Health information technology management (HIT), is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting digital and traditional medical information. The health care industry depends on electronic information systems. As health data becomes more digitized, opportunities are created for trained health information technicians with the skills and knowledge to collect, analyze, monitor, maintain and report health data according to established data quality principles, legal and information security standards and professional best-practice guidelines. The Health Information Technology program will prepare you to become an expert in patient health data management.

What Does a Health Information Technician Do?

  • Are the guardians and gatekeepers of the most important tool in modern health care – the medical record.
  • Ensure that patient's histories are accurate, complete, up-to-date, and properly entered into the clinical database.
  • Keep careful logs of patient histories, diagnoses, treatments and procedures.
  • Understand workflow in all size healthcare settings, from large hospital systems to the private physician practice.
  • Play vital roles in the daily operations of health information management and electronic health records (EHR) at almost every point in the healthcare delivery cycle.
  • Ensure an organization has the right information on hand when and where it is needed.
  • Maintain the highest standards of data integrity, confidentiality, and security.

Why Choose Health Information Technology?

  • The program is 100% online (with the exception of professional practice experience (PPE), and was created with the working adult in mind.
  • Health information technology is one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • You will become a critical member of the healthcare team.
  • No needles - you will work behind the scenes in the healthcare system without ever having direct patient care responsibilities.

See why students chose to become health information technicians by viewing real HIT/HIM stories.

  • Overview

  • Is This Program for You?

    Are you interested in the business and technology aspects of healthcare? Are you detail-oriented and enjoy science, management, law, and computers? Health Information Technology may be the career choice for you.

    Students entering the Health Information Technology program should:

    • Be interested in working in health care, but not directly with patients.
    • Be interested in business and technology.
    • Be detail oriented.
    • Have an aptitude for science, but also like management, law, and computers.
    • Enjoy working with professionals: physicians, nurses, lawyers, administrators and executives.
    • Want a career where you can choose to work on your own, with others, or some of both.
    • Have a strong knowledge of medical terminology.
    • Employ good critical thinking and communication skills.

    Program Basics

    • Associate degree.
    • All courses offered online allowing for 100% flexibility, with the exception of professional practice experiences (PPEs).
    • Financial aid is available to those that qualify.
    • August or January program start date.
    • Students must achieve a grade of C or better in each course of the program curriculum to be eligible to progress.
    • Flexible, sequenced credential training starts with a Medical Coding Specialist Certificate (first year)
    • Second year leads to Associate Degree in Health Information Technology Management.
    • Credits transferrable for a Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management.

    Related Degrees

  • Curriculum & Costs

  • Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26

    Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

    Category Amount
    Tuition and Fees $4,932
    Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,305
    Books and Supplies $1,463
    Personal Expenses $3,065
    Transportation $4,103
    Charger Tech 360 Fee $700
    Loan Fees $85
    Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $24,653
    1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,327

    Based on Wisconsin Residents.

    Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

    Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

    These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

  • Admissions & Requirements

  • Admission and Program Requirements

    • Submit Application
      • Admissions Preference Policy
      Most programs admit students as applications are completed. For certain high-enrollment programs with limited space, applications are reviewed in order of residency and review dates. Programs currently in this category include Radiography, Electrical Power Distribution, Midwifery, Cosmetology, and Nail Technician. Learn more about our Admissions and Wait List Policy.

    Academic Preparedness Requirements

      Log in to your MySWTC account, go to My Profile → Document Center → All Programs to complete the following:

    • Send your transcripts and scores to Southwest Tech: While not required, sending your transcripts and test scores helps us make sure your classes are the right fit. We consider any previous college credit you’ve earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit your high school transcripts, college transcripts, and test scores by emailing admissions@swtc.edu, or mailing them to Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
    • Career Assessment Plan
      Start your Student Success Plan by exploring your career interests, talking through your program choice, and confirming your path feels like the right fit. This step can be completed either by setting up a One-on-One Career Assessment Meeting with a recruiter or as part of your Student Success Plan Meeting with an advisor. Schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.
    • Academic Map + Supports & Services Plan
      Continue building your Student Success Plan by planning your courses, reviewing funding options, and connecting with resources. To complete this step, schedule a Student Success Plan Meeting by clicking “Make an appointment” with your program advisor.
  • Career Opportunities

  • Employment opportunities for Health Information Technology include:

    All health care facilities such as: hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, surgery centers, insurance companies, consulting companies, government agencies, computer software companies and other health care settings. Possible employment for program graduates may include:

    • Outpatient Coder
    • Inpatient Coder
    • Medical Coding Specialist
    • Coding Analyst
    • Claims Analyst
    • Patient Care Coordinators
    • Patient Registrar
    • Benefits Coordinator
    • Medical Biller
    • Collections Clerk
    • Insurance Claims Clerk
    • Customer Service Representatives
    • HIM Revenue Cycle Auditors
    • Document and Coding Specialists
    • Coding Specialist
    • Health Information Technicians
    • Medical Office Administrators
    • Clinical Data Analyst
    • Compliance Auditors

    Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

  • Transfers
  • Prior Learning

  • Credit for Prior Learning

    Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

    Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

    For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

    At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

    Health Information Technology Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

    Course # Course Title
    Challenge Exam
    (Demonstration)
    Challenge Exam
    (Standard)
    CLEP
    Credential
    Portfolio
    10-501-101Medical TerminologyYes
    Available online
    10-501-107Digital Literacy for HealthcareYes
    10-530-161Health Quality ManagementYes
    10-530-162Foundations of HIMYes
    Challenge exam not available for Cancer Information Management program.
    10-530-163Healthcare Stats and AnalyticsYes
    10-530-164Intro to Health InformaticsYes
    10-530-165Intermediate CodingYes
    10-530-167Management of HIM ResourcesYes
    10-530-178Healthcare Law & EthicsYes
    10-530-182Human Diseases for Hlth ProfesYes
    10-530-184CPT CodingYes
    Current Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Coding Specialist - Physician Based (CCS-P)
    10-530-197ICD Diagnosis CodingYes
    Current International Classification of Diseases - 10 (ICD-10), Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
    10-530-199ICD Procedure CodingYes
    International Classification of Diseases - 10 (ICD-10) or Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
    10-801-136English Composition 1Yes
    CLEP Test - College Composition
    10-801-196Oral/Interpersonal CommunicationYes
    10-809-196Introduction to SociologyYes
    10-809-198Introduction to PsychologyYes
    CLEP Test - Introduction to Psychology

Outcomes

Program Outcomes

  • Apply data governance principles to ensure the quality of health data
  • Apply coding and reimbursement systems
  • Model professional behaviors and ethics
  • Apply informatics and analytics in data use
  • Apply organizational management techniques

Health Information Technology Student Achievement Data

Student achievement/outcomes (2021-2022)

Employment in related field:
90% of graduates were employed in related field for 2021-2022.
Retention Rates:
62.5% retention rate for students.
Course Completion Rate:
57% (in normal time for program completion, 24 months for Full Time students or 30 months for Part Time students)

Respectfully submitted by:

Jennifer Lame', MPH, RHIT – HIT Program Director
Kim Maier, Executive Dean

Revised April, 2023

Accreditation

CAAHIM accreditation seal The Health Information Technician program accreditor of Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for Associate degree in Health Information Technician has been reaffirmed through 2028-2029. 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.