NEW BERN — Craven Community College's (Craven CC) Health Information Technology (HIT) program has been awarded a $32,356 grant from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation. The competitive grant recognizes Craven CC's commitment to preparing the next generation of health information professionals and advancing the mission of improving health through education.
"Our goal has always been to remove barriers to student success while preparing graduates to meet the evolving needs of today's healthcare industry," said Crystal Smith, Craven CC Health Information Technology Program Director "This generous investment from the AHIMA Foundation will provide our students with the tools, resources, and professional support they need to succeed in the classroom, earn industry credentials, and begin rewarding careers in health information management."
The funding will directly benefit HIT students by covering expenses related to tuition, textbooks, curriculum-related technology, professional practice experience, AHIMA exam preparation materials, certification exam registration fees, and AHIMA student memberships. These resources will help reduce financial barriers while preparing students to enter one of healthcare's fastest-growing professions.
Craven CC's Health Information Technology program prepares students for careers that combine healthcare, information technology, leadership, and data management. The program offers a flexible synchronous online hybrid format that allows students to attend classes either in person or remotely while completing required hands-on clinical experiences. Craven CC's HIT program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
Graduates are prepared for careers in hospitals, physician offices, insurance companies, government agencies, telehealth organizations, healthcare IT companies, consulting firms, and many other healthcare settings. The field also offers strong opportunities for remote work and continued education through bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs.
"The AHIMA grant is making it a little easier for us to prepare skilled graduates who can afford to take the national exam and are ready to meet the growing HIT needs of healthcare organizations in Craven county, eastern North Carolina, and beyond," said Dr. Alec Newton, Craven CC Associate Vice President for Instruction.
The AHIMA Foundation selected Craven's HIT program through a highly competitive grant process. The Craven CC Foundation partnered with the HIT program throughout the grant process and received the funds on behalf of the college.
For more information about Craven CC's Health Information Technology program, visit CravenCC.edu/HIT.