River Parishes Community College (RPCC) proudly announces a historic milestone with the graduation of the first two students from its Health Information Technology (HIT) Associate of Applied Science degree program. This achievement marks a significant step forward in preparing a highly skilled workforce to meet the growing demand for health information professionals.
The inaugural graduates, Kristin Sullivan, RN, CCS, and Abigail Clifton successfully completed the rigorous HIT program, which prepares students for careers such as Systems Analyst, Medical Coding Specialist, Privacy Officer, HIM Specialist, Documentation Improvement Specialist, Patient Access Coordinator, Revenue Cycle Analyst, and Performance Improvement Coordinator, just to name a few.
Kristin Sullivan has already translated her education into career success and is currently working remotely for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a Medical Record Technician, demonstrating the real-world impact and immediate employability of RPCC’s HIT graduates.
“This is an exciting moment not only for our graduates, but for RPCC and the healthcare community we serve,” said Melissa Norris, MEd, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CHAA, Program Director and Faculty Lead for Health Information Technology at RPCC. “Kristin and her classmate are trailblazers. As our first graduates, they set the standard for future students and clearly demonstrate the value, flexibility, and career opportunities this program provides.”
Highlighting its commitment to quality and excellence, RPCC’s HIT program is preparing for its Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) site visit scheduled for June 23–24.
The program is designed to align with industry standards and prepare students for nationally recognized certifications. Through a combination of classroom instruction and experiential learning, students develop competencies in coding, data analytics, revenue cycle management, and regulatory compliance.
The program was established to address workforce shortages in health information management, a field that continues to expand as healthcare systems increasingly rely on accurate data for patient care, reimbursement, and quality improvement.
“Healthcare depends on accurate, secure, and timely information,” Norris added. “Our graduates are equipped to support these critical functions and make meaningful contributions from day one, whether working onsite or remotely, as Kristin is already doing.”
As RPCC continues to grow its Health Information Technology program, the college looks forward to celebrating many more student successes in the years ahead. We have a class of 11 students expected to graduate this fall. Three of them are already holding the CCS credential from AHIMA. Nine also have certifications from NHA as Certified Electronic Health Records Specialists. Norris expects that all of them will hold both certifications by December 2026.
For more information about RPCC’s Health Information Technology program, visit www.rpcc.edu or contact Melissa Norris @ [email protected].