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Accreditation Question
#1
So I'm a little lost.... My University just started offering a new degree this fall that I am very interested in switching to: "Health Information Systems".  I think it is an interesting program since I am aware this industry is growing rapidly (annnnd I'm not doing too well in accounting right now).  I've done some research on the degree here but there isn't much information.  I spoke to my advisor about the issue and she stated it wasn't accredited and that it was really just for people who have a job lined up that only requires them to have a bachelor's degree in anything...this sort of confused me.  The bachelor's degree can also be completed in only 4 semesters which looks a little fishy.  It is stated it is accredited by the university's SACS program (whatever that means), but not by a professional group.  Sad


Basically my question is: Does accreditation in this degree make a huge difference? Can I still be employed in a health-business environment?  
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#2
Which school?
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#3
(12-13-2017, 04:53 PM)quigongene Wrote: Which school?

UNC - Charlotte
 

Here is a link about the program and their accreditation's in the public health field, you can find the one I am talking about to the far right of the PDF column. 
 
https://publichealth.uncc.edu/sites/publ...053017.pdf
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#4
there are 6 regional accrediting organizations in the US

https://www.geteducated.com/regional-vs-...e-colleges

your school is accredited by one of them
SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools)

so the program is covered under that accreditation

however, certain programs are usually accredited by professional organizations too
these are programs that usually require you to become licensed --- like x-ray technician or paramedic or nurse

some organizations require you to attend one of their accredited programs before you can take their test (this is a professional exam that has nothing to do with the school or your grade)

for example: every nurse has to take the NCLEX exam before they can become a Registered Nurse
and there are professional organizations that accredit nursing programs
but you are not required to attend one of those programs to be eligible to take the NCLEX

but some states require that you attend a professionally accredited Pharmacy Technician program before being allowed to take the Pharmacy Technician exam

although the Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management is taught at a school that is regionally accredited (and that's good)
the program itself it is not accredited by a professional organization --- probably referring to the AHiMA -- The American Health Information Management Association
http://www.ahima.org/

and I'm guessing that means that even if you graduate from the program with a 4.0 you still can't take the exams for
http://www.ahima.org/certification/exams

under
TYPES OF CERTIFICATIONS

click on
HIM -- CODING -- SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS

to see the different exams and certifications

so I don't know for sure that you can't take those exams, but I'm guessing you can't
having those certifications may or may not be necessary for employment --- I have no idea
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#5
Your school is accredited, the program within the school isn't. To find out if it's important in this instance, you need to do some research. The best thing to do is look at a bunch of jobs that you'd want to have if you got this degree, and see what the requirements are. If it's just "a degree in Health Info Systems" or something like that (a business degree, a degree in MIS, etc.), then you should be fine. But if they want a degree from a program accredited by XXX or a degree plus additional certs from the ones bluebooger listed above, then you may have a problem.
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#6
The reason it's a 4 semester (2 year) program is because UNC-C doesn't consider the gen eds "the degree" and from the looks of it, there will be another 30 that you might be able to count from your accounting classes. In other words, it will still be a 120 credit degree.

Yes, the UNC system is regionally accredited - no worries there.

I have 3 suggestions for you to consider before switching. (1) see if you can make an apt with someone in personnel / HR at one of the Novant hospitals and ask them about how they hire for Health Information Systems. They will be VERY familiar with UNC-C and will tell you whether or not they typically hire people with associates or those with bachelor's degrees. *you should know that associate's degrees in this field are common, so you may not need a full degree from UNC when you could get it at CPCC / etc.

(2) I checked the Department of Labor to see what the typical certification is in this field, and it appears as if Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) would be the one you'd seek if you needed that (again, Novant would know). If you were to pursue that, here's more: Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a professional certification administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in the United States. Passing the exam results in licensure as a health information technician.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medic....htm#tab-1

I *thought* maybe once I went to AHIMA's website that they'd say you have to graduate from one of *their programs to sit the exam (thus the UNC-C person saying they weren't "accredited" meaning you couldn't sit the exam) but that's not the case at all!! After going through the FULL chain of certification, I believe the UNC-C person either misspoke, doesn't understand the certification, or is referencing a different certification.
http://www.ahima.org/certification/RHIT

(3) Just for fun, you should reach out to the coordinator of the CPCC program. Ask her what she thinks about the UNC-C program, and her thoughts on the AAS degree they offer vs the BS at UNC. Not that it matters, but knowing both programs well before you decide makes you much better informed on the decision.
http://www.cpcc.edu/health_sciences/heal...technology

P.S. All this assumes you live in or around Charlotte lol


EDIT TO ADD: I spent 5 minutes scanning the job openings at Novant and ALL OF THEM are asking for the RHIT certification!! So, it looks to me like you need to do a deep dive into making 100% certainty that you'd be eligible to sit that exam with your UNC degree as job #1
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#7
(12-13-2017, 08:11 PM)cookderosa Wrote: The reason it's a 4 semester (2 year) program is because UNC-C doesn't consider the gen eds "the degree" and from the looks of it, there will be another 30 that you might be able to count from your accounting classes.  In other words, it will still be a 120 credit degree.

Yes, the UNC system is regionally accredited - no worries there.

I have 3 suggestions for you to consider before switching.  (1) see if you can make an apt with someone in personnel / HR at one of the Novant hospitals and ask them about how they hire for Health Information Systems.  They will be VERY familiar with UNC-C and will tell you whether or not they typically hire people with associates or those with bachelor's degrees.  *you should know that associate's degrees in this field are common, so you may not need a full degree from UNC when you could get it at CPCC / etc.

(2) I checked the Department of Labor to see what the typical certification is in this field, and it appears as if  Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) would be the one you'd seek if you needed that (again, Novant would know).  If you were to pursue that, here's more:  Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a professional certification administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in the United States. Passing the exam results in licensure as a health information technician.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medic....htm#tab-1

I *thought* maybe once I went to AHIMA's website that they'd say you have to graduate from one of *their programs to sit the exam (thus the UNC-C person saying they weren't "accredited" meaning you couldn't sit the exam) but that's not the case at all!!  After going through the FULL chain of certification, I believe the UNC-C person either misspoke, doesn't understand the certification, or is referencing a different certification.  
http://www.ahima.org/certification/RHIT

(3) Just for fun, you should reach out to the coordinator of the CPCC program.  Ask her what she thinks about the UNC-C program, and her thoughts on the AAS degree they offer vs the BS at UNC.  Not that it matters, but knowing both programs well before you decide makes you much better informed on the decision.
http://www.cpcc.edu/health_sciences/heal...technology

P.S.  All this assumes you live in or around Charlotte lol


EDIT TO ADD:  I spent 5 minutes scanning the job openings at Novant and ALL OF THEM are asking for the RHIT certification!!    So, it looks to me like you need to do a deep dive into making 100% certainty that you'd be eligible to sit that exam with your UNC degree as job #1


Wow! Thanks for all of that information... I definitely will put more research into it.  I appreciate you bringing up Novant since its such a huge health industry here in North Carolina!  I researched another common one called OrthoCarolina and it seems they don't require a RHIT or certification in many of their openings, this could be because they are smaller offices.  Will continue to keep an open mind and speak with many different people before I make my decision.  Tons of jobs and opportunities out there!
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#8
(12-13-2017, 09:28 PM)SailorBridge Wrote:
(12-13-2017, 08:11 PM)cookderosa Wrote: The reason it's a 4 semester (2 year) program is because UNC-C doesn't consider the gen eds "the degree" and from the looks of it, there will be another 30 that you might be able to count from your accounting classes.  In other words, it will still be a 120 credit degree.

Yes, the UNC system is regionally accredited - no worries there.

I have 3 suggestions for you to consider before switching.  (1) see if you can make an apt with someone in personnel / HR at one of the Novant hospitals and ask them about how they hire for Health Information Systems.  They will be VERY familiar with UNC-C and will tell you whether or not they typically hire people with associates or those with bachelor's degrees.  *you should know that associate's degrees in this field are common, so you may not need a full degree from UNC when you could get it at CPCC / etc.

(2) I checked the Department of Labor to see what the typical certification is in this field, and it appears as if  Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) would be the one you'd seek if you needed that (again, Novant would know).  If you were to pursue that, here's more:  Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a professional certification administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in the United States. Passing the exam results in licensure as a health information technician.
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medic....htm#tab-1

I *thought* maybe once I went to AHIMA's website that they'd say you have to graduate from one of *their programs to sit the exam (thus the UNC-C person saying they weren't "accredited" meaning you couldn't sit the exam) but that's not the case at all!!  After going through the FULL chain of certification, I believe the UNC-C person either misspoke, doesn't understand the certification, or is referencing a different certification.  
http://www.ahima.org/certification/RHIT

(3) Just for fun, you should reach out to the coordinator of the CPCC program.  Ask her what she thinks about the UNC-C program, and her thoughts on the AAS degree they offer vs the BS at UNC.  Not that it matters, but knowing both programs well before you decide makes you much better informed on the decision.
http://www.cpcc.edu/health_sciences/heal...technology

P.S.  All this assumes you live in or around Charlotte lol


EDIT TO ADD:  I spent 5 minutes scanning the job openings at Novant and ALL OF THEM are asking for the RHIT certification!!    So, it looks to me like you need to do a deep dive into making 100% certainty that you'd be eligible to sit that exam with your UNC degree as job #1


Wow! Thanks for all of that information... I definitely will put more research into it.  I appreciate you bringing up Novant since its such a huge health industry here in North Carolina!  I researched another common one called OrthoCarolina and it seems they don't require a RHIT or certification in many of their openings, this could be because they are smaller offices.  Will continue to keep an open mind and speak with many different people before I make my decision.  Tons of jobs and opportunities out there!

Yes, keep digging...or I guess it's better for me to say Keep Pounding! Wink
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