Health Information Technology

Health information technology (HIT) combines a profession in health care with information technology. Health information technicians maintain, collect, and analyze data crucial to the delivery of quality patient care. The HIT program offers individuals the opportunity to pursue a business-related career that is an essential part of the health care industry.

HIT-dedicated courses are offered through the Internet using instructional software that is maintained by the State University of New York. On-campus and Internet-based students complete HIT course work online, and are enrolled together in the same courses. On-campus students complete general education course requirements on the Alfred State College campus in a traditional classroom setting, and Internet-based students complete these requirements through the Internet (either at Alfred State or another college) or in a traditional classroom at a college close to home. In addition, each HIT student is assigned to an academic adviser who assists with course selection and sequencing, and serves as the student's advocate.

Internet-based course offerings are of the same quality and meet the standards of traditional on-campus courses, and they are designed and delivered to meet established course objectives.

Students complete non-paid professional practice experiences in the health information department of an acute care facility (240 hours) and two alternate care facilities (e.g., ambulatory surgery center) (40 hours), and in the quality management department of a hospital (40 hours). Practice arrangements are made in consultation with each student so that convenient locations are selected. Students are required to earn grades of at least "C" in BIOL 1114, BIOL 2214, BIOL 4403, MEDR 1132, MEDR 1133, MEDR 1114, MEDR 2112, MEDR 1213, MEDR 1214, and MEDR 3414 prior to placement in the related professional practice experience. Students must also earn grades of at least "C" in MEDR 1313, MEDR 1323, MEDR 4412, and MEDR 4514 to be eligible for graduation from the HIT program. Students are not a substitute for paid staff during professional practice experiences, which means they are expected to receive appropriate supervision and mentoring during completion of all tasks.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Hospital Accreditation Standards Manual requires hospitals to implement "a process to ensure that a person's qualifications are consistent with his/her job responsibilities." This standard "applies to staff, students and volunteers," and it further states that the hospital is responsible for verifying "the following according to law, regulation or hospital policy: information on criminal background." As such, Alfred State College students who complete professional practice experiences in the coding and reimbursement specialist and health information technology programs may be required to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement at the facility. In addition, the facility may require students to undergo a physical examination (on-site at the facility or by the student's primary care provider) prior to beginning the professional practice experience. The physical examination includes drug screening, a Tb test, and/or DTB, hepatitis B, and/or MMRV immunization or status. Students may be required to incur costs associated with the criminal background check and/or physical examination.

Once a professional practice experience placement has been arranged, students are expected to contact the professional practice supervisor (e.g., Director of Health Information Department) to arrange a schedule for attendance. Students may be required to attend an on-site orientation at the professional practice facility, which could be several days in length. Students also may be required to undergo a physical examination, either on-site at the facility or at his/her primary care provider's office. Students may be expected to incur the expense of the physical examination.