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OUR ADVANTAGES ADD UP TO AN
The Collaborative at a Glance
Under the direction of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), the Regents Online Health Information Technology program initiative allows students to complete coursework required to obtain an AAS degree in an online format. Through extensive cooperation and collaboration among TBR community colleges, students can earn an AAS degree in Health Information Technology from:
Each institution offers the same curriculum and all courses are taught by qualified faculty from the colleges.
When you enroll as a Regents Online student, you select a “home campus” from the school choices
available to you. Your degree is awarded from the college you choose as your “home campus.” Your transcripts and diploma will not differentiate whether your courses were taken online or on campus.
Chattanooga State Community College Dyersburg State Community College Roane State Community College Volunteer State Community College Walters State Community College
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Table of Contents
Collaborative at a Glance Accreditation
Take Aim on a Healthcare Profession Program Overview
Diversity
24/7 Convenience Personalized Attention Affordability
Virtual Support Services
Hardware and Software Compatibility Sample Course Module
Application Process 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 6 7 7 7
The Tennessee Board of Regents does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its program or activity. For information regarding the non-discrimination policy, see tbr.edu/offices or call 615-366-3920. #0411.
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Accreditation – A Quality Indicator
Take Aim on a Healthcare Profession
with a Bright Future
The Health Information Technology (HIT) field is one of the few health-related occupations in which there is no direct patient care. It employs professionals who are responsible for the quality of medical or health records. Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs) often fill these positions.They have the responsibility to verify health records for completeness and accuracy and to properly input data and information into computer systems. Other duties may include: maintaining and using a variety of health information indices; special registries and storage retrieval systems; retrieving and analyzing computerized health data; and controlling the use and release of health information. Additionally, health information professionals code health records for reimbursement.To do so, they must regularly communicate with physicians to ensure accuracy, clarify diagnoses, and obtain any supplementary information needed to update a patient's file.To fulfill these responsibilities, health information technicians must
develop a broad range of clinical and technological skills, as well as knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations.
Most RHITs work in hospitals, but can also be found in a variety of other healthcare settings including office-based physician practices, nursing homes, home health agencies, mental health facilities and public health agencies. Organizations using patient data or health information such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors may also need to employ RHITs in their businesses.
Employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 20%, much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018.* Growth will result from an increase in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures combined with an aging population that requires more healthcare. Additionally, healthcare reform initiatives are focused on taking healthcare recordkeeping from a paper-based system to an electronic data management system.This national push for advanced health information technology along with the enormous need for qualified healthcare professionals makes Health Information Technology a smart career move.
*Source: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 edition published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Accreditation is a process of validation in which colleges and
universities of higher learning are evaluated. It’s an indicator that an institution or program meets standards of quality and that there is a commitment to continuously seek ways to enhance the quality of education and training provided.
All five TBR community colleges offering the Health Information Technology degree are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
The Associates of Science degree in Health Information Technology is accredited by:
Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) 233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60601-5519 Website: www.cahiim.org
CAHIIM program accreditation permits HIT graduates to take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) national credentialing exam available from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
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Health Information Technology
– Regents Online Program Overview
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program in Health Information Technology is specifically designed to prepare you for employment in maintaining health records in a variety of healthcare facility settings.
Upon graduation, you are eligible to sit for the written RHIT exam administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Experienced RHIT credential holders have solid potential for advancement to management positions, especially when combined with a Bachelor's degree. The program requires you to:
Q Successfully complete 13 semester hours of prerequisite courses prior to acceptance into the HIT program Q Successfully complete 66 semester hours (including prerequisites) of courses within four calendar years Q Participate in Professional Practice experiences at assigned healthcare facilities in your final two semesters
of study.The experiences may be simulated or “hands-on” and require face-to-face interaction with faculty and/or clinical site supervisors.
Faculty and Classroom Diversity
– A Winning Combination
As a Regents Online HIT student, you gain access to highly-qualified faculty members from both your “home campus” and other TBR colleges. For example, your Anatomy & Physiology course might be taught by a faculty member from Roane State while your Coding and Classification course is delivered by a professor from Chattanooga State. Our diverse pool of educators from across the collaborative gives you exposure to a wide range of opinions, perspectives and experiences that you might not otherwise receive in a traditional online setting.
Your online classmates are from all walks of life — a recent high school grad with sights set on a fast-track career path, a mom trying to juggle a family while working at the local hospital on the day shift, a displaced worker looking to establish roots in a new profession, or an empty nester looking to reenter the job market in a profession that can provide an additional source of income. Odds are you will find someone with work experiences and personal demands similar to your own.
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24/7 Convenience on Your Terms
The HIT program is designed to address the needs of the adult learner and working professionals through a 24/7 asynchronous online delivery model. Courses are available to you at home, at work, on the road, at the library or on vacation; any time of day or night,
including weekends. No commuting, no parking fees, no childcare arrangements, no last minute shift changes. You plan your education around your busy work and family schedule. You can register online, buy your books and visit the library anytime, anywhere!
Personalized Attention
As an HIT student, your progress will be regularly monitored, and an advisor will be available to provide advice and counsel. Your grades are evaluated at the end of each semester by the director of the program.
You must maintain a grade of “C” or better in all required courses and complete designated pre-requisite/co-requisite courses to remain in the program.
Affordability and Value
– A Wise Financial Choice
Why pay more and possibly incur significant student loan debt when you can go through Regents Online and earn an affordable education from a respected school? On a comparative basis, Regents Online courses and programs can be up to half the cost of programs offered by other online education providers
and private institutions.We even offer an e-Rate for students who are not residents of Tennessee.
For a current tuition and fee schedule, visit our website at www.rodp.org.
Your academic success is very important to us. As a Regents Online student, you have access to a wide array of support services throughout your online learning experience.
Virtual Bookstore– No more waiting in line to buy books! The Virtual Bookstore makes it easy to buy books and software online from the comfort of your home. Log on to the Virtual Bookstore website, select your course, load your shopping cart, checkout and pay with a major credit card or book voucher. It doesn’t get much easier than this!
Virtual Library– When you need to conduct research for a term paper or are interested in learning more about a specific medical disorder, our Virtual Library is open 24/7 to assist you in your search for information. Instead of spending hours in vain looking for information on the Internet, turn to the Virtual Library’s collection of online databases, journals, reference materials, eBooks, directories and streaming videos for the info you need. All of these resources are available at no cost to you. If you need help getting started, simply turn to our highly-trained librarians available via email, live chat and reference desk phone support for quick and friendly assistance.
As an HIT student, the Virtual Library provides you with access to:
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Access to Virtual Support Services
CINAHL®, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied
Health Literature database with full text.Regarded as the authoritative resource for nursing and allied health professionals, it provides indexing for almost 3,000 journals, contains more than 1,000,000 records, searchable cited references for more than 1,150 journals, and full text for 329 journals, plus legal cases, clinical innovations, critical paths, drug records, research instruments and clinical trials.
Nursing & Allied Health Collection Comprehensive databaseprovides full text for nearly 400 journals covering the areas of nursing, biomedicine, health sciences, consumer health and allied health disciplines.
Health and Wellness Resource Centerprovides instant access to nearly 400 health/medical journals, numerous reference volumes, over 700 health videos, hundreds of pamphlets and health-related articles from general interest publications in addition to a broad collection of Gale reference titles.
PubMed Centralwith over 1,500,000 articles from over 450 journals.
Getting Started – The Application Process
Application to the HIT program is a two-step process.
Take the Next Step – Point
Your Future in a New Direction
www.rodp.org/current-students/technical-support
Visit http://elearn.rodp.org/
and log in with the following credentials:
Username: guest Password: guest
Perform a Hardware and Software
Compatibility Check
If you’re concerned about how your computing resources will perform in an online learning environment, it’s easy to find out by performing a simple system check. Just visit the link shown below and you’ll find out how your system stacks up.
Try a Sample Course Module!
Not convinced that online learning is for you? Take a test drive and learn how the Desire2Learn platform delivers courses to your desktop. It’s a great way to see just how easy it is to navigate through a course.
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STEP ONE: Q Apply directly to the “home campus” of your choice and receive acceptance
as a degree seeking student in good standing
Q Obtain a grade of “C” or better in the following pre-requisite courses:
S Computer Applications
S Medical Terminology
S Introduction to Health Information Technology
S Anatomy & Physiology I
Q Students are required to obtain at least a "C" in all HIT courses to stay in the HIT program.
Q Maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher
STEP TWO: Students admitted to the program must comply with specific enrollment and retention requirements to continue in the program. Enrollment and retention criteria include, but are not limited to:
Q Satisfactory drug/alcohol screenings
Q Satisfactory criminal background check
Q Satisfactory documentation of health
Q Liability insurance coverage
Q Immunization against specified communicable diseases
Q Satisfactory performance (pass) in professional practice experiences
Q Achievement of core performance standards
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