Health Information Technology
17 courses · Shasta College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026
HIT-7 Introduction to Human Disease Process
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Prerequisite
- HEOC 11 or BIOL 5 with a grade or C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on disease processes in the human body from a systems approach. Analysis of the most common and significant diseases is included. The signs and symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of disease are examined along with the appropriate medical terminology. This course is designed for students in allied health programs, but is also open to those who wish to broaden their medical background or review this information. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-10 Introduction to Health Information
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Advisory
- ENGL C1000 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an introduction to the Health Information Technology profession. It includes an overview of the American healthcare delivery system, health information functions and responsibilities, health services organization and delivery methods, health data, structure and use, regulatory standards and requirements, information systems, and health information privacy and security. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-11 Computer Information Systems for Health Information Technology
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 108)
- Advisory
- CIS 1 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an introduction to computer systems used in healthcare and health information management (HIM). Emphasis is placed on basic computer and networking technologies as well as on specialized software and electronic health record (EHR) applications. This course is designed for students interested in the use of computers in the health information technology field. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
HIT-15 Legal Aspects of Healthcare
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Advisory
- HIT 10 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course covers the legal aspects of health information management including legal procedures, evidence, tort law, corporate and contract law. Other topics include consent to treatment, the legal health record, HIPAA privacy and security rules, patient rights and responsibilities, release of information, required reporting, risk management, healthcare fraud and abuse, medical staff, and workplace law. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-20 Hospital and Health Statistics
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Advisory
- Pre-statistics or Intermediate Algebra as determined by Multiple Measures, or Math Placement Level 4 or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides instruction for the health information technology student in the basic principles of data collection and calculation of hospital and non-acute facility health statistics. Calculation of Health Information Management department statistics is included. In addition, the course covers the calculation of specific vital statistics as well as discharge analysis reporting. There is instruction in the preparation of monthly and annual medical, administrative, and outside agency reports utilizing tables and graphs. Practice in the interpretation of statistical reports is also provided. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-25 Health Information in Alternative Settings
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 108)
- Corequisite
- HIT 10, or previous completion of HIT 10 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an introduction to health information management practice in alternative healthcare settings including long-term care, mental health, ambulatory care, hospice, home health, and rehabilitation medicine. The focus is on the role of the health information practitioner, regulatory issues, accreditation and licensing requirements, documentation, funding and reimbursement, and electronic information systems. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-30 Basic Pharmacology
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 18 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 54)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course is an introduction to pharmacology. Topics include an introduction to the principles of pharmacology, terminology, drug forms, routes of administration, drug classifications, and mechanisms of drug action. This course is intended for students in the health information technology program and healthcare professionals who want to refresh their working knowledge of basic pharmacology. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-35 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Prerequisite
- HEOC 11 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This introductory course for Health Information Technology students includes the use of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding. The course covers the purpose of CPT, CPT Manual format, code format, and coding steps used to code from the six divisions of CPT: Evaluation & Management, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology & Laboratory, and Medicine. In addition, the course includes national and category III codes. It also includes an overview of reimbursement issues involving physician and hospital payment for outpatient services. This course is also available to hospital and doctors' office employees. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-40 ICD Diagnostic Coding
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 36 lecture/54 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Prerequisite
- BIOL 5, HEOC 11, and HIT 7 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an overview of the organization and format of the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), and the role of diagnostic coding in the Prospective Payment System. Provides instruction in diagnostic coding of health records by applying ICD guidelines. Students are introduced to coding software applications (encoder). This course may be taught in a distance education format.
HIT-42 Principles of Leadership
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 108)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course introduces the basic concepts of leadership including team leadership, change management, training, and developing employees. Other topics include using enterprise-wide information assets in support of organizational strategies and objectives, company culture, and diversity in the workplace. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
HIT-45 ICD Procedure Coding
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 108)
- Prerequisite
- HIT 40 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an overview of the structure and organization of the International Classification of Diseases Procedure Classification System (ICD-10-PCS). Provides instruction in procedure coding of health records by applying ICD guidelines. Coding software applications (encoder) will be used in this course. This course may be taught in a distance education format.
HIT-50 Healthcare Reimbursement
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 108)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course integrates information about all US healthcare payment systems. The topics covered include reimbursement methodologies, clinical coding and coding compliance, voluntary and government sponsored insurance plans, managed care plans, revenue cycle management and value-based purchasing. Medicare and Medicaid prospective payment systems are also addressed in acute, post-acute, ambulatory, physician fee schedule, hospice, and long term care settings. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-55 Healthcare Quality Management
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Advisory
- HIT 10 and HIT 20 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course for Health Information Technology students is an introduction to quality and performance management and improvement, utilization review, and risk management. The course includes the purpose, principles, historical development, assessment and analysis techniques, and application and program development strategies used in quality management and improvement, utilization review, and risk management activities. Also included is the integration of performance improvement activities with the medical staff appointment and reappointment process. Regulatory and privacy requirements will also be addressed. The key concepts, background, and statistical tools used in the continuous quality improvement process (CQI) are also provided. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-60 Professional Practice Experience
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 18 lecture/108 lab total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 54 for the lecture portion of the class and an additional 108 hours of lab, totaling 162 hours for this course)
- Prerequisite
- HIT 10, HIT 11, HIT 15, HIT 20, HIT 35, and HIT 40 with a grade of C or higher
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides Health Information Technology students with supervised onsite experience performing CAHIIM entry-level competencies in an assigned affiliated healthcare organization. Professional practice experience may include a partial virtual lab practicum. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-61 Introduction to Public Health Informatics and Technology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course provides an introduction to the infrastructure of public health and the analytical and informatics tools employed by public health practitioners. This course explores health promotion, prevention, and quality assessment in public health. The course presents the knowledge, infrastructure, functions, and tools of health informatics in planning, management, and public health and healthcare applications. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
HIT-62 Public Health Data Analysis
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 lecture total (when offered in the distance education format, hours will total 162)
- Transfers to
- CSU
This course focuses on the analysis of data to generate information resulting in actionable decisions. The primary concepts covered in this course includes health care statistics, data analysis, mining, and exploration. Microsoft Excel is utilized to analyze data and information related to clinical and business systems in healthcare. This course is designed for public health informatics and information technology majors. This course is only offered in a distance education format.
HIT-301 Health Information Technician Exam Preparation
- Units
- 0
- Hours
- 54 total hours (only offered in the distance education format)
The Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) works in multiple settings throughout the healthcare industry. This includes the continuum of care delivery organizations, hospitals, multidisciplinary clinics and physician practices, long-term care, mental health, and other ambulatory settings. This course prepares students to take certification exams based on the competencies of the American Health Information Association (AHIMA). The course will provide students with the knowledge of data content and structure; access and privacy and security of health information; data analysis; revenue cycle management; and legal compliance in healthcare and leadership. The focus is on reviewing materials covered in the HIT Program, as well as learning techniques in test-taking and studying for the examination. Students use links to mock test questions, discussion boards, and other resources to prepare them for the national exam. This course is offered in a distance education format.