Medical Coding Training


	Medical Coding Training Online Program Why Choose the CPC Certification? This medical coding training program is for individuals who are interested in becoming a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The CPC is the most recognized and sought after coding credential in the professional coding community. Individuals who wish to begin a career as a medical coder must obtain either the CPC or the CCS in order to be recognized among employers. While the CCS is also highly recognized and sought after there are several reasons beginners should obtain the CPC credential first. It is easier to gain experience as a CPC because private practices are not as restricted as facilities are in regards to hiring policies. The CCS exam strongly encourages examinees to have prior experience prior to sitting for their examination while the CPC exam does not. This is because the CCS exam is more difficult to pass because it was created for experienced coders. The CPC exam is less of an investment; AAPC fees for the exam are less than AHIMA's fees and provide CPC examinees with a free re-take if they are unsuccessful in their first attempt. AHIMA allows CCS examinees only one attempt and re-takes must pay the full exam fees again. Optimal Course Length The length of this medical coding training course was purposely selected for optimal student success. Our 20 week medical coding training course was constructed at this length due to: (1)The large amount of information that is learned (2)The large amount of practice that is required Statistics show that students taking shorter medical coding training courses tend to "cram" instead of learn and student polls reveal that many of those students: Do not pass the CPC exam on their first attempt Forget the material shortly after the course concludes Are overwhelmed with the large amount of material given to them in such a short period, and are unable to fully absorb key elements as a result End up taking additional courses, purchasing additional study material, or taking a refresher course to supplement Our course spans training over five months (20 weeks) and provides students with a consistent portion of instruction and practice work on a weekly basis. Taking this approach teaches the information in a logical, time appropriate pattern, and helps to enforce the knowldge in a methodocal way which also helps students commit the material to memory. Interactive Online Training & Video Confrencing Many individuals prefer the flexibility and comfort of taking an online class from their own home. When selecting an online course it important to remember that all course are not created equal. Some online courses offer computer simulated instruction modules, and for some subjects this work well. Coding is not one of those subjects though. Coding is a "gray" world and often answers are not straight forward. Becoming familiar with the coding books and learning the coding guidelines usually accompany many questions and require an available human instructor. Our online medical coding training course has taken the positive aspects from both online courses and traditional classroom settings and had integrated them into a unique, online, classroom experience. As a result, this online medical coding training course offers both the comfort and flexibility of an online course with the human interaction that is neccessary when learning this subject. Each coding course is first taught in depth using multiple media types, such as power point lectures, exam simulations, internet browser sharing, and class room examples. Because we insist that our student purchase specific coding manuals all students and the coding instructor have identical books. This allows the coding instructor to reference specific page numbers, paragraphs, and conventions so that students can follow along. Lectures and instruction are recorded while being taught in a class room setting. These recordings are then available for students to view at their own convenience during the week. Then, on Saturdays students and the instructor meet online using Microsoft Live Meeting software for a live video confrence. This video confrence allows students and the instructor to see one another and allows the instructor to provide further insight into teachings that were viewed by students durring the week. Students also have the opportunity during this time to ask questions and recieve answers, go over home work and class examples, and partake in timed examinations and exam simulations. To ensure clear audio, students and instructor also utilizes a toll free 800 number. This teleconferencing service allows conversations, group discussions, lecture, and instructions to take place in a clear un-interrupted fashion. Class Curriculum This medical coding training course was designed specifically to prepare individuals for the CPC exam through the AAPC. Knowing the structure of the CPC exam allows individuals to understand the type of material a medical coding course should offer. The CPC Exam is extensive and tests individuals over a wide range of topics. Individuals must have a solid knowledge of: Medical Terminology Gross Anatomy National Level I Codes, CPT National Level II Coddes, HCPCS Diagnosis Coding, Volumes I&II, ICD-9-CM Coding Guidelines Medical Coding Conccepts In addition individuals should have a basic knowledge of: Medical Billing Procedures HIPPA Guidelines Medical Insurance Policies, Guidelines, and Regulations The CPC exam integrates all of these subjects and divides them into the exam, testing on how extensive the examinee's knowledge is in each area. The CPC exam is a five hours and forty minute exam with 150 multiple choice questions. Section I is designated 60 quesitons that are focused on CPT, National Level I codes. Section II is designated 47 questions that are also focused on CPT, National Level I codes. Section three is designated the remaining 43 questions and covers the following topics: Gross Anatomy Medical Terminology ICD-9-CM HCPCS Coding Guidelines Practice management This exam blue print indicates that 71% of the CPC exam is focused on the CPT, National Level I codes. Following this blue print, the curriculum of this medical coding training course was created to focuses the majority of it's time on learning the CPT while still integrating the appropriate amount of the other medical concepts. This medical coding online training program runs 20 weeks in length and each week focuses on a specific area that is tested on when taking the CPC exam. Class curriculum is as follows: Week 1:ICD-9-CM Overview Week 2:CPT, Evaluation and Management Week 3:Anesthesia and Modifiers Week 4: Integumentary Week 5:Musculoskeletal Week 6: Respiratory Week 7:Cardivascular Week 8:Hemic, Lymphatic, Mediastinum, and Diaphragm Week 9:Digestive Week 10:Mid-term Week 11:Urinary Week 12:Male and Female Reproductive organs and Maternity Week 13:Nervous System Week 14:Eyes and Ears Week 15:Radiology Week 16:Pathology Week 17:Medicine Week 18:HCPCS Book Week 19:Coding Concepts Week 20:Final Exam Each class recording consists of a power point lecture taught by the coding instructor and includes in-class exercises and examples. Each live video confrence enforces the lectures that were viewed by students, explains difficult concepts in more detail, answers questions, reviews home work and in-class examples, and provides timed exams and exam simulations. Reading assignments and handouts outs are also assigned each week at the end of the video confrence and are sent to students as an electronic attachment in a weekly e-mail. The mid-term and final exam are set up to simulate the real CPC exam as closely as possible. The mid-term is two and a half hours in length and the final is five hours and forty minutes in length. In addition, instructions are given each class regarding notations that can be made in each coding book to assist individuals during the exam. These notations and highlights are approved by the AAPC for examinees. Paper work for AAPC membership and the CPC exam application are also completed during the course to ensure it is filled out correctly and submitted prior to exam deadline dates. Medical Coding Books This medical coding training program does require students to have the following books: Books: Current year CPT, Spiral bound, professional edition, printed by the AMA Current year ICD-9-CM, Expert edition, spiral bound, printed by Ingenix Current year, HCPCS spiral bound, professional edition, printed by the AMA Current year, "Step-by-Step Medical Coding by Carol Buck (text book) Although there are many different publishers and book editions to choose from students taking this course are asked to purchase these specific books. This ensures every student has the same book which aids instruction during class. Page numbers can be referenced, the diagrams and conventions will be the same in each book, and books will match according to their color codes. These specific books have also been chosen because they are user friendly and help beginners learn more easily due to their extra notations, color coding, and explanatory conventions. Spiral binding also keeps student from fighting with their book bindings and keeps both hands free. This is extremely important when racing the clock during a timed examination. While these books do not need to be purchased dirrectly through our website we do provide links to each manual for those who wish to ensure they have purchased to correct manual. Currently the books reflected in the link below are for 2011 edition manuals. The upcoming course will require 2012 edition coding manuls. When the 2012 editions are available this link will be updated. Please do not purchase 2011 manuals for the January 2012 Medical Coding Online Training course. View Medical Coding Books Please note that this is an external link to Amazon. Items purchased through Amazon will appear in Amazon's shopping cart which is different than the shopping cart provided internally on this website for products such as the CPC Practice Exam and the Medical Coding Online Training Program. Required Class Equipment The following of a list of equipment that students must obtain in order to partake in this medical coding training program: High Speed Internet (The faster the better; DSL will work with minor complications such as intermittent coppiness. Road Runner, Broadband, etc. are preffered.) Web Camera E-mail Access Ability to print attachments Land line or cell phone with adequate minutes Coding Manuals and Text Book (specified above) Although the teleconference number is toll free those using cells phones to call in are still charged minutes by their cell phone companies. Students should be aware of this and make arrangements to accommodate the minute requirements of the class (ex. free nights and weekends, unlimited calling, or land line). Coding from Home Many individuals are drawn to the medical coding field because it offers an opportunity for individuals to work from home. While these jobs do exist they cannot be obtained immediately after earning your cetification. It is important for those who are interrested in coding from home to know what will be expected of them and how to prepare in advance. We ask those who are aspiring to code from home to carefully read our Coding Careers page prior to investing in our medical coding online training program. Medical Coding Training, Online Course ~ Dates and Times ~ Medical coding training course live video confrencing shedule for next semester: When: Saturday Mornings, 2 hours, once a week Dates: January 7, 2012 - May 12, 2012 Time: 10:00am EST - 12:00pm EST This medical coding training course must have a minimum of 10 students and no more than 50. Enrollment is currently open and will remain open until December 10, 2011. If all class seats are filled prior to this date, enrolment will close prematurely. If enrollment is closed prematurely due to the maximum class capacity being met a waiting list is compiled for those who are interrested. If a student withdrawls or drops the medical coding training course individuals on the waiting list may take their seat. Individuals on the waiting list are contacted in the order they are placed on the waiting list. In addition to the two hours of live video confrencing each week students should be prepared for a minimum of 6 hours of additional study time durring the week. This estimate includes the 2-3 hours that will be spent viewing lectures each week, as well as the additional 3 hours that should be spent on reading assignments and practice handouts. Medical Coding Training Course Cost & Reimbursement Policies Course cost is $800.00. This includes free use of video conferencing software and 800 number, class lectures and materials, and unlimited e-mail access to the coding instructor for the full 20 weeks of the medical coding training course. Class costs do not include AAPC membership and exam fees, cost of books or equipment. Tuition must be paid in full prior to January 1, 2012. Full reimbursements are given if: Classes do not commence Student withdrawals prior to December 31, 2011 Students who withdraw after December 31, 2011 and up to January 20, 2012 will receive a full reimbursement minus the $200.00 enrolment fee. Students withdrawing January 21, 2012 or after will be assessed the $200.00 enrolment fee plus $40.00 per class up to the date of their withdraw. Any remaining balance will be reimbursed to the student. Availability We are currently working on this at the time, however, due to costs, time zones, and education specifies this medical coding training program is only offered to individuals residing in the United States. We are sorry we cannot accommodate everyone at this time. Please check back in the future. ENROLMENT CLOSED Seats Available:0 Seats Taken:50 Waiting List:1	Professional Coding "Professional Coding" is used to describe the type of coding being performed. Professional coding is medical coding performed in outpatient settings, such as: Emergency Rooms Private Practices Outpatient Surgical Centers "Facility Coding" is coding performed in in-patient settings, such as hospitals. A professional coder should obtain a CPC credential through the AAPC while a facility coder should obtain a CCS credential from AHIMA. Class Capacity This medical coding training course must have a minimum of 10 students and no more than 50. Enrollment is currently open and will remain open until December 10, 2011. If all class seats are full prior to this date, enrolment will close prematurely. Questions Please contact us with any questions or concerns that you have regarding this course. We respect the privacy of our visitors and appreciate their comments. We do not spam or share e-mail addresses under any circumstance. Grades This is a continuing education course that is designed to prepare individuals for the CPC exam. Due to the nature of this course grades are not given. During timed examinations students are told the number of questions they must answer correctly in order to pass that particular exam. Numbers given are in accordance with the 70% that is required to pass the CPC exam.
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