Health Information Technology
Information is the lifeblood of the healthcare system — and healthcare facilities and practices need personnel who can help manage sensitive patient information in records and documents while observing government-mandated privacy rules and regulations.
If you’re a responsible individual who respects privacy, works and communicates well with others, and has strong analytical and technical skills, consider our Health Information Technology program. It can provide you with a pathway to a rewarding career in the healthcare system by preparing you for a number of possible careers. Possible roles include health information technician, medical coder, informatics analyst, and healthcare information manager.
Take the first step toward a rewarding career and make it happen with the Health Information Technology program.
Students at any Maricopa Community College may need to complete courses at more than one of our colleges.
| Health Information Technology |
| Health Information: Long Term Care Settings |
Phoenix College's Health Information Technology (HIT) program offers classes covering everything from the legal and ethical aspects of health information management to health care statistics and data analytics.
PC’s health sciences students taking HIT courses may then choose from two tracks — management in health data or revenue cycle.
Health Information Technicians are experts in acquiring, analyzing, and protecting health information. They ensure health records and information is complete, accurate, and protected.
Responsibilities of a health information technician may include:
- Analyzes health data and records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance
- Protects the security of health information to ensure confidentiality and proper release of information
- Utilizes health information applications and systems for compiling, analyzing, researching, and reporting health data
- Codes and abstracts clinical information for billing, reimbursement, reporting, and compliance purposes
The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIM) accredits the Health Information Technology program offered by Phoenix College.
Phoenix College HIT program graduates are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam. This exam is offered through the American Health Information Management Association and is highly recommended for broader employment opportunities.
Instructional Modalities
The program provides theoretical and practical laboratory instruction in the classroom and professional practice experience in various health care environments. The HIM program at Phoenix College is entirely virtual. Health information management courses are offered in online, virtual meeting, and virtual hybrid format. Online courses are instructor-facilitated courses that do not require virtual meeting sessions.
Virtual meeting courses are instructor-facilitated courses that require students to attend weekly virtual meetings on a specific day and time. Hybrid virtual meeting courses are instructor-facilitated courses that require students to attend virtual meetings on a bi-weekly or alternative meeting schedule on a specific day and time.
All virtual sessions begin in the evening after 6 pm. However, professional practice experience (PPE) or externship hours must be completed during the day between the hours of 7 am-5 pm. PPE placement and schedules vary for each student. Students may have to complete their PPE at a local facility.
Program Accreditation
The Health Information Technology program accreditor of Phoenix College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
The College’s accreditation for the Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology has been reaffirmed through 2021. 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.
Phoenix College HIT program graduates are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam. This exam is offered through the American Health Information Management Association and is highly recommended for broader employment opportunities.
Program Outcome
2022 Completion Rate
The completion rate for 2022 was 61%.
2022 Employment Rate
The graduate employment rate for 2022 was 70%.
RHIT EXAM PASS RATE OVER LAST THREE (3) YEARS
|
Year |
PC First Time Testers #pass/#take |
PC First Time Testers Pass Rate |
National First Time Testers Pass Rate |
| 8/1/21-7/31/22 | 5/5 | 100% | 68% |
|
8/1/20-7/31/21 |
5/5 |
100% |
70% |
|
8/1/19 - 7/31/20 |
9/10 |
90% |
Not Available |
|
8/1/18 - 7/31/19 |
7/9 |
78% |
75% |
Next Steps
Discuss your course load with the academic advisor for the program, Emily Smith, inside the Hannelly Enrollment Center (HC) at our historic, centrally located campus. Future students may contact the program director, Sherlyn Celaya or Emily Smith, for more information.