ATU-Ozark adds health IT program

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has received approval from the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer an option in health information technology.

The Health Information Technology program will enable the student to develop the technical skills necessary for managing health information within the healthcare industry. 

According to an ATU-Ozark release, the medical records and health information field is expected to grow 47% through the year 2010. Implementation of new federal health care rules will also push the demand for persons with medical records technology training.

The organization and evaluation of healthcare records are the main responsibilities of the health information technician, noted the ATU-Ozark statement. These records include information about a patient’s symptoms and medical history, results of examinations and tests, and diagnoses and treatments.

Serelda Johnson, chair of the Health Information Technology program, was credited for the successful effort to get the option recognized and will be responsible to meet requirements of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Management Education.

“Revising our existing medical records’ curriculum to become a Health Information Technology program is a reflection of current changes in health care technology as well as a direct response to our industry partners,” Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, ATU-Ozark chancellor, noted in the statement.

Program additions are part of a continuing strategic plan began in fall 2008 that has helped push more than $4.7 million in Ozark campus improvements.

The new student services and conference center was a $2.7 million addition to the campus, and the Vest Student Union renovations are budgeted at $1.7 million. The planning and additions of programs and facilities are also driven by a growth in enrollment. Spring enrollment at the Ozark campus reached 1,213, an impressive increase of 53.3% compared to spring 2009 — and the spring 2008 enrollment of 791 was up 18% over the spring 2007 number.