Roane State to offer new programs in medical informatics, financial services

 

Roane State Community College will offer two new programs beginning in fall 2014: an associate of applied science in medical informatics and an associate of applied science in financial services.

The Tennessee Board of Regents approved the programs at its June meeting.

The two-year medical informatics program combines information technology, or IT, and health care. As health care providers increasingly use complex computerized records, they need qualified employees with computer skills and expertise in digital health care record-keeping.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to grow 20 percent through 2018. Technicians who also have IT skills are expected to be in particularly high demand.

“Roane State already offers a health information technology program,” said Diane Ward, Roane State vice president for student learning. “By adding computer science courses in subjects such as Java programming and networking to the curriculum, we can teach students the skills they need for high-tech jobs in health care.”

The program will be available at the college’s main campus in Harriman, Oak Ridge campus, and at the Knox County Center for Health Sciences.

The new program will be partially funded by a $12.6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded in 2012. The grant—called Rx-Tennessee—is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, which promotes skills development and employment opportunities in various fields.

The two-year associate of applied science in financial services will prepare students for careers with companies such as credit unions, banks, and insurance agencies. Roane State is the first Tennessee community college to offer a degree program in financial services. The program will be offered at the main campus in Harriman and at the Oak Ridge campus.

“Area financial companies project a need for more than 100 employees a year with training in finance,” Ward said. “Many companies must train new employees themselves, which is costly for the companies. We can prepare students to work in finance-related jobs, offering opportunities for students and saving companies on their training costs.”

Courses in the new program will include marketing, accounting, management, sales and service, introduction to investments, and consumer lending.

Fall classes begin Aug. 25.

Roane State is a two-year college providing transfer programs, career-preparation programs, and continuing education. Founded in 1971, the college has campuses in Crossville, Harriman, Huntsville, Jamestown, Knoxville, LaFollette, Lenoir City, Oak Ridge, and Wartburg.

For more information, visit roanestate.edu or call 1-866-GO2-RSCC (1-866-462-7722).