Health Information Technology Certification in Maine - ME
To be hired into an entry-level position in health information technology in Maine, you need at least an associate degree. This should be from a college or university that is approved and accredited by the Commission of the Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) in participation with the Council on Accreditation of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Accreditation becomes important when trying to take the next step after graduation, which is RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) certification. While RHIT certification in Maine is not an absolute requirement for employment, most employers are more attracted by those with RHIT credentials than by those who do not possess such credentials.
When pursuing your health information technology degree, courses that you will most likely take include anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, pathophsyiology, health systems and procedures, healthcare data applications, health record processing, inpatient coding, nontraditional sites and health data processing. The majority of college programs also require an internship, where you are placed in a medical clinic or facility and receive practical, supervised experience in using the skills and knowledge you have learned in the classroom. After graduation, you may sit for the RHIT examination. Upon passing the exam, you will have the RHIT credentials and be free to apply for positions across Maine and across the country that require RHIT certification.