Major Code: 1505
Program Description
This two-semester certificate program is designed to prepare students for employment as medical insurance specialists and/or medical coders in physician offices, hospital billing offices, outpatient departments, and insurance companies. This program will enable the student to develop expertise in diagnostic and procedure coding and medical office billing procedures. At the completion of this program, the student may sit for the national AHIMA CCS exam or the AAPC CPC or COC exams.
Program Goals and Objectives
Upon completion of the program, graduates will:
- Apply diagnostic and procedure principles and guidelines.
- Use medical office billing guidelines and procedures.
- Utilize medical terminology as well as knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, basic pharmacology, and pathophysiology of the human body to assign medical codes.
- Interpret medical records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.
Program Assessment
The success of the Medical Coding program will be measured by the following criteria: Course outcomes are assessed by exit exams in each course. Program outcomes are assessed in the directed practicum. Learner outcomes are assessed by the national certification examination.
Careers
Medical coding specialists are in demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a shortage of more than 50,000 qualified HIM and HIT workers by 2015. According to the US Department of Labor, job growth for medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 15% between 2014 and 2024, which is considered much faster than average for all occupations. This increase is partly due to the aging of our population—Americans will be using more and more healthcare services in coming decades. New regulations that demand more accountability from healthcare providers are also creating jobs for qualified medical coding specialists.
Gainful Employment Information
The Medical Coding program prepares graduates for employment as:
29-2071.00* - Medical Records and Health Information Technician, Coder, Health Information Specialist, Health Information Technician, Medical Records Analyst, Medical Records Clerk, Medical Records Coordinator, Medical Records Director, Medical Records Technician, Registered Health Information Technician
11-9111.00* - Medical and Health Services Manager, Office Manager, Medical Records Manager, Practice Administrator
*www.onetonline.org
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