Health information management

• Overall GPA of 2.5 or higher.
• Required placement score or “B” or better in Intro to Anatomy BIO 101 or high school biology within five years.
• Required placement score or “B” or better in MTH 020A and MTH 020B OR MTH021/022.
• Background check with BCI/FBI.

• Apply to Stark State College.
• Meet with an admissions counselor.
• Obtain the health and public services rolling admission packet from the admissions office.
• Complete required background checks.
• Complete the above courses and GPA application requirements.
• Turn in completed application form found in the rolling admissions packet and background check eligibility notification to the academic records/registrar’s office.
• You will be notified of your acceptance via mail.

View the program application.

• Medical billing specialist
• Medical coding

Pursue a bachelor’s degree in health information management (HIM) via distance learning at the University of Toledo or other HIM or related bachelor’s degree options.

According to various sections of the Ohio Law and Regulations for Certification and Licensure Boards, persons convicted of any felony or a misdemeanor may not be accepted into a health program at Stark State College; may not be able to take the licensure or certification examinations; may be refused acceptance of placement by the clinical/practicum sites; or may have restrictions placed on their ability to practice. For more information, contact the dean of learning and engagement and the applicable licensure/certification board.

The health information management accreditor of Stark State College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for associate degree health information management has been reaffirmed through 2029. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.

Please keep in mind these costs are before any financial aid may be applied.

• Health information program estimated costs

An RHIT is a professional with a unique blend of clinical knowledge and information management skills. If you’re interested in information technology, business administration, law and the improvement of health care, and you are an organized, detail‐oriented individual, this diverse career field may be just right for you. A strong background in health sciences, health information technology courses and computer sciences is vital to your work as an RHIT.

In this role, you will:

• Manage medical records and health information systems via computer applications.
• Enhance the quality and uses of data within the health care industry.
• Instruct ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.
• Summarize data into useful information.
• Comply with standards and regulations regarding health information.
• Protect the privacy and security of patient health information.
• Ensure health information is complete and available to legitimate users.
• Code health information, like diagnoses and procedures, for reimbursement and research.

The health information technician or specialist is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country today. According to the occupational outlook handbook, “employment of medical records and Health Information Technicians is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2018 because of rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies’ regulators, courts, and consumers. In addition with the increasing use of electronic health records, more technicians will be needed to complete the new responsibilities associated with electronic data management.

Once you’re accepted into the program, it takes two years to complete the associate degree. You will finish the medical coding certificate in year one, and year two will be more managerial coursework. It adds up to 62 total credit hours.

Students who earn an associate degree are eligible to take the national exam to earn the registered health information technician (RHIT) credential. Some of the basic technical classes are the same in the associate degree and certificate programs. However, there are additional health information management (HIM) and non-technical courses beyond the basic HIM courses required to obtain the associate degree. The associate degree also includes professional practicum site experiences.

Students in the medical coding certificate program are not required to complete professional practicum experiences and are not eligible to take the national RHIT exam. Medical coding certificate students are eligible to take coding credential exams.

Our health information management program starts every fall.

Year one has two tracks:

• Day track: 10 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
• Night track: 5:30-8:20 p.m.

Year two is only offered during the day.

You can sit for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification through American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) after you complete the coursework.

All in-person courses take place on main campus.

It’s highly suggested that you take the non-technical courses before starting the program if you intend to work full time during school.

Yes, and they happen in year two.

• Fall semester includes a professional practice experience (PPE) at a hospital, clinic or health care facility one day a week. The time depends on the site assigned.
• Spring semester has a virtual PPE at synchronous times throughout the semester. Dates and times vary and are given prior to the start of the semester to help you plan accordingly.