Medical Records Coder (Health Information Management)

PURPOSE: This program is designed to provide the technical knowledge and skills, along with the practical experience, needed for employment as a basic medical records coder. Assisted by specialized computer equipment and software, medical records coders analyze and interpret the patient’s record to determine the proper standardized codes that represent the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. These codes may be used for billing purposes, to create accurate standardized records to maintain health statistics. The need for medical records coders will continue to increase as the health field continues to address reimbursement challenges and move toward a focus on quality improvement related to health care services.

OCCUPATIONAL OBJECTIVES: Medical records coders work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, insurance companies, and government agencies.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: Students who complete the Medical Records Coder Career Studies Certificate will be expected to:

• Recognize and implement professional policies and procedures related to the legal and ethical use of medical information;
• Interpret health record documentation using knowledge of anatomy, physiology, clinical indicators and disease processes, pharmacology, and medical terminology to identify codable diagnoses and/or procedures, according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, Level II (HCPCS II), and the Current Procedural Terminology, 4th Edition (CPT-4) coding systems;
• Apply knowledge of major reimbursement systems, in the United States, to aid the preparation of universal billing claims;
• Demonstrate electronic applications’ skills to support clinical classification and coding (i.e., encoders); and
• Demonstrate behaviors and dispositions that are in accordance with American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) professional ethics, including integrity, respect for privacy, and commitment to professional growth.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS: General college curricular admission.

PROGRAM NOTES: In addition to the general college curricular admission requirements, a program interview with the Department Chair is required for advising prior to enrollment in the first HIM course. Courses need to be taken in the sequence listed or as advised. Students will be required to repeat any course in which a grade lower than “C” is received. This program accepts new students in the spring and fall semesters of each year. Students admitted will be approved for entry into HIM discipline courses when they have satisfied the following requirements:

1. Completion of all general education prerequisites (SDV 101, HLT 143, and BIO 145) with a grade of “C” or better.
2. Submission of official college transcripts to JSRCC for review and acceptance of general education course requirements prior to enrolling in Medical Records Coding HIM courses. Students transferring in a partial number of courses must ensure all prerequisites are met prior to enrolling in Medical Records Coding HIM courses.
3. Meeting with the Department Chair for advising and obtaining a permission code for each HIM course.

Permission codes are required for enrolling in HIM courses and are provided by the Department Chair after the program interview/advising session.

Upon satisfactory completion of this certification program, graduates will be eligible to take the nationally accredited exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Successfully passing the exam and obtaining the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential begins the journey toward an in-demand career within the healthcare industry. The designation of Certified Professional Coder Apprentice (CPC-A) is nationally recognized by employers, physician societies, and government agencies. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical coding is one of the fastest growing professions in the nation and allows certified medical coders to be more marketable and earn higher salaries than non-certified coders.

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE PROGRAM:

1. Students who have a break in their enrollment must meet with a program faculty advisor to review current enrollment requirements. In some cases, students may be required to retake courses or take additional courses required for the program when industry standards have changed.
2. Any student who receives a final grade lower than “C” in any course within the program must repeat the course.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: Students entering the Medical Records Coder certificate program must possess the following skills:

• Satisfactory speaking, reading, and writing skills to effectively communicate in English.
• Satisfactory intellectual, emotional, and psychological health and functioning to exercise independent judgment and discretion in performing assigned tasks.
• Satisfactory time management of multiple tasks and ability to operate in a fast-paced environment.
• Sufficient analysis, synthesis, and comprehension skills to follow detailed instructions and effectively code case studies and/or medical charts.

COMPUTER COMPETENCY REQUIREMENT: As technology plays a crucial role in the healthcare field, medical records coding students are expected to meet a basic level of computer competency in that field. This may involve proficiency in using software for medical coding, data analysis, and communication.

Students in this program will meet the college’s competency requirement by successfully completing SDV 101, HLT 143, HIM 141, HIM 257.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the regular college tuition and fees, the Medical Records Coder program requires the purchase of books and/or electronic resources. These costs are approximate and subject to change:

NOTE: Earning the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is not a graduation requirement for the Medical Records Coder Certificate program, but it is strongly recommended within 120 days of completing the program. Graduates seeking CPC certification should be aware of the following additional fees (subject to change): (1) the AAPC annual membership fee ($222) and (2) the CPC national certification examination fee, approximately $500 for two attempts.