Health care remains one of the swiftest growing industries in the United States. Health informatics is a fascinating area that has grown alongside the increased use of computers and digitized patient records in medicine. For students interested in training in one of the health informatics programs in Texas, there are many post-graduation opportunities to work in environments as varied as:
- law firms
- hospitals
- insurance companies
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), individuals working as medical records and health information technicians can expect to earn $37,110 for median pay. The BLS also expects around 29,000 jobs to be added to the economy in the next 10 years.
For the first article in this series of health informatics degrees in Texas, see: Health Informatics Programs in Texas (A-M)
Panola College
Health Sciences
Panola College offers two health informatics programs in Texas:
- Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
- Medical Coding Technician Certificate
The college reveals that health information technology is a field found in many settings like:
- health care facilities
- insurance companies
- pharmaceutical companies
Like other health informatics programs in Texas, Panola College’s degree features study on a wide range of disciplines like:
- medicine
- finance
- law
The diverse curriculum helps graduates seek out jobs in a variety of environments and most health care settings. To begin study at Panola College, students must obtain full admission and provide all standard application materials.
Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Technology
Earning an associate of applied science in HIT requires two years of study at Panola College. It offers the student a balanced curriculum of information management classes and clinical knowledge. As an accredited program, Panola College offers its students the opportunity to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT). This is a status granted by the American Health Information Association (AHIMA). The school reveals that the salary a graduate may expect after finishing the degree program at Panola College will depend on the type of credentials earned by the student. The expected salary for individuals with an HIT degree and credentials can vary from $45,000 to $75,000 a year.
Students who wish to work in a hospital or another exciting health care environment may wish to learn more about the degree program at Panola. According to the school, graduates can even find work in environments like:
- software companies
- consulting firms
- legal firms
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)
Contact
1109 W. Panola
Carthage, Texas 75633
Phone: (903) 693-1164
Email: jrussel@panola.edu
Saint Philip’s College
Health Sciences
St. Philip’s College is a San Antonio community college. It’s a member of the Alamo Community College District. More than 9,000 students take classes in the system. St. Philip’s College is federally designated as a historically black college. It’s also known as a Hispanic-serving institution. The school was established in 1898 as St. Philip’s Normal and Industrial School. The school was founded by a bishop in the Episcopal Church who wanted to help emancipated slaves gain an education. The first class given at the school was a sewing class held on the weekend and taught by a missionary from the church.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, Health Information Technology Program
The associate degree program at St. Philip’s College was developed with the assistance of an advisory committee made up of health information professionals in the local community. To enter to the program, students must gain admittance to St. Philip’s College, as well as meet a variety of program admission criteria, including having:
- 12th-grade math
- 12th grade reading
- writing experience
- an overall GPA in the program of 2.5
Classes a student may expect to take include:
- Medical Terminology I
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Integrated Software Applications
Advanced health-oriented classes in the HIT curriculum include Coding and Classification Systems and Ambulatory Coding. Classes for the HITT program are delivered through the internet, but students will spend some time at a clinical site during the final semester of study. Students must have a computer to access and submit their assignments to faculty and teachers.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
1801 Martin Luther King Drive
San Antonio, TX 78203
Phone: (210) 486-2000
Email: spc-ar@alamo.edu
San Jacinto College North
Health Sciences
San Jacinto College is located in Houston and has been offering classes since 1961. The school has around 30,000 students attending on its various campuses. The school was initially opened after voters approved a measure that would levy a tax to fund the school. Initially, the school operated in renovated buildings in the town of Pasadena. It gained accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools in 1966. The school features a healthy social and organization scene for students with organizations like the Student Government Association available to students, as well as clubs like the Anime Society and the Astronomy Club.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Health Information Management
San Jacinto College describes its degree in Health Information Management as one that requires knowledge in three key areas that include:
- people skills
- technology
- business
The program is designed to prepare students for a variety of roles from management of health information to interaction with patients. The college encourages students to take the national examination to gain status as a Registered Health Information Technician. This is a test given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Some of the jobs open to graduates of this health informatics program in Texas include:
- insurance companies
- health information vendors
- health maintenance organizations
After graduation and upon becoming an RHIT, students may also seek work at:
- law firms
- hospitals
- clinics
In the fourth quarter of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, all graduates from the SJC program passed the RHIT test. Students who graduate from this health informatics program in Texas will have many excellent opportunities for entry-level work in the health care industry.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
5800 Uvalde Road
Houston, TX 77049
Phone: (281) 459-7608
Email: della.moon@scd.edu
South Texas College
Health & Medical Administrative Services
Established in 1993, South Texas College has around 31,000 student attending classes at its McAllen, Texas location. The school is known as a diverse campus and is also an option for students seeking early admission to college from high school. More than 425 full-time instructors are employed by the college. There are also more than 225 adjunct instructors. Many of the teachers have master’s degrees and many more have doctorates. Interestingly, more than 60 percent of the students attending college at South Texas College are the first member of the family to attend college. An overwhelming majority of students are Hispanic, and about three-quarters of those students receive financial aid.
Associate Degree: Health Information Technology (AAS-HITP)
The faculty at South Texas College shares that health information technicians maintain essential components of modern health information systems that require attention to:
- ethics
- administrative tasks
- legal considerations
Since the program is accredited by CAHIIM, graduates of this health informatics program in Texas are eligible to take the exam to become Registered Health Information Technicians. The school has excellent employment rates for students who graduate the program. In the three-year period ending in 2014, 100 percent of students had found positions as Health Information Technicians.
Some of the classes students may expect to take include:
- Health Information Systems
- Anatomy & Physiology I
- Medical Terminology I
Other classes include:
- Health Data Content and Structure
- Legal & Ethical Aspects of Health Information
- Coding & Classification Systems
To complete an associate’s degree in Health Information Technology, students should be prepared to complete four semesters of full-time study at South Texas College.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
3291 Pecan Boulevard
McAllen, TX 78501
Phone: (956) 872-3023
Email: msalaz52@southtexascollege.edu
Tarrant County College
Health Care Professions
Located in Fort Worth, Tarrant County College was established in 1965. It’s popular with students in the cities of:
- Fort Worth
- Hurst
- Arlington
Depending on a student’s area of study, he or she will earn one of these:
- Associate of Arts
- Associate of Applied Science
- Associate of Science
- Associate of Arts in Teaching
The school is considered one the largest in the state and was the sixth largest institution as of 2008. The college features six different campuses around the region, as well as a virtual campus where students can take online courses. The school originally opened in 1965 and was known as Tarrant County Junior College.
Health Information Technology A.A.S. Program
The college describes its Health Information Technology program as one with “selective admission,” and its only available at the Trinity River Campus East location. The school reveals that the degree helps graduates understand how health information is managed and exchanged in a digital format. An HIT professional will not only work with the technical side of health information but also the software used to store patient information and manage it.
The program offers students a history of an excellent graduation rate with 82% of students graduating in 2015. As an accredited program, students can take the test to become registered, which can lead to better job prospects. The school has created a set of goals for its program to ensure graduates can handle patient data in an accurate manner and with integrity. Graduates of health informatics programs in Texas should want to advance health and wellness, as well as revenue and research.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
5301 Campus Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Phone: (817) 515-2472
Email: cal.quigley@tccd.edu
Texas Southern University
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
TSU is a historically black university located in Houston and has been offering classes since 1927. The school was once known as Houston Colored Junior College, as well as Houston College for Negroes. The school’s motto is “Excellence in Achievement,” and it has an endowment of nearly $50 million. More than 9,500 students attend classes at TSU at the urban, 150-acre campus in Houston. The school’s official colors are maroon and gray. Students who participate in sports at TSU play in NCAA Division I FCS – SWAC. The school is the leading supplier of college degrees to Hispanic and African American students in Texas.
Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management
The program in Health Information Management at TSU is one of the only health informatics programs in Texas offered as a bachelor’s degree. The program has a high rate of job placement and graduate satisfaction. 100% of 2014 graduates achieved job placement with an overall satisfaction rate of 94.87%. The program is designed to provide students with technical and administrative knowledge that they will need to manage modern health information systems.
There are four professional standards that HIM graduates must consider, including:
- ethical
- legal
- administrative
- medical
The program is designed to ensure students can meet the standards of health information systems guided by regulating agencies and accrediting bodies. Some students may qualify for advanced standing in the program if they can demonstrate experience in certain areas or completion of previous school credits. Students can learn everything they need to know from this health information program in Texas because of its accreditation with CAHIIM.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS)
Office of Student Services
Gray Hall, Room 134
3100 Cleburne Street
Houston, TX 77004
Phone: (713) 313-1839
Email: mathursk@tsu.edu
Texas State Technical College
Health Information Technology
Around 10,600 students attend classes at Texas State Technical College, which has several campuses and a main campus in Waco. The school operates exclusively as a two-year college and is headquartered in what used to be Connally Air Force Base. The school was established in the 1960s and grew from its original location in Waco to a college with several branches. The school operated in the mid-1960s as the James Connally Technical Institute and was part of the Texas A&M University system. The school expanded to a second campus in Harlingen in 1967. It eventually severed ties with Texas A&M to become its own institution.
Associate of Applied Science – Health Information Technology
TSTC has several campuses in Texas, and students may earn their Associate of Applied Science at the Harlingen or Abilene campus. The school describes health information technology as an essential role in modern healthcare where doctors and other healthcare professionals must rely on digital management of healthcare records and information. Since this health informatics program in Texas is accredited by CAHIIM, students may take the national exam to become credentialed as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).
The school offers students excellent opportunities for gainful employment with recent statistics suggesting that 81% of graduates in 2013 from the Harlingen campus found gainful employment after graduation. 90% of graduates found gainful employment that year from the Abilene campus. The school reveals that the annual median wage in Texas for those working in Health Informatics and Information Management is $38,000. Jobs in the industry are expected to increase by a significant degree over the next half-decade.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
3801 Campus Drive
Waco, TX 76705
Phone: (254) 799-3611
Email: admissions@tstc.edu
Texas State Technical College at Harlingen
Health Information Technology
Texas State Technical College has several locations in Texas with a main campus in Waco and a branch in Harlingen. The Harlingen location is a full-scale campus with a local branch in Ingleside. The Harlingen campus was the second campus opened in the TSTC system and began offering classes in 1967. In 2008 the campus received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to begin offering associate of science degrees. These are for students who wish to move quickly into the workforce or transfer to a four-year college or university. The university modified the curriculum of many of its programs to ensure smooth transition to four-year colleges after graduation.
Associate of Applied Science – Health Information Technology
TSTC describes the role of health information technology professionals as important to many facets of modern health care. Students who graduate from health informatics programs in Texas must consider a variety of issues in the industry, from the ethical treatment of digital health care data to the need for accuracy when dealing with important health care information. Health care data must remain secure. Health information managers help boost the value of modern health care through the swift and secure transport of health care information.
According to Texas State Technical College, program graduates can expect to earn a median wage of $18.06 an hour. Graduates will also gain access to an industry that is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. This is according to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, only one other state in the country has more medical records and health information technicians employed in positions around the state.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
North N Street
Harlingen, TX 78550
Phone: (800) 852-8784
Email: admissions@tstc.edu
Texas State University
Department of Health Information Management
Texas State University opened in 1903 as Southwest Texas State Normal School. It had just over 300 students in its initial class. The purpose of the school was to educate future teachers. With more than 38,000 students attending classes at the university, the school is one of the largest in the state. Students take classes from one of 10 colleges within the university. Those colleges are divided into several schools and departments. The main campus has 245 buildings on it and covers 457 acres in the town of San Marcos. “The noblest search is the search for excellence” is the school’s official motto.
Bachelor of Science program in Health Information Management
Texas State University gives prospective students several options for their degree. It’s one of the only schools offering health informatics programs in Texas at the bachelor’s degree level. Students may enter the program without prior college experience and take all necessary classes to complete the degree. Or they may consider other curriculum options if they already have a degree or some college experience.
Students may also choose from two different degree formats including an on-campus and online option. Degree requirements are identical for each type of format. Students will take classes for a few years at Texas State University to satisfy the core curriculum and then apply to the department to begin work toward an HIM degree. Students take classes that include:
- Principles of Health Information Management
- Fundamentals of Health Information Systems
- Coding and Classification Systems
There are many others that deal with various health care and technology topics.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
Phone: (512) 245-8242
Email: admissions@txstate.edu
Tyler Junior College
Health Professions
Tyler Junior College is in the city of the same name. It’s one of the biggest community colleges in the state of Texas. More than 12,000 students attend classes at TJC, and several thousand more take continuing education classes each year. The school was established in 1926. It has grown to offer a variety of learning options, from workforce training programs to continuing professional education. The school was once part of the public school system in Tyler, but voters decided to transform the school into an independent college in 1945. The school has a popular marching band, drill team, and drum line.
Associate in Applied Science in Health Information Technology
The health information technology program at Tyler Junior College is described as one that teaches students the essentials of administrative skills and technical knowledge used in the industry. The school reveals that health information professionals have excellent opportunities for employment with more than 50,000 new jobs expected across the country in the coming years. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that health information technicians belong to one of the fastest growing occupations in the country.
Like similar health informatics programs in Texas, the degree at Tyler Junior College is completely online. This means students can complete the program on their own schedule, even if they have work commitments outside of school. The degree requires that students spend time in a clinical setting. The college works with local health care facilities like clinics and hospitals to ensure students receive the on-site experience they need. The school also helps students reach their career goals by ensuring faculty members are available to answer questions.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
1327 South Baxter Avenue
Tyler, TX 75701
Phone: (903) 533-5440
Email: nren@tjc.edu
Vernon College
Century City Center
Once known as Vernon Regional Junior College, the school welcomed its first students in 1972 when just over 600 students began taking classes. Over the next few decades, the school expanded to offer classes to many more students, as well as provide extracurricular activities in the form of a baseball team. More than 3,100 students attend classes at the college, which has five learning centers in:
- Vernon
- Wichita Falls
- Sheppard AFB
- Seymour
There are two campuses in Wichita Falls. The health information technology degree is offered at the Century City Center location on Maplewood. The school became known as Vernon College in 2001 when the name was officially changed.
Health Information Management Program
Vernon College shares that its Health Information Management Program requires students to learn about a variety of disciplines that include:
- information technology
- medicine
- law
- management
The school suggests that students must cultivate good interpersonal and communication skills to successfully interact with health care professionals and their patients. The curriculum teaches students to maintain, organize, and generate information needed for everyday health care needs like:
- treatment
- assessment
- research
Students who complete the two-year program will be eligible to take the Registered Health Information Technician exam. Upon graduation and after becoming certified, students may choose from HIM jobs in many environments like:
- hospitals
- clinics
- insurance companies
Not only has the curriculum been accredited by CAHIIM, but it was also developed with help from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). There are opportunities in a variety of work environments. It’s also expected that the profession will continue to grow in leaps and bounds for the foreseeable future as health informatics programs in Texas continue to grow in popularity.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
Century City Center
4105 Maplewood Avenue
Wichita Falls, TX 76308
Phone: (940) 696-8752
Email: rrascon@vernoncollege.edu
Wharton County Junior College
Division of Allied Health
Established in 1946, Wharton County Junior College has a main campus in Wharton, as well as additional campuses in the nearby cities of:
- Sugar Land
- Bay City
- Richmond
The school offers a wide variety of postsecondary education programs for associate degrees and certificates. The school began with just 200 students in its first year of operation and grew to several thousand students by the 2000s. By 2007, more than 5,800 students were taking classes at WCJC. In addition to many different degree options, the school also provides many opportunities for sports with:
- rodeo
- volleyball
- baseball teams
Students who participate in sports play as the Pioneers.
Associate Degree Health Information Technology Program
The program in health information technology at Wharton County Junior College offers students the convenience of online study. This means students may work at their own pace and complete assignments at a time of day that is convenient for them. The school suggests that careers in the industry have been growing because of the many different types of companies and organizations that require health information technology professionals.
For example, graduates with a degree in HIT can work in traditional health care settings like hospitals and clinics. They can also find work at businesses like insurance companies and law firms. WCJC offers an excellent rate of post-graduation employment. 83% of graduates in 2015 found employment within six months of their graduation date. Like other health informatics programs that are CAHIIM approved, the school offers students the chance to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) after graduation and upon completing the official licensing test.
Accreditation
- The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)”
Contact
911 Boling Highway
Wharton, TX 77488
Phone: (979) 532-6363
Email: lutringerd@wcjc.edu
Students who aren’t interested in working directly with patients but have an interest in the health care industry may thrive in a health informatics or health information management program. Students interested in a two-year degree will find that the state offers several health informatics programs. Additionally, students can also choose to enter a four-year program that will result in a bachelor’s degree. Students who wish to become registered as Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT) will find that there are several health informatics programs in Texas to choose from.