Medical Coding Specialist - Technical Diploma

Students gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)

The course will explore the use of the electronic health record, the role of social media in health care communication, the uses of wearable technologies that monitor activity and heart rate, the use of data to manage population health and the impact of new developments on the healthcare workforce.

Focuses on the component parts of medical terms: prefixes, suffixes, and root words. Students practice formation, analysis and reconstruction of terms. Emphasis on spelling, definition and pronunciation. Introduction to operative, diagnostic, therapeutic and symptomatic terminology of all body systems, as well as systemic and surgical terminology.

Introduces learners to the healthcare delivery system, and the external forces that influence healthcare delivery. Sets an understanding for the expectations and standards related to professional ethics, confidentiality and security of health information. Differentiates the use and structure of healthcare data elements, data standards, and the relationships between them. Prepares learners to collect and maintain health data to ensure a complete and accurate health record. ***It is highly recommended students have basic computer skills prior to taking this course. Students should know how to use web browsers and basic functions Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Word.

Examines concepts of anatomy and physiology as they relate to health careers. Learners correlate anatomical and physiological terminology to all body systems. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 15; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor at 920-498-5444)

prepares learners to interpret clinical documentation that they will encounter in a variety of healthcare settings. Emphasis is placed on understanding the common disorders and diseases of each body system to include the etiology (cause), signs and symptoms, diagnostic tests and results, and medical treatments and surgical procedures. (Prerequisite: 10-501-101, Medical Terminology; Co-requisite 10-806-189, Basic Anatomy)

Prepares students to assign ICD diagnosis codes supported by medical documentation with entry level proficiency. Students apply instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning ICD diagnosis codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation. (Prerequisites: Accepted in Health Information Technology program or Medical Coding Technical Diploma; Corequisites: 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions and 10-530-162, Foundations of HIM)

Assign CPT codes supported by medical documentation at entry level; apply CPT instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines; case studies and actual medical record documentation. (Prerequisite: 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions)

Prepares students to assign ICD procedure codes supported by medical documentation with entry level proficiency. Students apply instructional notations, conventions, rules, and official coding guidelines when assigning ICD procedure codes to case studies and actual medical record documentation. (Prerequisites: 10-530-182, Human Diseases for Health Professions)

Prepares learners to compare and contrast health care payers, evaluate the reimbursement cycle and compliance with regulations. Learners assign payment classifications with entry level proficiency using computerized encoding and grouping software. (Prerequisites: 10-530-197, ICD Diagnosis Coding; Corequisites: 10-530-199, ICD Procedure Coding; 10-530-184, CPT Coding)

Prepares students to assign ICD and CPT/HCPCS codes supported by medical documentation and official coding guidance to support appropriate reimbursement. Students will participate in CDI activities, including preparation of appropriate physician queries in accordance with compliance guidelines (Prerequisites: 10-530-184, CPT Coding, 10-530-197 ICD, Diagnosis Coding, 10-530-199, ICD Procedure Coding; Co-requisite: 10-530-159, Healthcare Revenue Management)