Health Information Technology

Alfred State College offers an online associate of applied science in health information technology/medical records. Health information technology (HIT) combines a profession in health care with information technology.

Alfred State College has offered traditional HIT courses on-campus since 1968 and has offered Web-based online learning, or e-learning, courses since 1999.

HIT professionals are responsible for maintaining components of health information systems consistent with the medical, legal, accreditation and regulatory requirements of the health care delivery system. HIT professionals maintain, collect, and analyze data crucial to the delivery of quality patient care. The HIT professional compiles and reports health information data for reimbursement, facility planning, marketing, risk management, utilization management, quality assessment, and research; abstracts and codes clinical data using appropriate classification systems; and analyzes health records according to standards.

HIT professionals play a key role in the planning, implementation, and management of the electronic health record (EHR). HIT professionals are educated in the leadership and management of health information. Health information management includes paper, scanned, or electronic. The HIT professional is knowledgeable in electronic health record/electronic medical record (EHR/EMR), health information exchange (HIE), regional health information organizations (RHIOs), and the legal health record (LHR).

HIT professionals care for people's health by taking care of their health information. The HIT professional's primary function is to make sure that all the medical information collected about an individual is complete, accurate, and protected, yet, at the same time, readily available for healthcare providers when it's needed.

Professional Practice Experiences

Students complete non-paid professional practice experiences (PPEs) in the Health Information Department of an acute care facility (200 hours). PPE arrangements are made in consultation with each student so that convenient locations are selected. Students are not a substitute for paid staff during PPEs, which means they are expected to receive appropriate supervision and mentoring during completion of all tasks.

The Joint Commission 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 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 PPEs in the HIT technology program 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 PPE placement has been arranged, students are expected to contact the professional practice supervisor 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.