Search
Search
Back to home page ProgramsHealth ScienceHealth Information TechnologyCourses
Printed on 4/23/2025

Health Information Technology

Apply Now Request Info
10-530-1 Associate Degree (AAS) Part Time, Full Time 61 Credits Financial Aid Eligible Location*: Online

*If general education courses are required, they may be available at multiple locations.

Want a career in the dynamic field of healthcare, but without the patient interaction? With this high-demand degree, you deal more with the patient's healthcare information than with patients. You’ll learn how to collect, code, manage and maintain the health data necessary for proper reimbursement, statistical and quality purposes. You’ll learn how to manage electronic health information in an electronic health record (EHR). You’ll train on current coding and chart management software and you’ll gain valuable field experience that will be helpful as you seek employment.

COURSE LIST

Print Page

Course list for reference only. Current students please refer to your individualized program plan or see your advisor.
**Outside effort hours are an estimate based on state standards, and may vary from person to person.

    Technical Studies (40 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Early College Credit Options
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Medical Terminology
    10-501-101
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10501101
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on the component parts of medical terms: prefixes, suffixes and word roots. Students practice formation, analysis and reconstruction of terms. Emphasis on spelling, definition and pronunciation. Introduction to operative, diagnostic, therapeutic and symptomatic terminology of all body systems, as well as systemic and surgical terminology.

  • Digital Literacy for Healthcare
    10-501-107
    2Credit
    72
    36

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10501107
    • Credits: 2.00

    The focus of this course is the use of technology in healthcare. Learners use common business software applications, including word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and databases. Communication methods using technology are addressed. Learners gain experience with using the electronic health record (EHR). Healthcare EHR security issues, social media use, and digital healthcare resources are examined.

  • Intro to Medical Reimbursement
    10-530-120
    2Credit
    54
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 10530120
    • Credits: 2.00

    Investigates key trends that impact healthcare costs and reimbursement systems, including prospective payment methods and value-based purchasing. Learners compare government and non-government payers, explore payment methods, and apply systems to maximize reimbursement. Additionally, learners will gain skills in managing claim processes and advocating for patients navigating healthcare services.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10530184 - CPT Coding (Grade of C or better required)

    • MEDICAL 10530197 - ICD Diagnosis Coding (Grade of C or better required)
  • Intro to Healthcare Data Analytics
    10-530-121
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10530121
    • Credits: 3.00

    Covers essential healthcare data analytics skills, including using statistics and database design. Students will collect and analyze data, create visualizations, and report findings. Practical exercises and real-world examples prepare students to excel in healthcare analytics.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MATH 10804135 - Quantitative Reasoning (Grade of C or better required)
  • Revenue Cycle Management
    10-530-157
    2Credit
    54
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 10530157
    • Credits: 2.00

    Develops skills in managing the revenue cycle by collaborating with teams, ensuring compliance, and applying measures to improve efficiency. Learners will evaluate coding practices for fraud and abuse, conduct audits, and handle appeals. Additionally, learners will analyze utilization data, manage the charge description master (CDM), and conduct clinical documentation improvement (CDI) activities to enhance documentation and reimbursement accuracy.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10530120 - Intro to Medical Reimbursement
  • Healthcare Law
    10-530-158
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10530158
    • Credits: 3.00

    Develops skills to maintain a legally defensible health record, differentiate between legal health records, and ensure compliance with regulations related to patient rights and confidentiality. Learners will interpret laws affecting health information, process requests for health data, and prepare records for legal proceedings. Additionally, learners will analyze organizational policies for regulatory compliance, evaluate risk management data, and recommend responses to breaches of professional ethics.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10530190 - Data Management in HIM
  • Intro to Health Informatics
    10-530-164
    3Credit
    72
    0
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 0
    • Course Number: 10530164
    • Credits: 3.00

    Emphasizes the role of information technology in healthcare through an investigation of the electronic health record (EHR), business, and health information software applications. Learners will develop skills to assist in enterprise information management and database architecture design and implementation.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • MEDICAL 10530162 - Foundations of HIM (Grade of C or better required)

    • MEDICAL 10530190 - Data Management in HIM (Grade of C or better required)
  • Intermediate Coding
    10-530-165
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10530165
    • Credits: 3.00

    Prepares learners to assign ICD and CPT/HCPCS codes supported by medical documentation and official coding guidance to support appropriate reimbursement. Learners will participate in CDI activities, including preparation of appropriate physician queries in accordance with compliance guidelines.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10530184 - CPT Coding (Grade of C or better required)

    • MEDICAL 10530197 - ICD Diagnosis Coding (Grade of C or better required)

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10530199 - ICD Procedure Coding
  • Health Information Technology Capstone
    10-530-166
    1Credit
    36
    36
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 36
    • Outside Effort Hours: 36
    • Course Number: 10530166
    • Credits: 1.00

    Explores technical skills and professional attributes desired for the HIM profession and conducts activities to assess one’s own readiness to enter the health information industry.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • MEDICAL 10530121 - Intro to Healthcare Data Analytics (Grade of C or better required)

    • MEDICAL 10530163 - Healthcare Stats and Analytics (Grade of C or better required)

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ANY of the following options:

    • MEDICAL 10530161 - Health Quality Management

    • MEDICAL 10530179 - Management & Performance Improvement
  • Management & Performance Improvement
    10-530-179
    3Credit
    72
    90
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 90
    • Course Number: 10530179
    • Credits: 3.00

    Compares management theories and leadership styles while investigating the role of the HIM Manager. Learners will conduct operational and human resource management activities and explore project management and performance improvement tools. Additionally, learners will utilize data analytics for strategic planning, evaluate performance data for trends, and report outcomes to external agencies.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10530190 - Data Management in HIM (Grade of C or better required)
  • Intro to Health Information
    10-530-180
    2Credit
    54
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 10530180
    • Credits: 2.00

    Investigates the external forces shaping the healthcare delivery system, differentiating between types of organizations across the continuum of care. Learners will explore the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare providers and the interrelationships among them, as well as the specific duties of health information professionals. Additionally, learners will demonstrate professional ethical standards and examine both paper and electronic health records.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10501107 - Digital Literacy for HC
  • Human Disease for the Health Professions
    10-530-182
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10530182
    • Credits: 3.00

    Prepares learners to interpret clinical documentation that they will encounter in a variety of healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on understanding the common disorders and diseases of each body system to include the etiology (cause), signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests and results, and medical treatments and surgical procedures.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • Student is in progress in the Program of Study of Health Information Technology (10-530-1) OR Medical Coding Specialist (31-530-2)

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10501101 - Medical Terminology

    • SCIENCE 10806177 - Gen Anatomy & Physiology OR SCIENCE 10806189 - Basic Anatomy
  • CPT Coding
    10-530-184
    3Credit
    72
    0

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 0
    • Course Number: 10530184
    • Credits: 3.00

    Prepares learners to assign CPT codes, supported by medical documentation, with entry level proficiency. Learners apply CPT instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning CPT codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10501101 - Medical Terminology (Grade of C or better required)

    AND ANY of the following options:

    • SCIENCE 10806177 - Gen Anatomy & Physiology (Grade of C or better required)

    • SCIENCE 10806189 - Basic Anatomy (Grade of C or better required)
  • Data Management in HIM
    10-530-190
    2Credit
    54
    54
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 54
    • Course Number: 10530190
    • Credits: 2.00

    Evaluates compliance with documentation requirements, comparing standards from various accreditors. Learners will perform record completion processes, including quantitative and qualitative analysis, while monitoring compliance with documentation standards. Additionally, learners will utilize secondary data sources, manage the master patient index, and apply retention and destruction policies for electronic health information. This course equips learners with essential skills for effective data management in healthcare.

    Coreq: Student has completed or is simultaneously enrolling in ANY of the following options:

    • MEDICAL 10530162 - Foundations of HIM

    • MEDICAL 10530180 - Intro to Health Information
  • ICD Diagnosis Coding
    10-530-197
    3Credit
    72
    0

    • Instructional Hours: 72
    • Outside Effort Hours: 0
    • Course Number: 10530197
    • Credits: 3.00

    Prepares students to assign ICD diagnosis codes supported by medical documentation. Students apply instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning ICD diagnosis codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10501101 - Medical Terminology (Grade of C or better required)

    ​AND ANY of the following options:

    • SCIENCE 10806177 - Gen Anatomy & Physiology (Grade of C or better required)

    • SCIENCE 10806189 - Basic Anatomy (Grade of C or better required)
  • ICD Procedure Coding
    10-530-199
    2Credit
    54
    0

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 0
    • Course Number: 10530199
    • Credits: 2.00

    Prepares students to assign ICD procedure codes supported by medical documentation with entry level proficiency. Students apply instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning ICD procedure codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    • MEDICAL 10501101 - Medical Terminology (Grade of C or better required)

    • MEDICAL 10530184 - CPT Coding (Grade of C or better required)

    AND ANY of the following options:

    • SCIENCE 10806177 - Gen Anatomy & Physiology (Grade of C or better required)

    • SCIENCE 10806189 - Basic Anatomy (Grade of C or better required)

    General Studies (18 Credits)

    Course Title
    Course Number
    Credits
    Instructional Hours
    Outside Effort Hours**
    Early College Credit Options
    Prior Learning Credit Eligibility
  • Written Communication
    10-801-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801195
    • Credits: 3.00

    Develops writing skills which include prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. A variety of writing assignments are designed to help the learner analyze audience and purpose, research and organize ideas, and format and design documents based on subject matter and content. Also develops critical reading and thinking skills through the analysis of a variety of written documents.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Oral/Interpersonal Comm
    10-801-196
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10801196
    • Credits: 3.00

    Focuses on developing effective listening techniques and verbal and nonverbal communication skills through oral presentation, group activity, and other projects. The study of self, conflict, and cultural contexts will be explored, as well as their impact on communication.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Quantitative Reasoning
    10-804-135
    3Credit
    54
    108
    N/A

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10804135
    • Credits: 3.00

    This course is intended to develop analytic reasoning and the ability to solve quantitative problems. Topics to be covered may include: construction & interpretation of graphs; descriptive statistics; geometry & spatial visualizations; math of finance; functions and modeling; probability; and logic. Appropriate use of units and dimensions, estimates, mathematical notation, and available technology will be emphasized throughout the course.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ANY of the following options:

    • Accuplacer Arithmetic 263+ OR HS GPA 2.75+ OR ACT Math 18+ OR Arithmetic Level 2 Coursework

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Basic Anatomy
    10-806-189
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10806189
    • Credits: 3.00

    Examines basic concepts of human anatomy and physiology. Learners explore the structure and function of all body systems.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Economics
    10-809-195
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809195
    • Credits: 3.00

    This course is designed to give an overview of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics. Concepts include scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment and global economic issues.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
  • Intro to Psychology
    10-809-198
    3Credit
    54
    108

    • Instructional Hours: 54
    • Outside Effort Hours: 108
    • Course Number: 10809198
    • Credits: 3.00

    This science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development.

    Prereq: Student has completed or is in process of completing ALL of the following:

    OR ALL of the following:

    • Student is not in progress in Associate Degree, Apprenticeship, or Technical Diploma (31 or 32 level)
×

Expected Competencies

For more information visit our Credit For Prior Learning page.
×

Eligible Dual Credit Course

What is Dual Credit?

FVTC courses taught at the high school by certified high school teachers. These teachers receive mentorship from FVTC faculty to ensure alignment in competencies, curriculum, and assessments.


  • Students earn both high school and college credits, with grades applying to both transcripts.
  • There is no cost to the school district or family.
  • Dual Credit course availability varies by high school based on factors such as lab space, equipment, and teacher qualifications.

Process:

As part of the annual course planning, students and families should meet with their High School Guidance Counselor to discuss future college and career goals. This conversation will help identify Dual Credit courses that best align with specific pathways.

×

Recommended Start College Now Course

What is Start College Now?

Qualified public-school juniors and seniors may enroll in college level classes at FVTC or online, if a comparable course is not offered within their district.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have parent/guardian approval.
  • Must meet all course entry requirements.
  • Must be in good academic standing with an acceptable disciplinary record.

Application Process:

Interested students should consult their High School Guidance Counselor to explore course options and complete a “Start College Now” application. Applications must be submitted to High School Counselors by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring courses. If approved by the school board, the cost is covered by the high school.

×

Eligible Dual Credit & Recommended Start College Now Course:

What is Dual Credit?

FVTC courses taught at the high school by certified high school teachers. These teachers receive mentorship from FVTC faculty to ensure alignment in competencies, curriculum, and assessments.

  • Students earn both high school and college credits, with grades applying to both transcripts.
  • There is no cost to the school district or family.

**Dual Credit course availability varies by high school based on factors such as lab space, equipment, and teacher qualifications.

What is Start College Now?

Qualified public-school juniors and seniors may enroll in college level classes at FVTC or online, if a comparable course is not offered within their district.

Student Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must have parent/guardian approval.
  • Must meet all course entry requirements.
  • Must be in good academic standing with an acceptable disciplinary record.

Application Process:

Interested students should consult their High School Guidance Counselor to explore course options and complete a “Start College Now” application. Applications must be submitted to High School Counselors by March 1st for fall courses and October 1st for spring courses. If approved by the school board, the cost is covered by the high school.

×

N/A

This course is not available for Dual Credit or Start College Now due to factors such as course rigor, necessary equipment, and prerequisite requirements.