Health Information Technology is a two-year, Associate in Applied Science degree program, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Degree courses are strategically aligned to build upon each other to maximize learning. Coursework includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology. Students will apply their classwork in medical coding classes when they review medical documentation and assign codes. From there, students will learn about the revenue cycle healthcare reimbursement and important aspects of healthcare law, compliance and leadership. The program culminates with a capstone course in which students apply their classroom learning to a 40-hour professional practicum experience.
After completing required HIT courses and upon graduation, students are eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credentialing exam awarded by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This is a nationally recognized credential award that is highly sought by employers across the country.
This program is closely aligned with the Physician Coding and Medical Billing programs at College of DuPage.
Admission Information
Enrollment in the HIT program is first-come-first-serve registration only. You must follow specific admissions requirements outlined in the Health Information Technology Registration Packet to register.
First Step to Apply - Attend an Advising Session
About Health Information Technology
Health Information Technology is part of the larger field of Health Information Management (HIM). The field of HIM combines business, technology and medicine to provide patient care by caring for patient’s health information.
Health Information professionals organize, oversee and protect patient health information data including diagnoses, medical histories, procedures and serve as an essential link between physicians, patients and insurance companies. It’s easy to forget that healthcare is a business and HIM professionals are critical to the financial success of any organization.
Health Information Management is an vital function of the health care and one of the few health-related occupations that does not require direct patient care. If you are interested in healthcare but not patient care, HIM is a great choice. Another thing to consider is the number of different jobs you can do with this degree.
Determine Your Path
Health information technologists are able to work remotely and do not work directly with patients. The field is in high demand by a variety of healthcare employers. Graduates work for hospitals, physicians, insurance companies, health product companies, public health agencies or in consulting.
Whether you are preparing for a career in health information technology, planning to transfer to a four-year college or university or updating your skills, COD offers:
- Dedicated instructors with years of practical industry experience, certification, and licensing.
- Practical, hands-on experience as well as classroom-based studies.
- Affordable programs that get you on the fast track to success without breaking the bank.
Health Information Technology
The Health Information Technology Associate in Applied Science degree program integrates healthcare data collection processes, clinical classification systems, clinical documentation and computer technology.
The HIT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The Health Information Technology accreditor of College of DuPage is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the associate degree in Health Information Technology has been reaffirmed through 2023. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
Graduation Rate
| Admitting Cohort Started HIT program | Graduation Rate of Same Cohort |
|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | 67% |
Student Satisfaction Rate
| Started HIT program | Satisfaction Rate After Completion of HIT program |
|---|---|
| Fall 2018 | 100% - Spring 2020 |
Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) Examination Pass Rate
(for first-time test takers)
| Testing Date Range | Pass Rate |
|---|---|
| 8/8/22 to 7/31/23 | 44% |
Get Started Today
The first step to getting started in the Health Information Technology program is to review the registration packet. The packet contains a checklist that you will need to follow in order to be eligible for registration.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
College of DuPage has several health information technology transfer agreements in place with four-year colleges and universities to save you time, money and make the transfer process easier.
Many of these agreements with other colleges and universities have specific course requirements and a pre-determined course plan that needs to be followed to be eligible to transfer. Contact a program faculty member or academic advisor to learn more as course requirements vary by institution.
Career Information
Explore careers based on your interest, location and salary range or view top occupations by income.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your frequently asked questions regarding the Health Information Technology program.
Healthcare is constantly evolving both with care delivery and technology. Students must be computer literate, detail-oriented, self-starters and possess strong critical thinking skills. Students need to have an interest in medicine and business and plan to be a lifelong learner. HIT students are rewarded with a prosperous career.
Health Information Management (HIM) professionals work for hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, mental health facilities, insurance companies, consulting firms, government, research, law firms and public health agencies. As more large retailers such as Walmart, Amazon and CVS enter the healthcare space, they will need HIM professionals.
Industry experts estimate there are between 250-300 different job titles listed that require an RHIT credential. HIT professionals work in medical coding, release of information, privacy, data analytics, claims, auditing, compliance, consulting and policy making. The possibilities are virtually endless.
Health Information Management professionals can work from home. Many HIM companies prefer their employees work from home. Over 70% of the HIM workforce works remotely and this trend is expected to continue.
The HIT program classes are a combination of face-to-face and online classes.
