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Health Information Technology

Associate Degree Specialization in General Health Services

A Flexible Health Services Degree Specialization for Today’s Tech-Driven Careers

If you’re a transfer student, allied healthcare worker or aspiring health services professional looking to develop an industry-relevant skillset, our Associate in Health Information Technology program with a General Health Services Degree Specialization is a flexible choice. With 8 credit hours of elective coursework, this non-coding curriculum allows you to build on your previous coursework or tailor your program to your interests as you develop essential knowledge for today’s healthcare system.

Complimentary Course: Career Success in Healthcare

This program includes the tuition-free course HIT278 – Career Success in Healthcare. Taking a deep dive into ongoing career development strategies, this 3-credit hour class helps you identify potential career paths that suit your strengths and aspirations while gaining greater awareness of yourself as a communicator, problem-solver and team player. Collaborate with peers as you conduct research, analyze case studies, practice role-playing and review contemporary healthcare literature to identify the qualities associated with professionalism in today’s careers.

Earn Your Degree More Quickly

Ready to get on the fast track toward your future? Here at DeVry, you can earn your Associate in Health Information Technology with a General Health Services Degree Specialization in as little as 1 year and 4 months on an accelerated schedule, or follow a normal schedule and complete your program in 2 years.1

1Accelerated schedule is per 12-month period, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in 12-18 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks. Normal schedule is per 12-month period, assumes completion of 2 semesters and full-time enrollment in 12-18 credit hours per semester.

Classes Start Every 8 Weeks

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Why DeVry?

Achieve Your Goals at DeVry

Get on the path toward graduation with a university focused on your success. At DeVry, we offer:

100% online program options.

Flexible, around-the-clock access to 24/7 tutoring, e-library resources and our convenient mobile app.

Wellness resources such as confidential mental health support and counseling.

Stackable program options that allow you to apply the qualifying credits you earn now toward a related future program here at DeVry.2

Dedicated Career Services and Student Support Advisors to help you pursue your goals.

  • 01 Knowledge & Skills
  • 02 Stackable Programs
  • 03 Career
  • 04 Program Courses
  • 05 FAQs
  • 06 Catalog Download
Knowledge & Skills

What You'll Learn

Our Associate in Health Information Technology program with a General Health Services Degree Specialization covers the following topics:

  • Medical Terminology
    Learn medical terminology, including the foundations of words used to describe the human body and its conditions, terminology for medical procedures, the names of commonly prescribed medications and common abbreviations.
  • Medical Records and Health Information Management
    Explore concepts of digital health, health technologies and health information systems within a healthcare organization. Learn about policies, regulations and standards related to managing health information.
  • Legal, Ethics and Regulatory Issues in Healthcare
    Examine legal and regulatory issues in healthcare. Learn about laws addressing the release of information, HIPAA regulation and records retention, as well as compliance and regulatory issues surrounding information confidentiality.
  • Health Insurance Billing and Reimbursement
    Explore reimbursement and payment methodologies applicable to healthcare provided in various US settings as it relates to relevant forms, processes, practices and the roles of health information professionals.

Digital Health Core – Curriculum Designed for Today’s Digital Health Careers

As a Health Information Technology student, you’ll develop essential skills through a series of dynamic courses that we call our Digital Health Core. Get hands-on experience working with industry-standard software and simulated patient records as you explore principles used throughout the healthcare ecosystem. Coursework covers topics such as medical terminology, compliance, ethics, electronic medical records, patient privacy and digital aspects of the healthcare delivery system.

Build Your Skills with Stackable Programs

Earn a Credential at Every Step

Want to build your resume while advancing your education? Here at DeVry, many of our programs are designed to stack.2 Stackable programs can help you:

  • Build your resume and professional skills one certificate or degree program at a time.

  • Apply all or most of the courses you’ve completed at DeVry toward a related future program.3

  • Develop a path toward your short- and long-term career goals.

If you’ve already earned an Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Billing and Coding here at DeVry, many of the courses you completed can be applied toward your Associate Degree in Health Information Technology. After earning your associate degree, eligible coursework applies toward our Bachelor's in Technical Management. Build your future one step at a time here at DeVry.2

 

Learn More
Bachelor's
122
Credit Hours*
Associate
61
Credit Hours*
Certificate
31
Credit Hours*

*The figures displayed represent the minimum credit hours required for graduation. Additional coursework may be necessary to complete program requirements.

Career

Career Opportunities with a General Health Services Degree Specialization

Graduates of our Associate in Health Information Technology program with a Specialization in General Health Services may consider careers fields including, but not limited to:

  • Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar-related Occupations

  • Medical Records Specialist-related Occupations

Pursue a Field with Faster-Than-Average Employment Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars is expected to grow 16% nationally from 2022-2032, much faster than the average job growth rate of 3% for all occupations.4 In addition, employment of Medical Records Specialists is expected to grow 8% nationally during the same timeframe.5

This growth is projected on a national level and local growth will vary by location. This projection is not specific to DeVry University graduates and may include earners at all stages of their careers.

4https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm
5https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm

 

Program Courses

General Health Services Degree Specialization Courses

In this specialization, you’ll explore a variety of online general health services and technology classes that cover knowledge related to medical terminology, health information management and health information technology. You also have the ability to choose 8 credit hours of elective courses to customize your program to your interests or previous education experience.

General Health Services Specialization Courses
Health Service Management
HSM210
Medical Office Administration
HSM310
Health Services Management

Course Option
8 credit hours required. Courses may be chosen from among those with designators HIM, HIT and HSM, as listed in the Academic Catalog, provided they are not used to meet other graduation requirements and prerequisites are met. Qualifying prior college coursework in health sciences or healthcare-related topics not meeting other program requirements may be applied toward elective hours.

Health Services Profession
HIT278
Career Success in Healthcare
General Degree Courses
Communication skills
ENGL112
Composition
Humanities

One of:

ETHC232
Ethical and Legal Issues in the Professions
ETHC334
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Social Sciences
SOCS185
Culture and Society
Mathematics and Natural Sciences
BIOS105
Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOS268
Pathopharmacology
MATH114
Algebra for College Students
MATH221
Statistics for Decision-Making
Personal and Professional Development
CARD205
Career Development
HIT101
Professional Skills for Healthcare
Digital Health Core
HIT111
Basic Medical Terminology
HIT125
Electronic Health Records and Digital Health
HIT223
Medical Ethics, Compliance and Patient Privacy
HIT235
Health Insurance Billing and Reimbursement

General Health Services Coursework Preview

Here are just a few of the general health services and technology classes you’ll explore as a student in this program:

HSM210 – Medical Office Administration

In the context of a digital healthcare setting, this course introduces the scope and practice of medical office operations, including appointment scheduling, customer assessment and intake questionnaires, telemedicine and revenue cycle management. General internet security as well as computer operations and software applications used in an office environment are also covered.

HSM310 – Introduction to Health Services Management

This course provides an overview of the unique characteristics of U.S. healthcare systems, and surveys the major components and their interrelationships. Topics include internal and external influences on delivery of services, healthcare professions and key trends.

HIT223 – Medical Ethics, Compliance and Patient Privacy

Examine legal and regulatory issues in healthcare, emphasizing their application in ethical practices, compliance and patient privacy. Explore rights and responsibilities of providers, employees, payers and patients in a healthcare context. Laws and regulations addressing information release and records retention are examined, as are legal and regulatory issues surrounding information confidentiality.

HIT125 – Electronic Health Records and Digital Health

This course provides an overview of the health information profession and associated functions. Concepts of digital health, health technologies and health information systems within a healthcare organization are explored, as well as the policies, regulations and standards related to managing health information.

FAQs: General Health Services Degree Specialization

What is a health services degree?

A General Health Services Degree Specialization covers health services and technology topics that relate to medical terminology, health information management and health information technology. Here at DeVry, you also have the ability to choose 8 credit hours of elective courses to customize your program to your interests or previous education experience.

Is health services a good career path?

We think so! Earning your General Health Services Degree Specialization is a great way to build skills you need to pursue roles in today’s growing health information technology industry. As mentioned above, the BLS predicts employment of Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars to grow 16% nationally4, and employment of Medical Records Specialists to grow 8% nationally from 2022-2032.5 This is much faster than the average job growth rate of 3% for all occupations.

It’s important to note that this growth is projected on a national level and local growth will vary by location. This projection is not specific to DeVry University graduates and may include earners at all stages of their careers.

4https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm
5https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm

How fast can I earn a health services degree?

The length of time it takes to earn your degree depends on factors such as whether you enroll full- or part-time, if you take any breaks during your education and any qualifying transfer credits you may have. Here at DeVry, you can earn you Associate in Health Information Technology with a General Health Services Degree Specialization in as little as 1 year and 4 months on an accelerated schedule or follow a normal schedule and complete your program in 2 years.¹

 

¹Accelerated schedule is per 12-month period, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in 12-18 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks. Normal schedule is per 12-month period, assumes completion of 2 semesters and full-time enrollment in 12-18 credit hours per semester.

Academic Catalog
2023 - 2024 Academic Catalog
View Academic Catalog
Program Guides
Program Overview
View Program Guides

 1Accelerated schedule is per 12-month period, assumes completion of 3 semesters, enrollment in 12-18 credit hours per semester and continuous, full-time year-round enrollment with no breaks. Normal schedule is per 12-month period, assumes completion of 2 semesters and full-time enrollment in 12-18 credit hours per semester.
2At the time of application to the next credential level, an evaluation of qualifying transfer credit will occur and the most beneficial outcome will be applied. Future programmatic changes could impact the application of credits to a future program. Refer to the academic catalog for details.
3For the MBC certificate program, all but one course stacks into our Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology. For the MBC-HIC undergraduate certificate program, all but three courses stack into our Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology. For the AHIT program, all but three courses stack into our Bachelor of Science in Technical Management with a specialization in Health Information Management. Program availability varies by location.
4https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/health-information-technologists-and-medical-registrars.htm
5https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm

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DeVry University

In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org. The University’s Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Arlington Campus: 1400 Crystal Dr., Ste. 120, Arlington, VA 22202. DeVry University is authorized for operation as a postsecondary educational institution by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, www.tn.gov/thec. Lisle Campus: 4225 Naperville Rd, Suite 400, Lisle, IL 60532. Unresolved complaints may be reported to the Illinois Board of Higher Education through the online complaint system https://complaints.ibhe.org/. View DeVry University’s complaint process https://www.devry.edu/compliance/student-complaint-procedure.html Program availability varies by location. In site-based programs, students will be required to take a substantial amount of coursework online to complete their program. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.


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