Health Information Technology

Organize. Communicate. Advance.

The U.S. Department of Labor states that employment in the Health Information Technology (HIT) field is projected to grow nearly twice as fast as the average for all occupations in future years!

As the medical industry becomes increasingly dependent on digital communication and recordkeeping, the demand for skilled employees who can collect and analyze healthcare data is critical to managing vital information for their services.

HIT professionals are responsible for the organization and accurate maintenance of computerized patient medical records. They may also be responsible for the timely and accurate submission of complex insurance documents. Successful graduates can find employment at hospitals, medical offices, and insurance companies in positions, including medical office manager, medical transcriptionist, medical records technician, and medical coding specialist. With an associate degree in Health Information Technology, you can serve your community while also building a new career for yourself.

In This Section

Program Details

Associate in Science, Health Info Tech (61 credits) prepares you with the skills and knowledge necessary to become a medical coder and reimbursement clerk, and a privacy, security or electronic health record (EHR) technician in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations. Requirements for the AS degree

Certificate of Achievement, Health Info Tech (31 credits) will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to assist in maintaining accurate and timely medical data in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations. Requirements for the Certificate of Achievement

Certificate of Competence, Health Info Tech (16 credits) develops a foundation in records and information management for medical facilities, and prepares you for work as a patient access clerk, physician office clerk, registrar, registration clerk, and ward clerk. Requirements for the Certificate of Competence

The time to complete the certificates or the degree varies from one to four semesters. To obtain the associate degree in two years, you have to take an average of 15 credits/semester.

Costs: tuition and fees

Kathleen Cashman, Instructor CC, Health Information Technology; A.A.S., Heald College; B.A., University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

Rose Bumanglag, Instructor CC, Health Information Technology, Health Information Technology; A.A.S., Heald College

The Leeward CC Health Information Technology program is an accredited program by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM). Students who complete the Associate of Science in Health Information Technology are eligible to take the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam. The RHIT exam is professional certification, with requisite rules for maintenance, and is recognized equally by all US states and territories. RHIT exam is not a licensure.

Leeward Community College may not be able to confirm whether a particular program meets the professional licensure requirements outside of the State of Hawaiʻi. Leeward CC recommends the student contact the respective professional licensing board to determine the licensure requirements in the state in which the student lives.

Catalog
Courses
Class Availability

The Health Information Management accreditor of Leeward Community College is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Associate in Science in Health Information Technology degree has been reaffirmed through 2026 – 2027.

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.

HIT Student Data

HIT student retention rates (Perkins)
The 3P1 Student Retention Performance Standard for 2016-2017 AY was 81.1, with HIT exceeding it at 83.3

HIT Students who have taken the RHIT 1 time or more.
Leeward RHIT All test takers (including 1st time) passing 2016-2017 AY: 75% Pass 25% Fail
Nationally RHIT all test takers (including 1st time) passing 2016-2017 AY: 65% Pass 35% Fail

Leeward RHIT All test takers (including 1st time) passing 2017-2018 AY: 78.94% Pass 21.06% Fail
Nationally RHIT all test takers (including 1st time) passing 2017-2018 AY: 76% Pass 24% Fail

Leeward RHIT All test takers (including 1st time) passing 2018-2019 AY: 75% Pass 25% Fail
Nationally RHIT all test takers (including 1st time) passing 2018-2019 AY: 75% Pass 25% Fail

HIT Student pass rates for first-time test takers
Leeward RHIT 1st time test taker passing 2016-2017 AY : 75% Pass 25% Fail
Nationally 1st time passing 2016-2017 AY: 70% Pass 30% Fail

Leeward RHIT All test takers (including 1st time) passing 2017-2018 AY: 78.94% Pass 21.06% Fail
Nationally RHIT all test takers (including 1st time) passing 2017-2018 AY: 76% Pass 24% Fail

Leeward RHIT All test takers (including 1st time) passing 2017-2018 AY: 78.94% Pass 21.06% Fail
Nationally RHIT all test takers (including 1st time) passing 2017-2018 AY: 76% Pass 24% Fail

Our graduation rate is 65%
Our employment rate is 80%
The certification exam pass rates from 2019-2020 are 40% Pass 60% Fail

Program Contacts

Kathleen Cashman
Program Coordinator
BE 220
(808) 455-0621
cashmank@hawaii.edu

Joy Lane
CTE Counselor
BE 210
(808) 455-0220
joylane@hawaii.edu