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 (AAAS) degree in Health Information Technology must meet with their advisor and apply to the program. Additional pre-requisites and courses may be required.
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 Prerequisites:
ENGL& 101 English Composition I or BTWRT 215 Business Communication, 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)
Core Requirements (57 Credits)
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 134 Medical Terminology is offered every quarter.
Program Advisor:
Melanie Meyer, PhD, RHIA, CPHQ, CCS (Advises last names A-L)
206-546-4757 mmeyer@shoreline.edu Rm 2334
Gloria Anderson, MEd, RHIA, CCS (Advises last names M-Z)
206-546-4707 ganderso@shoreline.edu Rm 2333
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
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).
Program Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this program -by achieving a grade of 2.0 or better for each individual course in the program and program prerequisites - should be able to:
- Read and interpret patient medical records.
- Accurately assign diagnostic and procedural codes according to professional and federal coding guidelines.
- Complete insurance, Medicare and Medicaid claim forms.
- Apply privacy and security regulations to protect confidential health care records and billing data.
- Use manual and computerized encoders and grouping systems to determine prospective payment systems in various healthcare settings.
- Use computer software programs, including electronic health record software and automated accounting systems.
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, Coding Analysts, Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Specialists, Billers, 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
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for a print-friendly version of this planning guide; when you apply for graduation, you will use this form to document the classes you have taken.