The Atlanta, Georgia, area offers a few options for students planning a career in health information technology. This article looks at three schools, the most distant about 50 minutes from downtown, and the programs they offer. It also features a table of information about the schools that allows for easy comparisons. The table includes data such as enrollment, tuition and the graduation rate. At the end of this article is a little information about one other school with a relevant program.
Atlanta Technical College is less than four miles from the downtown area and offers an associate degree in health information technology as well as a diploma program in health information coding.
Approximately 24 miles from downtown Atlanta, Chattahoochee Technical College offers prospective health information technologists an associate degree program that prepares them for the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) exam. It also offers a healthcare assistant certificate program that emphasizes medical coding.
Southern Crescent Technical College offers an associate degree program in health information technology on its Griffin campus, which is about 37 miles from downtown Atlanta.
Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta Technical College offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in a variety of career-focused areas such as accounting, automotive repair, barbering, carpentry, culinary arts and health information management and technology. The school offers two programs in health information technology through the health technologies and public safety technologies department.
Health Information Coding Diploma
The program requires students to complete 49 credit hours in courses such as medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, coding and classification, human pathological conditions, computers and healthcare laws. Students must also complete general education courses such as English, mathematics and psychology. Applicants must be 17 years old, have a high school diploma and gain minimum scores on the COMPASS or ASSET placement test.
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
The 64-credit health information technology program examines anatomy and physiology, pharmacotherapy, healthcare statistics, coding and classification, medical terminology, computer applications, healthcare management and revenue cycle management. The general education courses include English, literature, mathematics, psychology and public speaking. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and prepares graduates to take the national certification exam and earn an RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) credential.
Chattahoochee Technical College
Chattahoochee Technical College is a multiple-campus college that offers programs in business, accounting, computer science, technical studies and health sciences. Students interested in a career in health information technology may pursue a certificate as a healthcare assistant with a specialization in medical coding or an associate degree in health information technology at the North Metro Campus.
Healthcare Assistant Certificate - Medical Coding
The healthcare assistant certificate program at Chattahoochee Technical College allows students to specialize their studies in one of three areas, including central sterile processing, nursing assistant and medical coding. All healthcare assistant programs include coursework in English, mathematics, psychology, anatomy, physiology, medical terminology and computers. The medical coding specialization requires students to complete courses in human pathological conditions, document production and medical billing and coding.
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
Within the 69-credit program, students delve into pharmacotherapy, coding and classification, health records, human pathological conditions, healthcare management and computer applications in healthcare. In addition to general education coursework, students complete pre-occupational courses in anatomy and physiology, computers and medical terminology. Students also take part in labs and a practicum experience.
Southern Crescent Technical College
The Griffin campus of Southern Crescent Technical College is located about 37 miles from the downtown Atlanta area. The school's business and computer department offers associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in business management, accounting, networking, computer programming and health information technology.
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
The 64-credit program at Southern Crescent includes a 25-credit general education core, 16-credit occupational core and 33-credit HIMT occupational core. The courses include anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, human pathological conditions, computers, pharmacotherapy, healthcare management and healthcare statistics. In addition to coursework, students must partake in a three-credit practicum experience where they work in a realistic environment.
Comparison of Schools