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Welcome to Hutchinson Community College

Health Information Management - AAS

This program provides instruction and clinical experience to assist in developing the technical skills necessary to become health information technicians. Health information technicians are responsible for the preparation, coordination, security and maintenance of health records in a variety of health-care settings. A good background in English, biological sciences, as well as an aptitude for detail, will help students achieve success. Courses leading to this degree are offered on campus and online.

Careers

Each time a patient sees a health care practitioner, the health care practitioner records information, including observations, medical test results, the diagnosis and any plans for treatment. Health information technicians (HITs) organize and evaluate these records for completeness and accuracy. HITs are responsible for ensuring that all the necessary information is included in patient records, whether paper or computer. Sometimes, the technician speaks with physicians to clarify a diagnosis or to gather additional information. Technicians assign codes to each diagnosis and procedure by consulting classification manuals as well as using their knowledge of disease processes. These codes ultimately determine the payment that health care organizations receive from insurance programs and Medicare. HITs also use computers to tabulate and analyze data to help improve patient care, control costs, research legal actions and may be privacy officers. Duties vary with the size of each facility. In large facilities, technicians may specialize in one area of health information or supervise health information employees. In small facilities, the technician may perform a wide variety of tasks in the health information department.

Accreditation

Commission on the Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
233 N. Michigan Ave, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601-5800

Hutchinson Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Contact Details

Allied Health
alliedhealth@hutchcc.edu
620-665-3579
1-888-GO-HUTCH ext. 8100

Program Details

  • Admission

    Admission to Hutchinson Community College

    • Apply for admission to Hutchinson Community College as a degree seeking student.
    • Send all official transcripts to Hutchinson Community College.
    • Application to Hutchinson Community College and official transcripts must be on file to apply to the HIM program.

    Admission Criteria by Program Option

    Submit a Health Information program application (applications accepted year-round). The completion of the application is the student's responsibility.  To meet this responsibility, the student must have:

    Health Information Management (AAS) & Healthcare Coding (Certificate)

    • High school graduation with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for the last two years of high school, or
    • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for a minimum of 12 semester hours of college, or
    • Satisfactory performance on the GED.

    *Provisional admission will be granted to a student who does not meet the GPA requirement. Progression in the program will be allowed if the student earns a GPA of at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale during the first 12 credit hours.

    Health Information Management Emphasis in Cancer Registry Management (AAS)

    • High school graduation with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last two years of high school, or
    • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for a minimum of 12 semester hours of college, or
    • Satisfactory performance on the GED.

    Health Information Management Emphasis in Cancer Registry Management (Certificate)

    • Successful completion of a minimum of any Associate’s Degree in any field or the equivalent (60 college-level credits)
    • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for a minimum of 12 semester hours of college

    *Provisional admission will be granted to a student who does not meet the GPA requirement. Progression in the program will be allowed if the student earns a GPA of at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale during the first 12 credit hours.

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