PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Peirce College, Philadelphia’s leading private, non-profit, four-year accredited institution for working adult learners, has announced that its Associate in Science degree program in Health Information Technology (HIT) has received full accreditation from CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education), making Peirce the only college in Center City Philadelphia to offer an accredited associate degree in HIT.
The accreditation comes at a time of significant growth in the healthcare industry as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs in healthcare information management are expected to grow 21 percent through 2020. Today, Peirce has achieved its objective of equipping its first HIT associate degree graduates with the tools necessary for professional success in today’s marketplace and a degree that meets industry standards for quality and innovation.
CAHIIM accreditation marks a major milestone for both Peirce College and its students, allowing degree seekers to hold a distinct confidence in the associate degree they possess. In addition, this program acts as a stepping stone to obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Administration (HIA) at Peirce, while also allowing students to gain the critical scientific and managerial skills necessary to increase their professional value and advance their careers. Graduates are prepared for careers in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, clinics, specialty practices, managed care organizations, long-term facilities, health insurance and health systems.
“We are thrilled to receive this accreditation for our Health Information Technology program and are very excited about the opportunities for our graduates in one of the country’s fastest growing and most in demand fields,” said Stephanie Donovan, Faculty Chair, Health Programs at Peirce College. “By securing an industry standard accreditation, area employers can feel certain in their decision to hire graduates of Peirce’s HIT program and can expect these hires to contribute to their organizations on day one of their employment as a result of their education,” continued Donovan.
Peirce began the nine-phase accreditation process in October 2010, shortly after the HIT program was launched. The College set a goal of achieving accreditation in advance of the first graduating HIT class and is proud to have fully met this goal.
CAHIIM accredits associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree programs in health informatics and information management in the United States. To receive accreditation, academic programs undergo a rigorous process of voluntary peer review and must meet the minimum accreditation standards set by the organization. Completing a CAHIIM-accredited program allows Peirce HIT graduates to sit for industry credentialing exams and gives them a distinct competitive advantage in today’s job market, allowing them to increase their employment and career opportunities as a result of holding a degree from an industry recognized institution.
The College plans to continue pursuing accreditation for its other health programs and the HIA program is in Candidacy Status pending accreditation review by CAHIIM.
About Peirce College
Peirce College offers bachelor’s and associate degree programs in the areas of Business, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Legal Studies, and in fall 2013, will offer a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Management. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Peirce is a non-profit institution that specializes in serving the unique needs of working adults, many of whom work full time and are raising families. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104 (phone: 267-284-5000). The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs accredits the College's Business Administration and Accounting programs, the Paralegal Studies program is approved by the American Bar Association and the Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
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