Program Accreditation & Licensure
The HIS cluster of programs includes program options leading to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and five Certificates of Completion (CC) in various fields relating to health information and documentation.
Associate of Applied Science Program Options (AAS)
The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) (www.cahiim.org).
The AAS degree option in HIT prepares students as a Health Information Technician (HIT), and graduates will be eligible to write the national accreditation examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) (www.ahima.org). Successful completion of this examination will lead to credentialing as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
Certificate of Completion Program Options
Five Certificate of Completion program options follow model curricula in coding from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) (www.ahima.org) and in medical transcription from the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) (www.ahdionline.org).
Coding Program Options
The Documentation Coding Specialist Certificate of Completion program option prepares students for coding inpatient records or coding the hospital portion of ambulatory surgery and emergency care. Completers of the Documentation Coding Specialist certificate program option will be prepared to write the national certifying examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for credentialing as a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and/or Certified Coding Specialist Physician Based (CCS-P).
The Coding Specialist Certificate of Completion program option prepares students for entry-level coding in a doctor's office, clinic, or similar setting. Completers of the Coding Specialist certificate program option will be eligible for employment as an entry-level coding specialist in various healthcare setting and will also be prepared to write the national certifying examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for credentialing as a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
The Health Information Specialist Certificate of Completion program option prepares students for entry-level employment in clerical positions associated with health information in various healthcare settings.
Medical Transcription Program Options
The General Medical Transcriptionist Certificate of Completion program option prepares students for intermediate level transcription positions. Completers of the General Medical Transcriptionist certificate program option will be prepared for employment as a medical transcriptionist in various healthcare setting, such as hospitals, contract services, and self-employment. Students may also consider pursuit of the national credentialing examination administered by the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI ) (www.ahdionline.org) as a Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT) and, after two years’ experience, a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) .
The Specialty Medical Transcriptionist Certificate of Completion program option prepares students for entry level medical transcription positions. Completers of the Specialty Medical Transcriptionist certificate program option will be prepared for employment as an entry level medical transcriptionist in various healthcare settings, such as specialty clinics and physician's offices. Students may also consider pursuit of the national credentialing examination administered by the Association of Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI) (www.ahdionline.org) as Registered Medical Transcriptionist (RMT).
Clinical Learning Experiences & Facilities
Selected learning experiences in one or more healthcare agencies are planned for students as an important phase of the curriculum in some program options. Memorandum of Agreement is in place with various community/major clinical facilities as clinical site affiliations.
Additional information on each program option is available with the Curriculum & Course listing page. Additional information on professional credentialing options are available with professional organizations cited above.
Admission & Prerequisite Requirements
Students electing to major in a Health Information System (HIS) program must meet all admission requirements previously noted for acceptance to St. Philip's College at the college level.
See SPC Admission Requirements
All students must also meet and/or complete the following prerequisites:
- 12th grade reading, writing, and math (AAS option only)
- HITT 1305 Medical Terminology I (with grade of C or higher)
- BIOL 2404 Human Anatomy and Physiology (with grade of C or higher) (or equivalent of BIOL 2401/2402)
See Allied Health Department Quick Reference Checklist.
Additional criteria and prerequisites have also been established for some HIS program options. These include the following additional requirements for noted program options:
- General Medical Transcriptionist CC = keyboarding speed of 50+wpm
- Specialty Medical Transcriptionist CC = keyboarding speed of 50+wpm
See HIS Curriculum & Course Listing program option information.
All students must complete and submit the separate Allied Health Application Process for consideration for admission to the selected HIS program option (see below for application process & requirements).
Applications for admission to any Health Information Systems (HIS) program option are accepted throughout the year by the Allied Health Student Advisor and/or HIS Program Director.
Application & Selection Process
Students electing to major in any of the Health Information Systems (HIS) program options must first meet previously noted St. Philip's College admission requirements at the college level.
Students must also meet the admission requirements and complete the application process for admission to any program in the Allied Health Department. Students must submit the separate Allied Health Application to request consideration for admission to the selected HIS program option prior to enrollment in any HIS program course.
Applications for admission to any Health Information Systems (HIS) program option are accepted throughout the year. Some program options accept new students every semester, and some program option accept only once every academic year.
It is recommended students submit a completed application packet once prerequisites have been completed (or almost completed) for consideration for the next available beginning class.
Applications for students who have NOT completed all HIS prerequisites are accepted, reviewed, and processed by the Allied Health Student Advisor. Once prerequisites have been complete, application packets will be forwarded to the HIS Program Director by the Allied Health Student Advisor.
Applications for students who have completed all HIS prerequisites are reviewed and processed by the HIS Program Director and/or Faculty at the end of every Fall and Spring semester for consideration for the next available beginning class. All applicants will be notified of acceptance or non-acceptance into the program option applied for.
Students notified of acceptance into an HIS program option will be requested to review the HIS Student Handbook program policies and guidelines and respond to acceptance letter as requested.
Students not accepted in an HIS program will be notified of reasons for non-acceptance and, if appropriate, provided an opportunity for correction of unacceptable application elements or requirements.
Before final acceptance in any HIS program option, all students notified of acceptance will be required to provide documentation of the following items prior to enrollment into the first semester of the program or prior to the beginning of the first clinical rotation:
- cleared criminal background check
- cleared drug screening
- completed required immunizations