MCC Health Information Technology Program earns national distinction, seven-year accreditation
Meridian Community College's Health Information Technology Program has earned national recognition in preparing students for careers in health care.
The program received a seven-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). It also was named a Program of Distinction and awarded a commendation, the commission's highest honor.
MCC is among the first colleges to earn accreditation under CAHIIM's Future Education Model, which focuses on what students can do rather than how much time they spend in class.
The model measures students' skills throughout their education. It uses hands-on learning and real-world tasks to help ensure graduates are prepared to meet the needs of employers.
"Our students work hard to develop the skills needed to succeed in health information management," said Becky Higginbotham, program coordinator and instructor for MCC's Health Information Technology Program. "This accreditation reflects our focus on helping students demonstrate those skills through tasks that prepare them for the demands of the field."
Higginbotham also serves as the Assistant Dean of Health Education for MCC.
CAHIIM recognized MCC for its early use of the model and its focus on student success. The commission said the program's work can serve as an example for other colleges preparing students for careers in health information management.
The two-year program is offered entirely online and includes courses in health information, data quality, and revenue cycle management. Students also gain practical experience in health information departments at local health care facilities.
Health information technicians play a key role in health care without providing direct patient care. The management of health information is crucial to healthcare facilities and providers to ensure patient data is available for vital processes such as patient care, reimbursement, and tracking outcomes.
Graduates are prepared for careers in medical coding, health data analysis, quality assessment, and related fields. They also are eligible to take a national exam to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). “A degree in HIT provides graduates with access to diverse career paths, giving them the flexibility to work in specialties they enjoy and, in many cases, the opportunity to work remotely from home,” said Samantha Shelby, clinical coordinator and instructor for the program.
For more information about MCC's Health Information Technology Program, visit meridiancc.edu/hit.