Rend Lake College students enrolled in the Health Information Technology (HIT) program have another option to transfer after graduation, thanks to an articulation agreement with Illinois State University (ISU).
The agreement, approved this evening by the RLC Board of Trustees, allows students who have completed the HIT Associate in Applied Science degree at RLC to transfer seamlessly into ISU’s Baccalaureate Health Information Management (HIM) program, effective the 2017-18 academic year.
Charlotte Henry, HIT Program Director and Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) knows the benefits of continuing education firsthand and explains the differences for graduates lies in the certifications.
“The two-year degree gives students the chance to sit for their RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) credential through our program. With four years of education and a bachelor’s degree, they can become RHIA credentialed,” said Henry. “The RHIA carries a higher level of clinical, administrative, and financial experience. These individuals are managers and higher-level employees.”
At RLC, students in the HIT program complete four semesters – or two years – of coursework. After transferring to ISU, they will complete additional courses online in the HIM program, as well as general classes on campus. The HIT program also has similar agreements with Southern Illinois University and Central Methodist University to give graduates more educational opportunities in the future.
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for graduates with an RHIT credential is expected to increase by 15 percent – or 29,000 jobs – by 2024 as the population ages. Opportunities for those with an RHIA credential is also increasing much faster than average at 17 percent – or 56,300 jobs by 2024.
To learn more about the HIT program, contact Charlotte Henry at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1772 or [email protected].
