Health Information Technology
Associate of Applied Science Degree
NAU’s Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) is an excellent career choice if you see yourself working in the in-demand health care field, but not directly with patients. As a graduate of this program, it may be your job to verify the completeness and accuracy of medical records and data entry into computer systems to ensure medical record quality; to use technology to analyze for quality and efficiency of patient care; to code patient diagnoses and procedures for research or reimbursement purposes; or to work in specialized registries that maintain data for medical research.
The HIT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
Program Goals
The program will:
- Provide the knowledge to meet entry-level HIT learning competencies.
- Provide students with the fundamental knowledge to collect, analyze, and maintain health information.
- Provide students with an understanding of the ethical and regulatory issues within the health information management profession.
- Provide students with an understanding of current laws, accreditation, licensure, and certification standards related to health information.
- Provide the knowledge to apply basic skills in technology and application software to ensure appropriate use, storage and retrieval of health information.
- Provide the basic skills for coding diagnoses and procedures.
- Provide students with the necessary skills to develop oral and written communication skills.
Student Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will:
- Demonstrate knowledge to collect, analyze, and maintain health record content.
- Apply healthcare laws, regulations and ethics to the process of releasing medical information.
- Demonstrate accurate coding skills and utilization of coding software.
- Apply knowledge of accreditation and licensing standards.
- Demonstrate basic skills in performance improvement, total quality management, and quality assurance activities.
- Demonstrate skills in the entry and retrieval of health information, using an electronic record system or imaging record technology.
- Support healthcare data analysis and management using applications software.
- Use database tools to manage health data and information.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the healthcare billing and reimbursement process.
- Demonstrate skill in organizing and supporting administrative activities.
- Show proficiency in written and oral communication.
The AAS HIT program is offered through NAU Distance Learning. General education courses are offered online and at designated physical locations.
* For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who complete the program and other important information, please visit www.national.edu/disclosures.
Additional HIT Information
HIT Documentation:
- Confidentiality Agreement
- HIT Handbook Agreement
- HIT Handbook
- Academic Calendar
- Undergraduate Catalog
- MBS Bookstore
Helpful Links:
- AHIMA
- Healthcare Information Careers
- Possibilities After Graduation
- Contact the HIT Program Coordinators
Current Students visit the Student Portal for more sources of information, including:
- NAU Student Handbook
- NAU Online Library
- D2L Orientation