Health Information Technology program enrolling now for first semester

INA, Ill. (July 29, 2014) - There are plenty of career options in the ever-growing health care field, and one of the newest programs at Rend Lake College is kicking off the fall semester with plenty of enrollment opportunities.

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program prepares students for entry-level positions in a growing number of different health care fields. RLC’s two-year program provides students with the administrative and technical skills the need to maintain a variety of health record systems. Knowledge in medical, administrative, ethical, legal, accreditation and regulatory fields are all important pieces to the HIT program.

Health information technicians usually are employed in hospitals; however, career opportunities are growing in physicians’ practices, care groups, home health care settings, hospices, and long-term care facilities. Jobs are also growing in locations outside of the traditional health care field, such as insurance companies, accounting firms, consulting companies, law firms, prisons, and much more.

Kim Robert, RLC Dean of Allied Health, said the new classes this fall are available in face-to-face meetings or an online format for the student’s convenience.

“The Health Information Technology program is a great starting point for the student who wants to be in the health care field, but not in a hands-on way,” said Robert. “With some face-to-face classes and other online courses, the students at Rend Lake College have numerous opportunities to advance their education in this field. I’m looking for this profession to grow exponentially in the coming years.”

As the population continues to age, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests there will be an addition of more than 40,000 jobs for Health Information Technicians by 2022, bringing the number of HITs to more than 200,000 across the nation.

The program consists of 66 credit hours to be taken over four semesters. Fall classes start Aug. 18 and registration is open. For more information about the program or to register, contact the Allied Health Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1251, or robinsonb@rlc.edu.