Section IV

Health Information Technology Program

3.17.1 System Guidelines

Enrollment in the Health Information Technology Program may be limited because of available resources within the college and the community.

Technical Standards

The health information technician works to promote, maintain and improve the management of health information within health organizations. Computerization, on-going legislative reforms, information security issues, advances in medical science, and the need to contain health care costs have resulted in an increased demand for information specialists. In order to be considered for admission or to be retained in the program, all applicants should possess sufficient:

1. visual acuity, such as is needed to read and assess patient medical records;
2. auditory perception to receive and interpret verbal communication from individuals and groups;
3. gross and fine motor coordination to perform business machine, office and computer tasks;
4. communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact effectively with individuals and groups; and
5. intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement Health Information Management functions.

The college will, in compliance with KCTCS regulations and in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, endeavor to recruit students who add to the diversity of the student population in the Health Information Technology Program.

Selection of students for the Health Information Technology Program will be made by the President of the College or the President’s designee, after considering the recommendations of an Admissions Committee, which is to be appointed for this purpose. Membership on this committee shall be from the college as follows:

• Health Information Technology Program
• Coordinator Health Information Technology
• Technical Faculty Member General Education
• Faculty Members (2)
• Admissions Officer

Terms for the Health Information Technology technical faculty member and the two general education faculty members are to be two-year, staggered terms.

In order to be considered by the Admissions Committee for admission to the Health Information Technology Program, each applicant must submit the following documentation two (2) months prior to the beginning of the semester in which you are applying for admission:

1. Completed the KCTCS College’s admission application process;
2. Documentation of attendance at a Health Information Technology Program Pre- Admission Conference or an interview with the program coordinator or designee; and
3. Completion of a selective admissions form.

Applications for admission to the Program may be accepted by the Admissions Committee later than the stated dates provided that:

1. Positions are still unfilled and
2. All the required documentation has been submitted.

Preference

Preference may be given to applicants:

1. With higher than minimum scores on an ACT (or equivalent on the SAT, ASSET or other placement exam) per the respective KCTCS college’s requirements;
2. who have completed 12 or more college credit hours with a GPA of 3.0 or better (4 point scale); or
3. who have completed the medical terminology and anatomy and physiology requirements with a GPA of 2.0 or better (4 point scale);
4. who are veterans, active duty personnel, their spouses, and also displaced workers who qualify under the Trade Adjustment Act.

Advanced Placement

Students must meet the same admission standards as all other applicants to the Health Information Technology Program and placement is dependent on available resources.

A student may be granted credit by special examination for HIT 109-Clinical Classification Systems I, HIT 202-Clinical Classification Systems II and HIT 207-Clinical Classification Systems III if the following criteria are met:

1. The student has completed 12 hours within KCTCS and
2. The student:
   1. Has earned a national-level coding credential from AHIMA or AAPC.
   2. Has completed a transferrable coding course, or
   3. is currently employed as a coder.

Any student achieving a grade of “C" or greater on each special exam will be awarded credit for that course. A failure to achieve a grade of "C" or greater will require the student to take the course. Each special examination may be taken only once by the student.

Readmission

1. A student who withdraws from or earns lower than a “C” in a Health Information Technology Program core course will be dropped from the Program.
2. Application for readmission to the Health Information Technology Program must be made by the established college program deadline.
3. Readmission to the Health Information Technology Program will be dependent upon available resources.
4. In order to be considered for readmission by the Health Information Technology Program Admissions Committee, the applicant must:
   1. submit a written request to the Program Coordinator presenting documentation to justify readmission; and
   2. meet current admission guidelines.

Transfer Students

1. Students wishing to transfer from one CAHIIM-accredited program to another will be considered on an individual basis.
2. Admission will be dependent upon available resources.
3. Students must meet all program admission requirements set by the college to which transfer is sought.