Health Information Technology Program

Areas of Study - Degrees & Certificates  >  Health Sciences  >  Health Information Technology Program

• Admission Requirements
• Application Availability and Deadlines
• Admission Criteria: AAS Degree
• Admission Criteria: Coding Certificate
• Enrollment and Completion Requirements
• Program Awards and Curriculum

---

General Information

The Health Information Technology (HIT) associate of applied science degree is designed to prepare graduates for entry level employment as health information technicians.

Registered health information technicians perform technical medical record functions vital to the operation of the organization, including analyzing, coding, and health record evaluation. Registered health information technicians process, maintain, complete and report health information data for reimbursement, facility planning, marketing, risk management, utilization management, quality assessment and research. Graduates may be employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, health maintenance organizations, and other health care facilities.

This is faster than the average for all occupations because of rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers. Technicians will be needed to enter patient information into computer databases to comply with federal legislation mandating the use of electronic medical records.

The general education core will transfer to a variety of colleges and universities. Contact a counselor, academic advisor, or faculty member at any of the colleges/universities for specific information and to obtain the recommended sequencing of courses.

Accreditation

• The associate of applied science degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
  • Program accreditation allows AAS degree graduates to apply for certification examination to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT).
• The coding certificate is currently approved by the AHIMA Academic Affairs Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP).
  • The PCAP approval identifies coding education programs which have been evaluated by a peer review process against national minimum standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and private companies to be acknowledged as providing an approved coding certificate program.
  • IProgram accreditation allows coding certificate graduates to apply for certification examination to become a Certified Coding Associate (CCA).

General Admission Requirements:

• Background Check
• Drug Screening may be conducted by clinical site
• TB Test
• Hepatitis B
• 2 MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
• Varicella
• Program Application
• Essay Submission
• FERPA Form

Application Availability and Deadlines

• Application availability varies by program. Please refer to the program website for dates. http://www.lonestar.edu/health-information-technology-dept.htm

Admission Criteria: AAS Degree

In order to be considered for admission to the HIT program, students must meet the Texas State Initiative requirements.  Students must take the TSI Assessment unless you are exempt.  Please visit LoneStar.edu/placement-testing-info.htm#exempt for more information.  In order to be part of the program, students must be at college-level placement in reading, writing, and math.

1. Complete a Lone Star College admissions online application. To do so, please visit the Lone Star College admissions page LoneStar.edu/admissions.
2. Review the Statement of Student Responsibility. You will be required to sign and comply with this statement at all times while attending classes at Lone Star College-North Harris.
3. Ensure that you have met all the requirements for admission.
4. REQUEST OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS from all colleges you have attended and ensure that they are mailed directly to Lone Star College-North Harris Ad-missions Office, Attention: Admissions, 2700 W. W. Thorne Drive, Houston, TX 77073. Transcripts must be on file with Admissions prior to admission to the HIT program.
   Note: Effective Fall 2012 for all Health Occupations Programs, Math placement scores on Compass, ASSET, Accuplacer, and THEA will be valid for three (3) years.
5. When Steps 1 - 3 have been accomplished, submit the completed Online HIT Admission Application, or obtain and submit a paper application to the Health Information Technology Office in the Health Professions Building Suite, 200A at 17200 Red Oak Drive.
6. Submit an essay of at least 300 words discussing the following: (a) provide an overview of the health information management profession, (b) discuss a trend in healthcare or health information management profession, (c) discuss why you are interested in becoming a health information management professional and (d) discuss your plans of being successful in the program. The essay can be sent by email to Viseeta.K.Brown@LoneStar.edu,  drop it off at the Health Professions Building, Suite 200A at 17200 Red Oak Drive, or fax it to 281-943-6854.
7. Complete program FERPA form and either email it to Viseeta.K.Brown@LoneStar.edu, drop it off at the Health Professions Building, Suite 200A, at 17200 Red Oak Drive, or fax it to 281 943-6854.

Applicants seeking admission into the Health Information Technology AAS degree program must successfully complete the background check. For more information please see the HIT department webpage. A drug screen may also be required based on terms of our clinical affiliation agreement. Information on approved vendors will be provided by the program director. Students may be required to show proof of immunizations such as tetanus and MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella). Students may also be required to document negative results from a tuberculosis test. Applicants must cover the cost of the background check, immunizations and drug screen if required by clinical affiliates.

Admission Criteria: Coding Certificate

Admission to the Coding Certificate program requires completion of an application. Applicants seeking admission into this program must successfully complete the background check, for more information please see the HIT department webpage. Students may be required to show proof of immunizations such as tetanus and MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella). Students may also be required to document negative results from a tuberculosis test. Applicants must cover the cost of the background check, immunizations and drug screen if required by clinical affiliates.   

1. Complete a Lone Star College admissions online application.  To do so, please visit the Lone Star College admissions page LoneStar.edu/admissions.
2. Review the Statement of Student Responsibility. You will be required to sign and comply with this statement at all times while attending classes at LSC-North Harris.
3. Ensure that you have met all the following requirements for admission. 
4. REQUEST OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS from all colleges you have attended and ensure that they are mailed directly to LSC-North Harris Admissions Office, Attention: Admissions, 2700 W. W. Thorne Drive, Houston, TX 77073. Transcripts must be on file with Admissions prior to admission to the HIT program.
   Note: Effective Fall 2012 for all Health Occupations Programs, Math placement scores on Compass, ASSET, Accuplacer, and THEA will be valid for three (3) years
5. When Steps 1 - 3 have been accomplished, submit the completed Online HIT Admission Application, or obtain and submit a paper application to the  Health Professions Building Suite, 200A at 17200 Red Oak Drive.
6. Submit an essay of at least 300 words discussing the following: (a) provide an overview of the health information management profession, (b) discuss a trend in healthcare or health information management profession, (c) discuss why you are interested in becoming a health information management professional and (d) discuss your plans of being successful in the program. The essay can be sent by email to Viseeta.K.Brown@LoneStar.edu, drop it off at the Health Professions Building, Suite 200A at 17200 Red Oak Drive, or fax it to 281-943-6854.
7. Complete program FERPA form and either email it to Viseeta.K.Brown@LoneStar.edu, drop it off at the Health Professions Building, Suite 200A at 17200 Red Oak Drive, or fax it to 281-943-6854.

A certificate in coding prepares the technician to assign a code to a medical diagnosis or procedure. Medical coders consult classification manuals and rely on their knowledge of disease processes to assign codes. After completion of the certificate, students will be certified as a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) after successfully passing the exam administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Enrollment and Completion Requirements

• To meet graduation requirements for any of the certificate or degree programs in the health information technology department, students must attain a grade of “C” or better in each major and general education course. Courses with grades less than a “C” must be repeated. In addition, students must meet the Texas Success Initiative requirements as established by the THECB for the AAS degree. 
• Students admitted to the program will be required to pay liability insurance during the semesters involving off-campus practicums or internships.

 

By completing the program, students will earn two awards:

1. Coding Certificate, Level 2 Certificate
2. Health Information Technology, AAS

Level 2 Certificate Completed