THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	The Honorable the Members of the Board of Regents
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
COMMITTEE:	Higher Education and Professional Practice
TITLE OF ITEM:	Master Plan Amendment: Technical Career Institutes, Health Information Technology, A.A.S.
DATE OF SUBMISSION:	May 28, 2004
PROPOSED HANDLING:	Approval (Consent)
RATIONALE FOR ITEM:	Master Plan Amendment is required when an institution offers its first program in a new discipline
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 2 and 4
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY:

 

Technical Career Institutes, New York City, seeks approval of an amendment of its master plan to authorize the college to offer a program in health information technology leading to the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree.  Master plan amendment is needed because this would be the college’s first associate degree program in the discipline of health professions.

 

The Office of Higher Education has determined that the proposed program, if approved, would meet the standards for registration set forth in the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education.

 

Recommendation:  I recommend that the Regents take the following action:

 

VOTED, that the master plan of Technical Career Institutes be amended, effective June 22, 2004, authorizing the Institute to offer an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) program in health information technology.  This amendment will be effective until June 30, 2005, unless the Department registers the program prior to that date, in which case master plan shall be without term.

Technical Career Institutes

Health Information Technology (HIT), A.A.S

 

Academic Review

 

Technical Career Institutes (TCI), located at 320 West 31^st Street in midtown Manhattan, is a two-year college providing education for individuals who are interested in the wide variety of careers and further academic opportunities available in the rapidly expanding fields of business, computer, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and electronics.  TCI’s mission is to provide advanced training that will impart the skills and attitudes to enable students to continue learning throughout their lives, and to respond effectively to the increasingly rapid pace of change in our society. 

 

TCI offers an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree program in Office Technology–Medical (OTM) Office Track that trains students in the areas of medical coding and billing processes.  TCI proposes to expand its OTM program by offering a Health Information Technology (HIT) A.A.S. degree, which has been developed within the framework of TCI’s mission.  The proposed program covers anatomy and physiology, health statistics, coding and billing, and introduction to health information management, which complements medical office management courses taught in the OTM program, and provides in-depth knowledge in health information system areas.  The program will be offered in both day and evening formats. Full-time students can complete the program in four terms of study while attending evening or day classes.  

 

Students interested in enrolling in the Health Information Technology program must have a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma and are subject to the same institution-wide policies and procedures as those who apply to other academic programs. 

 

In 2003, 94.5 percent of the new admissions to TCI came from the New York City Region; 3.1 percent were from the remainder of the State; and 2.4 percent were from other states.  TCI has successfully served a low-income inner-city student population.  The Health Information Technology program will serve the same demographic populations as the other TCI associate degree programs.

 

Full-time faculty members from the Office Technology–Medical Office Track and Arts and Sciences departments will teach the proposed program.  An additional full-time instructor and two additional adjunct instructors will be hired to teach the program upon approval.  

 

Graduates of the Health Information Technology program will find employment in both traditional and non-traditional settings in facilities that collect, process, or maintain health care data. According to the New York State Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Web site, employment in the health care practitioners and technical workers areas is projected to grow from 181,800 in 2000 to 215,070 in 2010, resulting in an increase of 33,270 jobs in the New York City area. The profession offers career flexibility and a variety of workplace options.  Depending on skills, education and interest, health information technology professionals with an associate's degree can hold positions in such areas as medical records and health information technicians, health data analyst, insurance claims analyst, and clinical coding specialist.  Practice settings include hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, home health settings, hospice, consulting firms, insurance companies, government agencies, computer companies, and law firms.

 

By offering the Health Information Technology program, TCI will develop a future health information technology workforce to respond to this emerging profession.  Graduates of this program will be prepared to position themselves for long-term success in the health care industry.

 

Planning Review

 

A canvass was conducted of the New York City Region. There were four responses indicating no negative impact on academic offerings.