Certificate of Proficiency (60-63 Credits)

Note: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. However, the information is subject to change without notice and final career decisions are the responsibility of the student.

Additional Information
The final coding course is the Medical Coding Practicum. Students will code 50 - 100 medical charts. Students wishing to continue on to obtain an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences degree in Health Information Technology must meet with their advisor and apply to the program.

Professional Certifications
Graduates are eligible to write the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for Certified Coding Specialist-Physician’s Office (CCS-P), or the entry-level Certified Coding Associate (CCA). They are also eligible to write the American Academy of Professional Coders Certified Professional Coding (CPC, CPC-H) examinations. The AHIMA mastery-level Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) examination for inpatient coding is also available.

Program Information:

Length of Program: 60-63 Credits
Completion Award: Certificate of Proficiency
Enrollment: Fall Quarter Only
Approximate Quarterly Costs: $25-$120
(in addition to tuition, books and parking)
Website: www.shoreline.edu/virtual-campus/hiim/

EPC 3153

Program Prerequisites:

MATH 098 Intermediate Algebra I  or equivalent placement, ENGL& 101 English Composition I , BIOL& 170 Human Biology  and basic computer application skills, including working in a PC Windows environment. A separate initial admissions process is required. Acceptance into Shoreline Community College does not guarantee acceptance into the Health Informatics and Information Management programs. Early application to the program is advised as space is limited.

Academic and Program Requirements:

Students are required to maintain a grade of 2.0 in ALL courses. Strong English grammar skills are essential for the program and profession. Since courses are not offered every quarter and some courses require prerequisites, students MUST confer with an HIIM Advisor to develop an academic plan. Check program website for advisor information and access to required computer hardware and software.

General Education Core Requirements (2-5 Credits)

• Human Relations: (2-5 Credits)

• BUS 105 Essentials of Human Relations Credits: 2

• or

• BUS 104 Human Relations In Business Credits: 5

• or

• HIIM 224 Management for Health Information Supervisors Credits: 5 (for dual enrollment in MCRS and HIT)

Core Requirements (57 Credits)

• ACCT& 201 Principles of Accounting I Credits: 5
• HIIM 120 Survey of Health Care Delivery Credits: 4
• HIIM 125 Hospital and Clinic Patient Records Credits: 5
• HIIM 134 Medical Terminology Credits: 5
• HIIM 154 Medical Reimbursement Systems Credits: 5
• HIIM 170 Legal Aspects of Health Care Credits: 4
• HIIM 171 Basic ICD-10 Coding Credits: 5
• HIIM 172 CPT Coding Credits: 5
• HIIM 173 Intermediate Medical Coding Credits: 5
• HIIM 174 Pharmacology Credits: 3
• HIIM 175 Human Diseases Credits: 5
• HIIM 225 Computers In Health Care Credits: 5
• HIIM 228 Medical Coding Practicum Credits: 2

Approval To Graduate

Student Name, SID and Date: ____________________________________________________

Faculty Advisor and Date: _______________________________________________________

Division Dean and Date: ________________________________________________________

Credential Approval and Date: ____________________________________________________

Sample Schedule for Certificate of Proficiency

All courses are offered on-line
* Only offered on-line once per year, during the quarter listed.
**HIIM 174 Pharmacology  is offered Fall and Winter Quarters. HIIM 134 Medical Terminology  is offered every quarter.

1st Year

2nd Year

Medical Coding and Reimbursement-What is it?

Medical coding and reimbursement involves understanding and interpretation of medical records with detailed information regarding diseases, injuries, surgical operations and other medical procedures. Medical Coding Specialists assign codes using the International Classification of Diseases and current procedural and clinical terminology. They handle all components of claims processing, including management of disputed, rejected and delayed claims. The Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist program is offered only online and approved by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Career Opportunities-What can I do with a Certificate in Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist?

The job outlook for medical coding specialists is good with graduates working as Medical Coders, Medical Reimbursement Specialists and Patient Account Representatives. For salary information in your state, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://www.bls.gov.

Potential employers include: Medical and dental offices, insurance companies, medical coding and billing companies, hospitals and other health care facilities. For more, please visit career information and resources at https://www.shoreline.edu/counseling-center/career-counseling.aspx.

Shoreline Community College

16101 Greenwood Ave N
Shoreline, WA 98133-5696

(206) 546-4101

www.shoreline.edu