The Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) Health Information Technology Program offers comprehensive training for a career managing health information. Health information technicians organize, analyze and evaluate health information; compile statistics; and code diseases, operations, and other procedures. They are responsible for maintaining and retrieving medical records and controlling the release of health information. The Health Information Technology Program leads to an associate of applied science degree. A coding specialist certificate option is intended for students seeking employment analyzing charts in order to assign codes using various classification systems. Graduates are also able to use computer software encoders to obtain codes. Students gain practice in coding a variety of medical specialties and problems.

Coding Specialist Certificate

• Collect, maintain and analyze health data.
• Apply health care information requirements and standards to the organization and accuracy of data.
• Use, maintain and validate clinical classification systems.
• Collect, maintain and report on health care for research and quality management.
• Apply laws and standards related to health information initiatives from various levels and health care providers.
• Adhere to health care privacy, confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Use technology, including hardware and software, to ensure appropriate data collection, storage, analysis and reporting of information.
• Maintain data security.
• Use tools and techniques to monitor, report and improve human resources.
• Manage and monitor financial and material resources.

Always check with an advisor to determine what courses to take. All BCCC students must meet the College’s computer literacy requirement in order to receive a degree or certificate. All students are required to complete the PRE 100 course within the first six credits. PRE 100 is an academic achievement preparation course earning one credit. The following is a list of courses.

The majority of health information practitioners work in acute care hospitals, ambulatory, long-term, and mental health facilities, state and federal agencies, insurances companies and colleges. Some are self-employed in businesses such as transcription services and consulting. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages. Additional records, coupled with widespread use of electronic health records should lead to an increased need for technicians to organize and manage the associated information in all areas of the health care industry.

• Medical records and health information technicians can earn a starting salary of $23,500. 
• The median salary is $39,100.

You can earn:

• Coding Specialist Certificate

Graduates of both programs are eligible to take the relevant certification examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association.