Health Information Technology Program

Health Information Technology (HIT) Program Mission

The Bakersfield College HIT Program's mission is to provide students from diverse economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds the lower division course requirements needed for students to obtain an Associate of Science degree in Health Information Technology while providing progressive, comprehensive, and high-quality courses to prepare students for an impactful future in the health information profession, assure both academic and personal growth, and promote life-long learning and the pursuit of advanced learning opportunities.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Apply the knowledge and skills needed to perform Health Information Technology Associate Degree entry-level competencies as defined by the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Council for Excellence in Education (CEE).
Apply the knowledge and skills needed to successfully pass the national Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam.
Compete in the job market in the field of health information technology or enroll in an advanced degree program.
Demonstrate the ability to work effectively as an individual and collaboratively in a group to resolve health information challenges in a changing healthcare environment.

Program Effectiveness

2021/2022 Outcomes

RHIT Certification Exam Pass Rate: 100%
Graduation Rate: 100% of students graduated within 150% of the advertised time to graduate from the HIT program
Employment Rate: 87% of graduates from the HIT program were employed in healthcare within one year of graduation
Graduate Program Satisfaction Rate: 100%

2020/2021 Outcomes

RHIT Exam Pass Rate: N/A
Graduate Satisfaction Rate 90%
Employment Rate: 100%
Student Retention Rate: 86%
Graduation Rate: 100% of students graduated within 150% of the advertised time to graduate from the HIT program.

Program Overview

The Health Information Technology Associate in Science (A.S.) degree at Bakersfield College is a two-year 100% ONLINE program that prepares you to go directly into a specialized career in medical records – now known as Health Information Management.

Health information professionals play a critical role in health care—even though they rarely interact with patients. Every time you hear a health statistic on the news, read a doctor’s diagnosis in your medical record or use your health insurance card, you can be sure a Health information technician has played a part. Health information technicians are specialists in preparing, analyzing and managing medical records. They play a key role in coding and reimbursement and are considered experts in assuring the privacy and security of health data. In Bakersfield College’s HIT program, students learn how to collect, analyze, monitor and report health data, using the latest technology. As more doctors and hospitals move toward electronic health records, trained technicians in this field will become more in demand than ever.

Health Information Technology graduates are employed in hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, ambulatory care facilities, long term care facilities, home health agencies, consulting firms, and any organization that uses patient data or health information, such as pharmaceutical companies, law and insurance firms, and health product vendors. Upon program accreditation, graduates will be eligible to apply for writing the national examination for certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

Explore the possibilities of a career in Health Information Technology.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Statement

In accordance with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, Bakersfield College provides services and benefits to students regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, age, religion, marital status, medical condition or disability. The lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to administration and participation in vocational education programs. (Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972; and Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; as amended.)

Health Requirements and Screening

Upon enrollment in HEIT B30, a physical examination will be required to demonstrate that the student meets the technical standards necessary to meet the physical requirements required of health information professional practice experience.
As a condition of enrollment to HEIT B30, all students are required to submit to and pass a designated drug and alcohol screen.
As a condition of enrollment in any Allied Health Program with a clinical component, students are required to submit to and pass a designated background screen. Every student offered space in the Program will be required to submit to a background screening as part of his or her clinical requirement for admission. Please note the following:
- A history of felony conviction(s) or any bar, exclusion, or other ineligibility for federal program participation could render a student ineligible for clinical placement, as determined by the clinical agencies.
- If a student cannot obtain background clearance from the clinical agencies, it will not be possible to place the student in the clinical areas, which is a required component of the Program.
- In the event that a student cannot obtain a background clearance due to background restrictions, the space will be forfeited.
- Students who are found to be ineligible for clinical placement by the clinical agency after admission to the radiography program shall be subject to dismissal from the Program, as they will be unable to complete mandatory clinical rotations.
Immunizations and health tests are needed for acceptance in a clinical education center, and to protect the health and welfare of the student and the community. Immunizations may include but are not limited to rubella, varicella, hepatitis B and seasonal influenza. A tuberculosis screening is also required.
The medical exam, drug and alcohol screen, background screen, immunizations, and health tests are performed at the expense of the student.
The student must possess a current American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED) card. This card must be provided at the start of the HEIT B30 course and be kept valid during the entire course.

Scholarships

American Health Information Association (AHIMA)

AHIMA Foundation offers scholarships annually to student members in pursuit of degrees in Health information Management or Health Informatics.

For more information on student scholarships through membership, please visit the AHIMA Foundation website.

California Health Information Association (CHIA)

The CHIA Awards and Scholarship Fund offers a variety of scholarships, awards and grant monies to CHIA professional and Emerging Professional (Student) members, and to California’s CAHIIM-accredited programs.

For more information on student scholarships or the certification exam fee reimbursement program, please visit the CHIA Awards and Scholarship Program webpage.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is money awarded to help you meet your educational expenses. There are many types of aid offered at Bakersfield College, funded by federal and state agencies and private organizations and are either need-based or non-need based. The major types are grants, scholarships, work study, and loans.

For more information, contact the Bakersfield College Financial Aid Office at (661) 395-4428, or visit the Financial Aid webpage.

Web Resources

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)

233 N. Michigan Avenue, 21^st Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-5809

(800) 335-5535

AHIMA Website

Purpose: A leading voice and authority in health information.

California Health Information Association (CHIA)

PO BOX 8606, Fresno, CA 93747

(559) 251-5038

CHIA Website

Purpose: Develop Health Information professionals and advocate for practice excellence.