camden offers the remaining courses (all available online) to complete program requirements.
The Health Information Technology program at Camden County College is accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), 233 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 2150, Chicago, IL 60601; 312-233-1100; www.cahiim.org
After completing a four-year degree, students may continue their education to the master’s degree level either in health information management or a related field.
The course sequence below represents a recommended example of how this degree program can be completed in two years, presuming a Fall Term start and satisfaction of all Developmental Studies (foundation courses) requirements and prerequisites. Actual approaches toward completion depend on each student's anticipated transfer institution, career objectives, or other individual circumstances.
Students are encouraged to meet regularly with an academic advisor or Success Coach to consider options, establish plans, and monitor progress.
Mercer County Community College Courses | ||
Code | Course (lecture/lab hours) | Credits |
---|---|---|
FIRST SEMESTER | ||
BIO 103 | Anatomy and Physiology I (3/3) | 4 |
ENG 101 | English Composition I (3/0) | 3 |
HPE 113 | Medical Terminology (3/0) | 3 |
IST 101 | Computer Concepts with Applications (2/2) | 3 |
SECOND SEMESTER | ||
BIO 104 | Anatomy and Physiology II (3/3) | 4 |
BUS 230 | Global Environment of Business (3/0) | 3 |
ENG 102 | English Composition II (3/0) | 3 |
MAT 200 | Statistics for Social and Health Sciences I (3/0) | 3 |
MOA 101 | Medical Ethics and Office Procedures (3/0) | 3 |
Credits Subtotal: | 29 | |
Camden County College Courses | ||
Code | Course | Credits |
SUMMER SESSION | ||
HIT 101 | Introduction to Health Information | 3 |
HIT 132 | Basic Pharmacology | 3 |
THIRD SEMESTER (Fall) | ||
HIT 110 | Health Informatics | 4 |
HIT 115 | Healthcare Reimbursement | 3 |
HIT 130 | Introduction to Ambulatory Coding | 3 |
HIT 134 | Basic Pathophysiology | 3 |
HIT 140 | Diagnostic and Procedural Coding I | 3 |
HIT 150 | Technical Practice Experience | 1 |
FOURTH SEMESTER (Spring) | ||
HIT 202 | Statistical Methods for Health Information | 3 |
HIT 215 | Advanced Ambulatory Coding | 3 |
HIT 235 | Organizational Resources, QI/PI | 4 |
HIT 240 | Diagnostic and Procedural Coding II | 4 |
HIT 220 | Professional Practice Experience | 2 |
Credits Subtotal: | 39 | |
NOTE: Courses for the first two semesters are taken at Mercer County Community College. Those for the last two – as well as two Summer courses between the first and second years of the program – are taken through Camden County College, all available online. |
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