The accuracy and security of patients’ medical and insurance records are paramount in any health care institution. Therefore, it is critical to have well-educated healthcare professionals who work as health information technicians and have an in-depth understanding of the software, terminology and practices relevant to today’s medical environments.
Due to the increased use of electronic health records, this article by U.S. News and World Report reports a projected increased demand for health information technicians. The article goes on to say that earning an online associate degree in health information technology is a great way to take advantage of these growing employment opportunities. Although some positions in health information require only a high school diploma, many require at least an associate degree in a related field such as health information technology. The associate degree program assists students in preparing to work in healthcare settings with courses such as health care reimbursement methods, classification and coding systems, and medical terminology.
An Associate in Health Information Technology, or its equivalent, is an excellent place to begin to secure your place in this incredibly prudent, fiscally responsible, and sorely needed profession.
qUICK lINKS
- Best Online Schools for Associate in Health Information Technology Degrees
- Frequently Asked Questions
To pursue an advanced degree, check out: Top 15 Online Schools for Bachelor of Health Informatics Degree Programs
Also: Top 20 Online Schools for Master’s of Health Informatics Degree Program
Best Online Schools for Associate in Health Information Technology Degrees
Methodology:
When compiling the colleges and universities that made the Best Online Schools for Associate in Health Information Technology, the OnlineSchoolsCenter.com researcher/writers utilized the following criteria:
- Offers an Associate Degree in Health Information, Health Information Management, Health Information Technology, or its equivalent,
- 100% online access to coursework, instructors, and academic resources,
- Retentions rates no lower than 50%,
- A curriculum that provides knowledge and training relevant to numerous roles within the Health Information profession,
- Excellent professors who provide access to experiential learning opportunities, clinical experiences, and professionals in the field,
- And notability among academic, journalistic, and statistical resources.
For more information, please visit our Methodology Page.
MINNESOTA STATE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/CODING A.A.S.
Program Standouts:
One of the many great features of Minnesota State Community and Technical College’s online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology/Coding is that it defines and delineates the difference between technology and coding. Students learn both aspects of the profession with aplomb, and the coursework focuses each with the same amount of emphasis. Graduates are poised to take the Registered Health Information Technician certification examination and enter into the workforce immediately, or enter into a bachelor’s degree program in health care.
Campus Location: Fergus Falls, MN
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- Fundamentals of Electronic Health Records
- Health Care Data Management and Analysis
- Reimbursement Systems
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 63%
Graduation Rate: 36.1%
LEARN MORE ABOUT MINNESOTA STATE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/CODING A.A.S.
WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HIT) ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Wallace State Community College’s affordable online Health Information Technology Associate’s Degree is a top-notch program with excellent graduation and job placement rates. Students participate in small, online classes where they have enough contact with the instructor, as well as classmates with whom to learn and grow. WSCC is committed to helping students obtain jobs after graduation, and the coursework trains students to be assets in their place of work. Those who choose to pursue further education are also poised to do so.
Campus Location: Hanceville, AL
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400 - Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Sampling of Coursework:
- Diagnostics and Pharmacology
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for HIT
- HIT Legal and Ethical Issues
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 64%
Graduation Rate: 86% (Programmatic)
LEARN MORE ABOUT WALLACE STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE PROGRAM
COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
ONLINE A.S. IN HEALTH INFORMATION SCIENCE
Program Standouts:
At Columbia Southern University, the goal of the online Associate in Health Information Science is to give students a breadth of coursework wide enough to achieve specific, individual goals. The curriculum emphasizes ethical standards and the skills necessary for becoming a healthcare paraprofessional who can organize, handle, share, and secure sensitive medical records with expertise. This affordable online program also provides multiple pathways through which to earn a degree, such as the LifePace Learning Program wherein students can complete courses in as little as four weeks, or as long as four months!
Campus Location: Orange Beach, AL
Accreditation:
- Distance Education Accrediting Commission
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Sampling of Coursework:
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Health Information Documentation Management
- Medical Linguistics and Anatomy
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 50%
Graduation Rate: 43.7%
LEARN MORE ABOUT COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH INFORMATION SCIENCE
ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE
ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (H.I.T.) ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE (A.S.)DEGREE
Program Standouts:
St. Petersburg College offers an affordable online Associate in Health Information Technology degree that gives students hands-on learning experiences in hospitals or nursing homes, as well as psychiatric, rehabilitation, or assisted living facilities. The coursework fulfills training for the Registered Health Information Technician examination, as well as for transfer to a Bachelor’s Degree of the same, or a similar, nature. One of the key focus areas is the organization of resources and quality improvement, such that graduates can enter the workforce and make a positive impact in their workplace.
Campus Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400 - Commission on Accreditation fo Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Sampling of Coursework:
- Healthcare Informatics Project Management
- Electronic Health/Medical Record Systems
- Basic CPT Coding
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 33.1%
Graduation Rate: 43.7%
LEARN MORE ABOUT ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE’S ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE
DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY
HIT DEGREE ONLINE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Davenport University’s accredited online Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology is considered one of the very best in the nation by various academic resources. According to the program website, Davenport University maintains a 91% graduate satisfaction rate, which is indicative of the degree’s excellence. This well-accredited program is designed to prepare students to sit for professional examinations and obtain certification in Health Information Technology. Davenport alumni have gone on to work in hospitals, managed care organizations, insurance companies, and more.
Campus Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400 - Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Sampling of Coursework:
- Health Information Technology
- ICD Coding
- Health Care Law and Ethics
Acceptance Rate: 81.9%
Retention Rate: 73%
Graduation Rate: 25.3%
LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY’S ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM
DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
A.S. H.I.T. PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
This accredited online Health Information Technology Associate Degree from Dakota State University is one of the most well-recognized programs on this ranking. Students gather the skills necessary for careers as Health Data Analysts, Physician Practice Manager, and Clinical Coding Specialists. The curriculum prepares students for the American Health Information Management Association exam for certification technicians. Coursework also emphasizes soft skills such as organization, communication, teamwork, and leadership.
Campus Location: Madison, SD
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400 - Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
Sampling of Coursework:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology and Lab
- Revenue Cycle Management
- Health Information Management Profession
Acceptance Rate: 84.4%
Retention Rate: 72%
Graduation Rate: 36.8%
LEARN MORE ABOUT DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY’S ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE HIT PROGRAM
HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
This online school maintains Health Information Management programs that, every year, exceed the standard program pass rates across the country according to the American Health Information Management Association. There are two options for this Associate’s Degree—the general program which includes more broad coursework that applies to the profession, or the Emphasis in Cancer Registry Management, a much more specialized curriculum. Students participate in clinical experiences right in their communities while attending Hutchinson Community College entirely online.
Campus Location: Hutchinson, KS
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Concentration Options:
- General Program
- Cancer Registry Management
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 60%
Graduation Rate: 36.9%
LEARN MORE ABOUT HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT DEGREE PROGRAM
SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ONLINE AAAS IN HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEGREE PROGRAM
Program Standouts:
Shoreline Community College’s online Health Information Technology Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences degree is an extended, 92-credit program. The curriculum includes coursework and training for Medical Record Technicians, Health Information Technicians, Medical Record Supervisors, and more. SCC also provides a Health Informatics and Information Management Pre-Major, as well as a Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Certificate for those who would prefer specialization in their profession or a more specified approach to their education.
Campus Location: Shoreline, WA
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois, 60614-1413
www.hlcommission.org, (800) 621-7400
Sampling of Coursework:
- Medical Reimbursement Systems
- Legal Aspects of Health Care
- Basic ICD-10 Coding
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 62%
Graduation Rate: 36.2%
LEARN MORE ABOUT SHORELINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ONLINE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY A.A.A.S. DEGREE PROGRAM
Health Information Technology is an incredibly prudent career choice. Medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and private practices, are always in need of well-education professionals who have an understanding of the applicable practices and software. Students will learn how to use communication, organizational skills, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving to streamline patients’ medical and insurance records.
Why are Health Information Technology professionals so important for hospitals?
Before the technological era and the computerization of all medical and insurance records, there was less need for professionals specific to the field of Health Information. It was a job that could be handled by staff nurses, doctors, and assistants. However, once all records were digitized, and the sharing of patients’ information became much easier, the training of professionals specific to the discipline was of crucial importance. These individuals organize and protect medical records for a multitude of patients, and know-how to share such documents with other medical facilities properly. The security of such information is pivotal, and these professionals know how to maintain the protection that of such vital and sensitive nature.
Do Health Information Technicians have job security?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the job outlook for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians at about 8% over the next 8 years, which is faster than average. The median salary for these professionals is around $42,630 per year. That said, there is most certainly job security in this profession. You will be able to maintain a career with ease, and you will also be performing an incredibly needed service.
Will I earn more money if I have a higher degree than an Associate’s?
Absolutely. With more education, you will be able to obtain positions of higher responsibility, and that requires more leadership. Management and directorial positions will be available to those with more extensive training. The great thing about an Associate’s in Health Information Technology is that you will satisfy the general education requirements necessary for enrollment in a Bachelor’s Degree. For example, you could earn your Associate’s Degree, gain work experience, and then transfer to a Bachelor’s Degree, which could be paid for by your employer. Once you graduate, you will have access to better jobs, as well as even more solid networking connections.