Associate of Applied Science | 65 credits minimum

Allied Health Division
Jordan Campus JCHSC
Program Information (801) 957-6215
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising
Academic Advising Jordan Campus, JHS 047, (801) 957- 6407
Health Science Admissions JHS 047, (801) 957-6253

Program Faculty
Instructors - Janalynne Thorley, Ryan Carroll, Lindsay Twyman

Program Description
The program will train students in medical records and health information technology managing patients’ health information to include medical history, symptoms, examination results, diagnostic tests, treatment methods, and all other healthcare provider services. The program will expose students to the use of electronic health records/electronic medical records (EHR/EMR), computer software, EHR security, and analyzing electronic data to improve healthcare information, maintain data on patient safety, patterns of disease, disease treatment and outcome, and meaningful use protocols. The program will incorporate medical coding, including the new ICD 10 protocols, database and medical records management. The program will introduce students to the emerging technology field in healthcare and the program will prepare students to enter the workforce or continue on to a bachelor’s degree in health informatics or health information technology or management.

The Registered Health Information Technician exam can be completed by program graduates through American Health Information Management Association [AHIMA]. The proposed courses and design of curriculum align with the AHIMA standards and Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management Education {CAHIIM} standards.

Career Opportunities
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics and Utah Department of Workforce Services, employment is expected to grow 22% which is faster than average and job prospects should be very good and much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018. Technicians with a strong understanding of technology and computer software will be in particularly high demand. With the increasing use of electronic health records, more technicians will be needed to complete the new responsibilities associated with electronic data management, interoperability and data extraction.

Transfer/Articulation Information
The transfer and articulation agreements are being pursued with compatible programs at USHE institution Weber State University, Utah State University, and with Western Governors University. This program is designed for students to acquire knowledge and skills to successfully pass exam/licensure and continue further education with a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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Program Entry Requirements

ADMISSIONS PROCESS

1. If not a current SLCC student or attended in past two years, apply for college admission as a matriculated degree-seeking student.
2. High School Graduate or equivalent.
3. For transfer credit, submit OFFICIAL, SEALED transcripts for ALL colleges and universities where prerequisite course work has been completed.  
4. Also, a request to have an OFFICIAL evaluation of student’s transcript must be submitted to the SLCC Transfer Evaluation Office. This process may take 4-6 weeks and must be completed before a student’s SLCC application will be considered.
5. Complete Accuplacer exam, or submit current SAT/ACT test scores, if MATH and ENGL course work have not been transferred to SLCC, (required before you are able to register for classes that have MATH and RDG/WRTG courses as prerequisites).
6. Placement into the following courses is required in order to apply to the program:
   1. ENGL 1010
   2. MATH 1010 within a year
7. Submit completed application and required documentation.
8. Students transferring from the HIT certificate program will be able to apply the courses to the Applied Associate of Science degree. Please see the Academic Advisor for the specifics.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Complete online application for Program.
2. Proof of Immunizations; included in online application.
3. Background check through SLCC’s authorized vendor; provide confirmation number on application.

NOTE: See program website for detailed information http://www.slcc.edu/hit/admission-process.aspx

IMMUNIZATION / DRUG TESTING / BACKGROUND REQUIREMENTS

• Annual Influenza Vaccination
• PPD (tuberculosis skin test)
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella (Chicken Pox)
• Hepatitis B vaccination series
• Hepatitis A vaccination series
• Drug Testing
• Completed Criminal Background Check

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Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition per semester: www.slcc.edu/students-future/tuition-fees. Costs outside of tuition vary but may include and are not limited to: text books, travel associated with Externship.

Estimated Time to Completion
Students will follow the suggested semester schedule. The AAS HIT Program is four semesters in length with each new cohort beginning in the Fall OR Spring semester.

Program Student Learning Outcomes	Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes
	1 - Acquire substantive knowledge 2 - Communicate effectively 3 - Develop quantitative literacies 4 - Think critically & creatively 5 - Become a community engaged learner 6 - Work in professional & constructive manner 7 - Develop computer & information literacy
Health Records and Data Content 1. Collect and maintain health data. 2. Analyze health records to ensure that documentation supports the patient’s diagnosis and procedures, and reflects progress, clinical findings, and discharge status. 3. Select patient-specific documentation from other sources. 4. Apply clinical vocabularies and terminologies used in the organization’s health information systems.	1, 4, 7
Health Information Requirements and Standards 1. Evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the patient record as defined by organizational policy and external regulations and standards. 2. Assess compliance with organization-wide health record documentation guidelines. 3. Report compliance finding according to organization policy. 4. Operate in preparing the organization for accreditation, licensing and/or certification surveys.	2, 6
Clinical Classification Systems 1. Employ electronic applications to support clinical classification and coding (for example, encoders). 2. Recognize diagnosis procedures codes using ICD-9-CM official coding guidelines. a. Recognize principal diagnosis (Inpatient) or first listed diagnosis (Outpatient). b. Recognize secondary diagnosis (es), including complications and comorbidities (CC). c. Recognize principal and secondary procedure(s). 3. Recognize procedure codes using CPT coding guidelines. 4. Recognize appropriate HCPCS codes. 5. Identify discrepancies between coded data and supporting documentation. 6. Consult reference materials to facilitate code assignment.	1, 3, 7
Reimbursement Methodologies 1. Validate the data collected for appropriate reimbursement. a. Validate Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs). b. Validate Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs). 2. Comply with the National Correct Coding Initiative. 3. Validate the National and Local Coverage Determinations (NDC/LDC) for medical necessity.	3, 4, 7
Information and Communication Technologies 1. Employ computer to ensure data collection, storage, analysis and reporting of information. 2. Employ common software applications (for example, word processing; spreadsheets; e- mail) in the execution of work processes. 3. Employ specialized software in the completion of HI processes.	7
Privacy, Confidentiality, Legal, and Ethical Issues 1. Apply policies and procedures for access and disclosure of personal health information. 2. Evaluate and release patient-specific data to authorized individuals. 3. Apply ethical standards of practice. 4. Define and report privacy issues/problems. 5. Appraise data integrity and validity using software or hardware technology.	2, 5