What is a RHIT?
Registered Health Information Technicians (RHITs) ensure the quality of medical records by verifying their completeness, accuracy, and proper entry into computer systems. They may also use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs. RHITs often specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for reimbursement and research. RHITs may serve as cancer registrars, compiling and maintaining data on cancer patients. With experience, the RHIT credential holds solid potential for advancement to management positions and increase in salary, especially if it is combined with a bachelor's degree.

RHIT Career Outlook and Salary
Career outlook and salary potential for RHITs are excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in health information is expected to grow by 20% between 2008 and 2018, which is much faster than the average of all occupations. RHITs have excellent earning potential which only improves with further experience, education, and certification. New graduates with an associate's degree can expect to earn $25k to $35K, while graduates with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn $30k to $50k. Depending on the employment setting, many health information professionals with 5 or more years of experience can expect to earn from $50k to $70k.

Preparing for a RHIT Career
First, RHIT candidates must hold a CAHIIM accredited Associate's degree in Health Information Technology. Although the associate degree curriculum offers some general education, the primary focus is more on the technical component of providing a variety of health information services. The curriculum is designed to prepare entry-level graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to use, analyze, present, abstract, code, store and/or retrieve health care data for the support of departmental operations, and clinical and business decision making in healthcare, or related organizations. Second, RHIT candidates must pass the national RHIT certification exam. The 3 1/2 hour exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions. The pass rate of first time test takers for the 2009 RHIT Certification Exam was 82.7%. >> RHIT Exam Content (pdf)

RHIT or CCS Certification?
Both the RHIT and CCS/CCS-P certifications are offered by AHIMA. The CCS certification shows that you are a master of medical coding. The RHIT certification will enable you to move beyond coding and into other health information jobs. For those struggling to decide on which of the two certifications to pursue first, educators, coding professionals, and AHIMA strongly recommend that candidates pursue the RHIT certification first. By completing a CAHIIM accredited HIT program, candidates will be eligible to sit for the RHIT exam. However, to sit for the more demanding CCS exam, candidates should have atleast three years of on-the-job experience.

>> Read: Interview with a Medical Records and Health Information Technician

To be eligible for the RHIT exam, candidates must have earned an associate degree in health information management or technology in a CAHIIM accredited program.

Health Information Technology - Applied Associate of Science
Rasmussen's Health Information Technology AAS Degree program is accredited by CAHIIM and will prepare students to take the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

The program includes topics such as:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical Terminology
• Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced ICD-9-CM Coding
• Ambulatory Care Coding
• Intro to Health Information Management
• Medical Insurance and Billing
• Quality Analysis and Management
• Pathology
• Medical Law and Ethics
• Medical Coding Practicum
• Healthcare Information Technologies

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
DeVry's CAHIIM accredited Health Information Technology program prepares graduates to work with applications systems and manage electronic health information databases. Graduates of this program will be prepared to take the RHIT certification exam. The Health Information Technology AAS Degree program
is available online and at select DeVry campus locations. >>click for campus listing

Technical Management / Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
This CAHIIM accredited online degree program in Technical Management with a technical specialty in Health Information Management (HIM) provides the experience and knowledge students need to progress in their profession. Positions abound in hospitals, physician offices, clinics, and even in government agencies, software and IT vendor firms, insurance companies, and consulting firms. Some of the positions available with a bachelor's degree include HIM department director, health information system manager, chief privacy officer, clinical data specialist, information security manager, and product marketing specialist. The Health Information Management BS Degree program is available online and at select DeVry campus locations. >>click for campus listing. (Please note, CAHIIM accreditation has been granted only to the online program for this Health Information Management BS Degree.)

Health Information - Post Bachelor's Certificate
This CAHIIM accredited online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health Information Management allows experienced health care, business, and IT professionals to become eligible for the highly-valued Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) Certification. This online program can be completed in as few as 11 courses. Graduates are eligible to register for the national Registered Health Information Administrators (RHIA) credential examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Over 90 percent of our graduates pass the exam, consistently scoring above the national mean in both overall and subject-specific areas.

• Health Informatics - Master of Science
• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Bachelor's)
• Health Informatics - Certificate (Post-Master's)

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
Kaplan University's Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program blends online coursework with on-ground clinical experiences and is designed to prepare graduates with the knowledge, technical skills, and work habits required to pursue entry-level positions in the competitive and growing health information management field.

Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program is designed to act as the next step for individuals who already possess an Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology degree. Students matriculating into this program must have successfully completed Kaplan University's Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology program or a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)-approved AAS in Health Information Technology program prior to admission. The objective of the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is to help prepare graduates to pursue career advancement within the growing field of health information. Students are taught the skills needed to be innovative and adaptable thinkers and problem solvers who can leverage available services and technologies to support operations, management, and strategic initiatives within the health information field.

Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
This CAHIIM accredited program provides a unique path for RHITs to obtain their BS in HIM in just 2 ¼ years. This program has been tailor-made for working RHITs who don't want to be bogged down with countless electives in their efforts to obtain a Bachelor's degree. The accelerated curriculum-made possible by an advanced network of support-prepares students to truly excel in the field. This RHIT progression program builds on the knowledge and skills acquired through prior education and work experience. Graduates of this program are equipped with the knowledge to take AHIMA's RHIA certification exam.

Health Information Management - Bachelor of Science
Graduates of Herzing Online’s CAHIIM Accredited Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program will not only master the core coding, health sciences and general education requirements, they will also posses a solid understanding of business and management principles and how those are applied to the health care field, specifically in the area of medical records and health information documentation.

The Herzing University Health Information Management online programs further prepare students through the inclusion of an internship opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in the field. In addition, the Program Review and Career Development courses guide students through the different certifications available to Health Information Management and Medical Billing and Insurance Coding professionals (and how to get them) as well as the creation of a coding skills portfolio to share with prospective employers. It is the combination of Herzing’s quality education, Student Support and Career Services that allow Herzing Online to boast that 97% of our available graduates started careers in the field they studied in 2008.

• Medical Assisting - AS
• Medical Assisting - Diploma
• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - AS
• Medical Billing and Insurance Coding - Diploma
• Medical Office Administration - AS
• Medical Office Administration - Diploma

Health Information Management - Master of Science
This Health Information Management master’s specialization offers health care-focused course work on information systems, databases, system security, data analysis, decision support, and strategic management, along with overviews of important IT and business topics. The curriculum follows the model curriculum of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and was developed to align with the criteria of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management (CAHIIM). It is designed to help you use information management and security to support efficient, accurate health care delivery and management. People who choose this specialization are often IT professionals pursuing health information management or consulting positions in hospitals, clinics, and health care systems.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
In as little as 16 months students can earn the AAS in Health Information Technology. The program prepares students to work for hospitals, medical offices, nursing homes, home healthcare services, clinics and insurance companies. Students will become proficient in advanced coding and billing, data analysis, database management, medical records management and much more.

Health Information Technology - Associate of Applied Science
NAU's Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology (HIT) is an excellent career choice if you see yourself working in the in-demand health care field, but not directly with patients. As a graduate of this program, it may be your job to verify the completeness and accuracy of medical records and data entry into computer systems to ensure medical record quality; to use technology to analyze for quality and efficiency of patient care; to code patient diagnoses and procedures for research or reimbursement purposes; or to work in specialized registries that maintain data for medical research. NAU is currently pursuing program accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) to allow graduates of the HIT program to be eligible to take the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).