MARIETTA, OH — This Fall, Washington State Community College (WSCC) will roll out its new Health Information Management Technology (HIMT) program. This expansion of the college’s offerings is in direct response to the healthcare field’s high demand for health information management professionals.
Health Information Management is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting medical information vital to provide quality patient care. It is a combination of business, health science, and information technology. As a vital component in the healthcare support system, jobs in this field have a high demand, with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting faster than average job growth over the next decade.
“The career opportunities are abundant in health information technology, and Washington State is now in a position to support the community with training for this in-demand career,” confirmed the program’s director Christina Manley.
The HIMT program at Washington State will be 100-percent online and will include a two-year associate degree pathway as well as a one-year certificate option. Manley said she believes the fact that the program is exclusively online will be especially appealing to adults who are trying to balance multiple responsibilities while taking classes. “Online courses give our students the flexibility they need to enroll in college while maintaining employment and managing the demands of family.”
Multiple certifications are embedded in the pathway that will provide opportunities for students to earn valuable stackable credentials throughout their education. “Our goal is to position our students to earn credentials that will allow them to begin working in the job market while they continue their degree.” She added that there may be some employers that will pay for the remainder of a student’s education.
For additional details, WSCC will host a virtual information session about all of its fully online programs including HIMT, Business Management, Chemical Operator, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Process Technician on Tuesday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. Those interested can RSVP at https://www.wscc.edu/event/program-specific-info-session.
