Health Information Technology Certification in Missouri - MO

By Jennifer Williams, allied health world Contributing Writer
Published: September, 17 2010

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The first step to obtaining health information technology certification in Missouri is completing your education. The most important thing for you to do is to choose a degree program that will help you achieve your career goals. In order to do this, you need to understand what your degree options are.

Most HIT programs in Missouri offer a 2-year associate degree. While there are bachelor programs as well, that level of education is not necessary for an entry-level HIT position. You want to keep the bachelor degree option open, however, if you think you might be interested in furthering your career in the future.

Regardless of which degree program you choose, you are likely to be taking some of the following courses:

Organization of Health Care Delivery
Introduction to the Health Care Record
Release of Personal Health Information
Disease Processes
CPT Coding

With the onset of EHR technology, the majority of these degree programs are now including comprehensive education on the usage and structure of EHR programs.

The next step is certification, which is available through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). AHIMA offers the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential.

By completing either an online or campus-based program, potential health information technicians in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and Independence, Missouri can look forward to lucrative careers with some of the state’s most recognized medical facilities, such as St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, St. Anthony’s Medical Center, Barnes Jewish Hospital, and Missouri Baptist Medical Center.