This program qualifies for up to $8,000 in tuition assistance.
The Health Information Technology A.A.S. degree program prepares you for a career that places you right where the expanding arena of health care meets the cutting edge of technology. Health information technicians ensure the quality of medical records by verifying their completeness, accuracy and proper entry into computer systems. They also may use computer applications to analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs.
Registered health information technicians (RHITs) often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. The Health Information Technology A.A.S. Degree integrates medical science, ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT and HCPCS Level II coding systems, computer technology and health care management.
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be eligible to write the national registration exam given by the American Health Information Management Association. Successfully completing this exam allows graduates to earn the Registered Health Information Technician credential .
This program consists of two stackable certificates (Medical Billing and Medical Coding Specialist) and an Associates Degree.
0%
2022-23 Graduation Rate0%
2022-23 Certification exam pass rate for first-time test takers0%
2022-23 Student Satisfaction Rate$30.28
Median Hourly Pay
$62,990
Median Annual Salary
Although most health information technologists work in hospitals, you also will find them in a variety of other health care settings, including office-based physician practices, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, mental health facilities and public health agencies. In fact, employment opportunities exist for RHITs in any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms and health product vendors. Possible employment includes:
- Clinical coding specialists
- Physician practice managers
- Long-term care consultants
- Tumor registrars
- Trauma registrars
- Privacy officer
- Compliance officer
- Reimbursement specialist
Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 16% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
The following is the admission requirements and selection criteria for the Health Information Technology (A.A.S.) degree program
Admission Requirements
- A completed program admission application with all required documentation by March 1 submitted to Records Office (S111) OR electronically to the following email address: zedak@chihue.com (application and residency proof ONLY – transcripts cannot be sent electronically directly from the student)
- Proof of In-District Residency for students residing in the Moraine Valley District. This can be accomplished with a photocopy of a current Illinois Drivers License/State ID matching the address on your application and your College Record. Please see the College Catalog for additional options.
- An official high school transcript showing the date of graduation or a high school equivalency transcript.
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended, where coursework was earned that is applicable to the Health Information Technology Program.
- Academic placement results documenting the required level of placement as defined by each program.
- Proof of permanent residency or U.S. citizenship must be submitted at the time of application.
- One year of high school biology with lab, or one semester of college biology with lab, with a grade of “C” or above.
- One year of high school algebra with a grade of “C” or above. Moraine Valley course MTH-095 or above, or an equivalent a college level course at another college, with a grade of “D” or above.
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.0 based on a four-point system.
Health Requirements
In order to comply with certain state statutes and/or clinical affiliation agreements, students will be required to complete a background screening, drug screening, physical exam and several vaccinations (including COVID-19) prior to clinical placement. Deadline dates for completion of these requirements will be announced by the program's Clinical Coordinator.
Selection Criteria
Applicants for the program will be considered in the following order:
- Qualified residents of the district and residents of districts engaged in cooperative agreements who submit an HIT Admission Application and all supporting documents by March 1 of the year they plan to enroll in the program.
2. Qualified nonresidents who submit an HIT Admission Application by March 1.
3. On a space-available basis, applicants who do not meet all of the admissions requirements or the deadline may be considered after March 1.
Point System
Students will be admitted to the Health Information Technology Program through a weighted score comprised of the following: college GPA, grades, and credit hours in specified course work.
Cumulative high school GPA will be considered if no college credit has been attained.
Points for various criteria will be given according to the chart below. Students will also be required to meet the current minimum standards for admission. Students will be required to list, on the HIT Admission Application, all colleges attended.
Ties will be broken initially based on the GPA. Secondarily, the tiebreaker will be the date and time stamp of the HIT application.
Weighted Factors
|
Factor |
Max. Points |
|
GPA |
15 |
|
Success Courses |
63 |
|
Total |
78 |
|
GPA |
Points |
|
2.5-2.75 |
5 |
|
2.751-3.0 |
7 |
|
3.01-3.25 |
9 |
|
3.251-3.5 |
11 |
|
3.51-3.75 |
13 |
|
3.751-4.0 |
15 |
Success Courses
(The BIO, MTH and MRT-110 must have been completed no longer than 5 years prior to the program admission deadline.)
Choose one: BIO-115 or BIO-180 (and BIO-181 with maximum credits of 5)
Choose one: MRT-110, MRT-111, CIS-115
Choose one: MTH-109 or MTH-120 or MTH-139 or higher
or 6 points for ACT* math score of 20 or higher or 6 points for SAT* math score of 520 or higher or 6 points for placement at or above MTH-139 on placement Test.
* Please note that ACT and/or SAT scores are only valid for 18 months following the test date.
Success Course Weighting
A = 3 points X Credit hours
B = 2 points X Credit hours
C = 1 points X Credit hours
All other grades = No points
Example:
• Student has BIO-115 with an A— 3 points X 5 credit hours = 15 points
• Student has MTH-109 with a B—2 points X 2 credit hours = 4 points
• Student has MRT-110 with a B— 2 points X 3 credit hours = 6 points
Total points for success courses = 15 for BIO-115 + 4 for MTH-109 + 6 for MRT-110 = 25 Points
Re-Application
Applicants not selected for one starting class are individually responsible for reactivating and updating their application file for subsequent starting classes. Re-applicants must complete a new Health Information Technology Admission Application and submit it to the Records Office (S111) during the applicable period stated.
Graduation Requirements
- Students must earn a grade of C or better in each required career course (theory and clinical)
- Any career course over 4 years old, must be repeated
- Students must complete program within 4 years of receiving credit in MRT 111 (formal beginning of HIT program)
After graduation from the Health Information Technology A.A.S. Degree Program, students are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam given by the American Health Information Management Association.
In addition, the student will be awarded a Medical Billing Certificate and a Coding Specialist Certificate.
The Health Information Management accreditor of Moraine Valley Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Associate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2030. 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.
Full-Time Faculty
Program Coordinator
Mari Petrik, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA
petrik@chihue.com
(708) 974-5599
Clinical Coordinator
Deborah Morley, MHIIM, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P
morleyd2@chihue.com
(708) 974-5457
Christopher Wheat, MS, RHIA, CHDA, CDIP, CPHI, CCS, CCS-P
wheatc4@chihue.com
(708) 974-5529
Stackable Certificates
The 15 credit hour Medical Billing Certificate program prepares students for employment as medical billers, patient account representatives and data entry specialists. Graduates will acquire a general knowledge of the health care field with a focus on being able to understand medical diagnoses and procedures to bill accurately and ethically. Graduates can be employed by physician’s offices and clinics, medical group practices, managed care companies, insurance companies and other health care providers.
A medical biller’s job responsibilities can include health care billing, processing, adjusting and resubmitting of claims, adherence to current health care industry regulations and policies, and compliance with insurance procedures and allotted benefit coverage.
This program can be completed in as little as 2 semesters. After completion of this certificate, students may choose to continue their education and earn a Coding Specialist Certificate.
The 41 credit hour Medical Coding Specialist Certificate prepares students for a career as a medical coder. Learn how to classify medical diagnoses and procedures into ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT and Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS Level II) classifications that are used for insurance reimbursement, data quality and medical research.
Moraine Valley's program also covers basic health information management, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, insurance reimbursement and computer applications skills.
This program can be completed in as little as five semesters. After completion of this certificate, students may choose to continue their education and earn an Associate Degree in Health Information Technology, as the courses you take for the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate can be applied toward the first year of Moraine Valley's Health Information Technology A.A.S. Degree.
The Moraine Valley Community College Medical Coding Specialist program is approved by the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer-review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions to be acknowledged as offering an approved coding certificate program.
Career Connections Program
Program Details
| Program Name | Type of Credential | Curriculum Code | Department or Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Coding Specialist | Certificate | 1431 | Health Sciences |
| Health Information Technology | A.A.S. | 1244 | Health Sciences |
| Medical Billing | Certificate | 1440 | Health Sciences |
Questions?
Contact program coordinator Mari Petrik by completing this form.
