This book is designed to meet the needs of students at the beginning of their course of study in health information technology - both as a work-based task-oriented function and as a part of a larger profession of health information management. Individuals who wish to acquire basic knowledge of health information technology and how it fits into the health care arena will find this text useful. Workbook exercises in the book help you review and apply key concepts immediately after you've studied the core topics. Clear writing style and easy reading level makes reading and studying more time-efficient. Chapter learning objectives help you prepare for the credentialing exam by corresponding to the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) domains and subdomains of the Health Information Technology (HIT) curriculum. A separate Confidentiality and Compliance chapter covers HIPAA privacy regulations. Job descriptions in every chapter offer a broad view of the field and show career options following graduation and certification. Student resources on the Evolve companion website include sample paper forms and provide an interactive learning environment. NEW! Full-color illustrations aid comprehension and help you visualize concepts. UPDATED information accurately depicts today's technology, including records processing in the EHR and hybrid environments, digital storage concerns, information systems implementation, and security issues, including HITECH's impact on HIPAA regulations. NEW! Glossary terms and definitions plus acronyms/abbreviations in the margins provide easy access to definitions of key vocabulary and confusing abbreviations. NEW! Go Tos in the margins cross-reference the textbook by specific chapters. NEW Coding boxes in the margins provide examples of common code sets. Over 100 NEW vocabulary terms and definitions ensure that the material is current and comprehensive. NEW Patient Care Perspective and Career Tips at the end of chapters include examples of important HIM activities in patient care and customer service.