Q. Capital is one of 23 community colleges to participate in a 12-state consortium for health information technology education. What is that?
A: Health information technology is a rapidly emerging field wherein health care providers can input, access and share information securely and easily via electronic records instead of traditional paper. Since any health care provider is only as effective as the information they have, this ability allows for better patient management and in many ways is as important as actual advances in treatments or medicine in terms of the evolution of the industry.
Q. You are providing free training for people who qualify. What are the qualifications?
A: While the course itself is open to any and all, it should be noted that it is a fairly rigorous, college level program, so an associate’s degree is preferred. From there, applicants will be considered for various concentrations of the program — some more IT-leaning, others, more healthcare-focused — depending on the applicant’s background.
Q. Why is the U.S. Department of Education funding this program? What are its goals?
A: I certainly cannot speak on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, but it is my understanding that they have recognized health information technology as a rapidly emerging field that will both create an industry of new jobs and, of course, vastly enhance the quality of healthcare in America. Obviously, job creation and improved health care are of paramount importance, and I believe this program was funded to ensure that there would be a sufficiently trained workforce ready to assume these roles — and achieve these goals — as they are open up.
As for Capital Community College’s first cohort specifically, we will begin with a core course in November that everyone will take followed by concentrations that begin in February and are scheduled to end in April. It should also be noted that while these courses do run from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., they amount to approximately two to five days a month – a relatively small commitment for this opportunity of a lifetime.
Q. Your goal is to provide training and education to up to 300 information management specialists and clinicians. Is this a specialty that requires prior IT knowledge?
A: Again, prior IT knowledge is a plus, but not necessary, especially for the more-oriented concentrations such as Clinician/Practioner Consultant or Trainer.
Q. The HIT training will be established alongside the college’s array of accredited programs in nursing and allied health. Could somebody trained in health care transition to a career in HIT?
A: Absolutely. In fact, we suspect it would be rather rare for applicants to be coming into this well-versed in both health care and IT – as the marriage of these two is precisely where the U.S. Department of Education has identified the worker shortage. So the applicants will come in with varying pieces of Health Information Technology puzzle, and the aim of the program will be to round out the skills they were lacking and effectively complete the picture.
Q. How did Capital Community become the only college in Connecticut involved?
A: We at Capital are always striving to provide the students we serve with the most beneficial learning experience possible. Upon hearing about the opportunity to offer our community such innovative, in-demand training, we quickly realized the potential and applied to participate in the 12-state consortium led by Tidewater Community College in Virgina.
For more information on Capital Community College’s Health Information Technology (HIT) Program, visit ccc.commnet.edu/ceHIT.html Applications must be postmarked, faxed or e-mail by close of business on Wed., Nov. 3.
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