Degree Overview: Associate in Business Administration (A.B.A.) Degree in Health Information Technology
Majors Overview June 17, 2014The field of healthcare requires trained staff to utilize information processing techniques and several software applications to process and analyze medical records. Graduates of Associate in Business Administration degree programs in Health Information Technology will be immediately prepared for careers as medical records management professionals.
Associate in Business Administration (A.B.A.) Degree Programs in Health Information Technology
Health Information Technology programs culminating in Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are more commonly offered by schools; however, students seeking careers involving management of information in a healthcare setting would benefit most from enrolling into Associate in Business Administration (A.B.A.) degree programs in Health Information Technology.
The primary focus of programs may be on healthcare administration, health information processing, or insurance claims management. Background experience in clinical topics is gained by students, which makes them adept at managing data and records. The program strongly emphasizes medical office procedures and the entailing computer applications and software needed in order to record and process information regarding patients.
Admission criteria in ABA programs in Health Information Technology and related disciplines typically require applicants to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma.
Coursework
Coursework includes classes related to clinical experience devised to make students adept in analyzing medical record content apart from a series of courses on office procedures and business administration. Coursework in an ABA degree program may include topic areas such as those listed below:
•Accounting
•Medical record coding
•Healthcare law
•Anatomy and physiology
•Medical terminology
•Computer software applications
•Medical office procedures
•Health information processing
Career Choices
Graduates of Health Information Technology ABA degree programs are trained in various healthcare office administration and medical records processing careers; the program coursework focuses on how to record, code, process, and manage patient records in different healthcare environments. Graduates may choose from several career titles, such as:
•Medical coder
•Insurance clerk
•Medical record technician
•Health information clerk
Continuing Education Choices
Medical records specialists and medical records technicians can increase their career prospects with an associate’s degree supplemented by professional certification (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)).
Such certification is offered through healthcare industry professional organizations. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential. The credential will be awarded to those that have acquired accredited associate’s degrees and have passed the certification exam.
There are also specialized certifications offered to cancer registrars and medical coders (BLS). Some associate’s degree graduates may also pursue advanced education by earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree that could increase their career opportunities by training them to seek management positions in the health information management field.
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