Ashland Community and Technical College expands Medical Information Technology program

Ashland Community and Technical College’s Medical Information Technology program is expanding with the addition of two new credentials that students can earn over the course of program completion. The new additions are a certificate in Telehealth and Medical Office Communications and a Medicolegal Administrative Assistant diploma, both of which will prepare students to work in specialized areas of the medical field: virtual care, or telehealth, and in law offices as someone who works with medical claims, records, and documentation. The new credentials will be available with the Spring 2026 semester.

According to an article on Ashland Community and Technical College’s website, Samantha Nelson, who is an MIT Advisory Board member and a Physician Billing Manager for UK King’s Daughters, explained how what students learn in the Medical Information Technology program at Ashland Community and Technical College is directly applicable to what types of skills and proficiencies employees in her department need. She is quoted as saying, “The MIT program develops exactly the skills our department needs:  analytical thinking, accuracy, communication, and strong organizational habits. The students receive hands-on experience with coding systems, billing software, and compliance standards, which makes MIT graduates exceptionally well-prepared for our workflow. The addition of the two new credentials will greatly strengthen the talent pipeline of the program.”

Ashland Community and Technical College’s Medical Information Technology program is a two-year online program with about 10 credential options, including an associate in applied science degree, three diploma options, and six certificate options. Janet Thompson, who serves as the MIT program coordinator, noted that most students opt to earn every credential possible, as they are stackable and can all be completed in the program’s two-year time frame. 

Thompson said, “Telehealth is a fast-emerging field in healthcare, and opening up a new pathway to work in legal services is a great fit for what students are already learning to do in their coursework. We strive to keep the MIT program up-to-date, relevant, and employer informed, giving students the best possible start on their new career journey.”

The new Telehealth and Medical Office Communications credential will prepare students to work in virtual healthcare, which continues to become a popular way patients receive care. The Medicolegal Administrative Assistant diploma gives students the type of specialized skills they will need to assist in a law office with medical records and documents in a legal manner. Thompson noted that this new credential in particular will provide students with an entirely new possible career path from what they’ve been offered before.

For more information about Ashland Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.