Santa Barbara, CA (PRWEB) May 13, 2011
Santa Barbara Business College has begun enrolling students into a new medical program offered at their Santa Maria campus. The Health Information Technology program, abbreviated HIT, is the latest degree program added to the college’s catalog of medical program offerings in Santa Maria.
“The Health Information Technology program provides students with the skills necessary for employment in billing, coding and administration positions in a medical office or facility,” says Joslyn Buckner, SBBCollege Director of Career Services. The new program is a comprehensive medical office program, encompassing medical office administration, medical coding and billing, and integrated computer applications. The program can be completed in less than two years, and graduates of the program will receive an Associate of Science degree in Health Information Technology.
Courses in the SBBC Health Information Technology program in Santa Maria include medical terminology, medical document coding, medical billing procedures and electronic health records, among others. Students in the program also receive real-world work experience before they graduate by participating in an externship, where they work in the medical field and practice what they?ve learned in the classroom.
“Our comprehensive curriculum prepares students for the skills they need to be successful in today’s modern medical office,” says instructor Debbie Newcomb. With more than 25 years of experience in medical office management and 18 years as a college instructor, Newcomb helped create the new program. “HIT includes training in the latest trends in medicine, including electronic health records, which is the hottest topic in medical management at the present time.?
“Some students are squeamish about needles and direct patient care but want a career in the medical field,” Buckner said. “Our medical office programs are perfect in this situation.” In addition to HIT, the college offers a short-term career training program in Medical Office Administration. The Medical Office Administration program is a basic introduction to the medical field, preparing students to work in an entry-level medical front desk position. By contrast, the HIT program provides advanced training in medical coding and a more comprehensive medical office education.
Graduates of the HIT program are prepared for positions as medical records technicians or medical billing specialists. Career opportunities include private practices, hospitals, clinics and insurance companies. The Health Information Technology program joins other medical programs offered at the college, including Vocational Nursing, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology and Medical Office Administration.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment as a medical records or health information technician is expected to grow much faster than average. As the population ages and technology advances, medical records technicians will be in high demand.
Santa Barbara Business College was founded in 1888 and is one of the oldest colleges in the nation. The accredited college offers academic degrees and career training programs in the fields of business, criminal justice, paralegal studies, nursing, early childhood education and fitness training.
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