
Health Information Technology: A.A.S.
Health information management professionals hold many diverse roles, yet all share a common purpose: providing reliable and valid information that drives the healthcare industry. They are specialists in working with health information systems, managing medical records, and coding information for reimbursement and research.
Health information management professionals are uniquely qualified to:
- Ensure health information is complete and available to legitimate users
- Code and classify data for reimbursement
- Analyze information necessary for decision support
- Protect patient privacy and provide information security
- Enhance the quality and uses for data within healthcare
- Administer health information computer systems
- Comply with standards and regulations regarding health information
- Prepare health data for accreditation surveys
- Analyze clinical data for research and public policy
HIT professionals play a key role in the planning, implementation, and management of the electronic health record (EHR). As a Health Information Technician, you will be responsible for ensuring the quality of medical records—checking them for completeness, accuracy, and appropriate entry into computer systems in a multitude of healthcare settings.
You might specialize in coding diagnoses and procedures in patient records for billing, reimbursement, or research.
The program includes a clinical practicum (professional practice) experience, and is designed for students planning on entering the workforce immediately, as well as for those looking to upgrade skills or change direction. It awards the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and prepares students to transfer, if they wish to pursue a Baccalaureate Degree in Health Information Management.
There are dedicated faculty members in the department who are credentialed professionals and strive to provide a quality education to our students. We have clinical affiliations with many types of healthcare organizations, including hospitals, long term care and home health care facilities, mental health organizations, and large group physician practices. Our goal as a department is not only to prepare students for their RHIT (Registered Health Information Technician) certification exam and to provide the technical basis for employment, but also to mold graduates into the professional health information technician who sees the value, importance, and confidentiality of the patient’s health information and the vital role they play in contributing to quality patient care.
In order to participate in clinical rotations, which are required to graduate from this program, students are required to submit proof of a current physical and up-to-date required vaccinations, including influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID). Specific instructions about required documentation and deadlines are provided by the Program Director.
The program includes a clinical practicum (professional practice) experience. This program is designed for students planning on entering the workforce immediately, and for those looking to upgrade skills or to change direction. It awards the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) and prepares students to transfer if they wish to pursue a Baccalaureate Degree in Health Information Management.
Many SUNY Broome graduates transfer on to SUNY Polytechnic Institute at Utica.
Advisory Board Membership 2023 - 2024
Tricia Jewson, RHIA Director of Clinical Informatics United Health Services Hospitals UHS 4401 Vestal Pkwy E Vestal, NY 13850 Tricia.jewson@nyuhs.org |
Denise Perry, MSM, RHIA System Director, Health Information Management (HIM), Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI), and Archives Arnot Health 600 Roe Avenue Elmira, NY 14905 dperry@aomc.org |
Michele Palmer, RHIT Director of Facility Coding and Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) United Health Services Hospitals, Inc. 33 Lewis Road, First Floor Binghamton, NY Michele.Palmer@nyuhs.org |
Pamela Snow, RHIT HIM & Coding Manager Ascension (Lourdes Hospital) 169 Riverside Drive Binghamton, NY 13905 Pamela.snow@ascension.org |
Amy Rafferty, RHIA HIM Manager/ Privacy Officer Good Shepherd Communities 80 Fairview Avenue Binghamton, NY 13904 ALR@goodshepherdcommunities.org |
Joanne Demarest, RHIT Health Information Lourdes At Home 4102 Old Vestal Road Vestal, NY 13850 jdemarest@lourdes.com |
Lorraine Kane, MS, RHIA Program Director Health Information Management Program SUNY Polytechnic Institute 100 Seymour Road Utica, NY 13502 Lorraine.kane@sunypoly.edu |
Jeffery Youngs System Director/Privacy Officer Health Information Management Cayuga Health jyoungs@cayugamed.org |
Gina M. Ferraccioli-Sloan, RHIA Director, Health Information Management Greater Binghamton Health Center 425 Robinson Street Binghamton, NY 13901 Gina.m.ferracciolisloan@opwdd.ny.gov |
Kimberly McLain, Ph.D., RN, LMHC, NCC Associate Vice President and Dean of Health Sciences & Institutional Effectiveness Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) Officer SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton, NY 13902 mclainkb@sunybroome.edu |
Erin O'Hara-Leslie, MS Ed., BS, CMA (AAMA) Chairperson/Associate Professor Health Studies Assistant to the Dean, Health Science Division SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton, NY 13902 oharaleslieek@sunybroome.edu |
Christina Skinner, RN, BSN, MSED Health Science Teacher Broome-Tioga BOCES 435 Glenwood Road Binghamton, NY 13905 607-763-7115 cskinner@btboces.org |
First Year Student Representative |
Stephanie Albitz, MA, RHIA Chairperson / Assistant Professor SUNY Broome Community College Binghamton, NY 13902 albitzsa@sunybroome.edu |
Second Year Student Representative |

NC-SARA
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The Health Information Technology, A.A.S. program at SUNY Broome Community College is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that Health Information Technology, A.A.S. program at SUNY Broome Community College meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the following U.S. States: NY; however, it is important to note that SUNY Broome Community College is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead it is incumbent on each individual candidate to contact the licensure/certification authority in the applicable U.S. State for any further guidance on the requirements for licensure/certification requirements and application processes.Contact Information
Admissions Office
607-778-5001
admissions@sunybroome.edu
- Stephanie A. Albitz
- Decker Center Room 217
- 607-778-5507
- albitzsa@sunybroome.edu
Microcredential Offerings
- Diagnostic Coding and EHR Basics
- CPT Coding and Documentation Standards
- Hospital Inpatient Coding and Quality Improvement