Health Information Technology

This outline covers all four semesters of your at-home degree program. You will receive credit for previous college course work if you meet Penn Foster College standards. If you wish to receive credit for previous course work, contact the college you attended and ask that your transcripts be forwarded to Penn Foster College for evaluation. There is a non-refundable transcript processing fee of $30. All previous college work must have been completed with a grade of "C" or better, and as much as 50% of the required credits may be transferred. We will also credit your tuition for all the courses that are acceptable.

System Requirements
You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later, capable of running Microsoft® Office 2007. You'll also need Internet access to complete portions of this program.

Online Library and Librarian
Students at Penn Foster College have access to an online library during their college studies. Students can use the library to do the required course research or for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and will assist students in research activities.

SEMESTER ONE

Basic Skills Assessment All degree applicants are required to complete two Basic Skills Assessments, one in reading and one in math, to determine the level of readiness for beginning their selected program. Additional studies may be required. HIT100 — Introduction to Allied Health (1 credit) This course is an introduction to health care, health information management, and the role of health information technicians in the world of allied health. The course provides an overview of the history of medicine and documentation, health care reimbursement, technology applications in health care, professional skills and professional organizations. ENG103 — Information Literacy (1 credit) Teaches students to become effective in finding and utilizing information at libraries and other information centers, and through electronic resources available in libraries and on the Web. HIT105 — Law and Ethics in Medicine (3 credits) Legal and ethical issues in the delivery of health care are presented. A grounding in the parts of tort and contract law that affect health-care delivery is set forth along with broad ideas concerning the functioning of the legal system. Special attention is given to confidentiality, privileged communications, informed consent, the elements of and defenses against malpractice, legal and practical issues commonly encountered by medical assistants, end-of-life and beginning-of-life legal and ethical issues, and the effect of managed care on ethical issues faced by health-care practitioners. (Required textbook provided with the course.) ENG100 — English Composition (3 credits) Writing difficulties; grammar review (sentences, parts of speech, punctuation marks, and paragraphs); defining unfamiliar terms; finding ideas through freewriting and brainstorming; organizing ideas; principles of revising and editing; figures of speech; writing for the senses; getting the reader's attention; descriptive writing; first-person narratives; reflective and persuasive essays; thesis statements. (Required textbook provided with the course.) MAT106 — Mathematics for Business and Finance (3 credits) Percentages; discounts; interest; present worth; sinking funds; installment buying; pricing; depreciation; investments; insurance; use of symbols and their applications; equations and formulas; importance of statistics. (Required textbook provided with the course.) HIT107— Medical Terminology (3 credits) The development of a vocabulary used in medicine by acquiring skills to pronounce, define, and spell terms. Students will analyze and interpret medical reports related to specific body systems. (Required textbook provided with the course.) SCI120 — Introduction to Biology (3 credits) An introductory course that explains the origin of life and the relationship between all living things. It describes how a significant number of organisms are structured and how they work, in order to enable students to discuss intelligently the various forms of life and their processes. (Required textbook provided with the course.) Proctored Examination*

BACK TO TOP

SEMESTER TWO

HIT109 — The Confidentiality of Health Information (3 credits)
Ethical and legal rules concerning the confidentiality of health information is presented with particular emphasis on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Background material will include operation of the legal system and principles of legal liability.

HIT113 — Medical Information Management and Office Practice (3 credits)
The development of organization, record storage, information management, and office administration skills.

SCI140 — Nutrition (3 credits)
Personal decision-making about nutrition; nutrition science; water; exercise; human growth and aging; safety of the food supply; the global view.

CSC103 — Introduction to Computers (3 credits)
Hardware and software; computer networks; information systems; personal computer systems; legal and ethical dilemmas. Software applications include creating a resume, spreadsheet, and slide presentation.

SCI135 — Anatomy and Physiology 1 (3 credits)
The anatomy and physiology of the human body is presented as an integrated science. Each major body system is described and analyzed to illustrate normal function as well as pathology. Topics include basic biochemical elements, skin, bone, muscles, the nervous system, the senses, and the endocrine system.

HIT115 — Reimbursement Methodologies (1 credit)
This course is designed to introduce the health information technology student to major reimbursement systems in the United States. Focus is on prospective payment system, third party payers, and billing and insurance procedures. The course also covers additional information including prepaid health plans, fee-for-service methodologies, chargemasters, fee schedules, and managed care.

Proctored Examination*

SEMESTER THREE

SCI136 — Anatomy and Physiology 2 (3 credits)
A continuation of Anatomy and Physiology 1. Topics include the cardiovascular system, the lymphatic system, immunity and infection control, respiration, digestion, nutrition, the urinary system, reproduction, and genetics.

HIT201 — Quality Management/Performance Improvement (2 credits)
This course is designed to introduce the health information technology student to principals of clinical quality management and performance improvement in the health-care industry. Focus is on standards and implementation of quality programs and principals and concepts of performance improvement. The course also covers additional areas such as utilization management, risk management, and tools and techniques used in performance improvement and quality management.

SSC130 — Essentials of Psychology (3 credits)
Biology and behavior; consciousness; memory; thought and language; intelligence; personality and gender; stress; community influences.

HIT203 — Medical Coding 1 (3 credits)
The basics of coding, exploration of the ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals, examination of specialty areas such as cardiology and obstetrics/gynecology, radiology, pathology, and laboratory work.

HIT207 — Medical Transcription 1 (3 credits)
An introduction to the technical and legal aspects of medical transcription, as well as career opportunities available in the field. The student will begin to transcribe and format various types of medical records.

HIT204 — Medical Coding 2 (3 credits)
The Medical Coding 2 course utilizes the application of the CPT and ICD-9-CM classification systems to code diagnoses and procedures.

Proctored Examination*

SEMESTER FOUR

HIT208 — Medical Transcription 2 (3 credits)
Medical Transcription 2 will direct the student on the use of various types of medical transcription, with an emphasis on increasing speed, accuracy and formatting of reports. This course bridges the gap between Medical Transcription 1, with easy-to-understand dictation, and the harder-to-understand, difficult dictation of the work environment. Medical Transcription 2 will provide the student with the skills necessary to complete complex reports within the major medical specialties.

HIT290 — Practicum in Health Information Technology (4 credits)
A comprehensive overview designed to prepare the Health Information Technology student to perform functions and demonstrate competencies related to health information services in a variety of settings. Students will be tested on health information knowledge, perform project and research work, practice skills, and gain clinical work place experience in a variety of settings under the supervision of a clinical practice supervisor.

BUS105 — Customer Service (1 credit)
Customer service is presented as an integral part of any career, in terms of understanding what customer service encompasses and why it is essential, recognizing, understanding and meeting customer’s needs, and communicating with customers, including verbal and nonverbal messages, active listening skills, dealing with hostility and necessary skills in various mediums such as Internet and telephone.

HIT209 — Department Management (2 credits)
Presents the management and supervisory functions and skills of a health information management department. Focus is on fundamentals of management, basic management functions, principals of supervision, and supervision of specific health information management functions. The course also covers organizational structure, human resources management, staff development, and management budgeting and finance functions.

HIT210— Healthcare Statistics (3 credits)

General Education Elective (choose one) (3 credits)

ENG115 — Introduction to Literature
Reading and analysis of the main genres of literature; poetry, fiction and drama; themes and forms of literature.

HUM102 — Art Appreciation
Artistic media; historical periods and artistic movements; roles of the artist and the viewer; art criticism.

HUM104 — Music Appreciation
Appreciating music; roles of composer and listener; principles of music theory and instrumentation; historical periods; varying styles of music.

Proctored Examination*

*This program requires the student to enroll in a practicum in Semester Four.

* As a degree candidate, you will take a proctored examination at the end of each semester. We make it easy because you pick the location and the person you want to supervise the examination, as long as Penn Foster College established policy and qualifications are met. Complete information packets, with procedures, will be provided well in advance, before completion of final semester coursework.We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

Note: Advanced standing student shipments may vary from the above schedule.


A High School Diploma or GED is required to enroll in this degree program. Although this outline covers all four semesters of the Health Information Technology Degree Program, you receive lesson materials for each semester as you enroll.

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

IBM is a trademark of IBM Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.