COURSE SYLLABUS

 

 

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

 

Course Prefix/Number:                                               ALHT 145                                                                      

Course Title:                                                                Medical Coding National Exam Review                                                                                  

Division:                                                                      Outreach and Workforce Development                                                                                     

Program:                                                                      Health Information Technology                                                                   

Credit Hours:                                                              1.0                                                                              

Initiation/Revised Date:                                              Spring 2007                                                                         

 

Assessment Goal per Outcome(s):                             70%

 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTION\

Vocational

 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTION

Vocational

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This seminar course will provide a structured program of study which emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge/or skills in a specific area of health care. This program has been designed to prepare the student for the Certified Professional Examination administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders and/or Certified Coding Associate by the American Health Information Management Association.   Topics for review include Anatomy, Terminology, CPT Coding Guidelines, ICD-9-CM (Volume 1 & 2) Diagnostic Coding, HCPCS Level 2, E/M Coding, Anesthesia Coding, Surgical Coding, and Use of Modifiers.

 

PREREQUISITIES AND/OR COREQUISITES

The student must have successfully completed or currently enrolled in: Advanced Medical Coding, Medical Terminology, Human Body in Health and Disease (Pathology) and/or Human Anatomy.  Related work experience may meet these requirements.

 

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

Buck, Carol. The Certification Step, Physician Coding Exam Review Guide, Saunders

ICD-9-CM Volumes 1, 2 & 3 current edition

CPT, American Medical Association, current edition
HCPCS Level 2, current edition

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS:

CPC Study Guide, American Academy of Professional Coders
Professional Review Guide for the CCA Examination, American Health Information Management Association

COURSE OUTCOMES AND COMPETENCIES (as Required)

Outcome I:

Demonstrate an understanding of successful strategies for completion of a national coding examination. 

Competencies:

A.        Utilize the official study guides available through AAPC and AHIMA organizations.

B.        Relate the date and location for taking the certification examination.

C.        List time management techniques utilized in preparing for national examinations.

D.        Analyze how to use review textbooks to prepare for national examinations.

 

Outcome II:

Demonstrate an understanding of anatomy and terminology related to medical coding national examinations. 

Competencies:

A.        Identify essential body systems and terms needed to pass a national certification exam.

B.        Define essential terms needed to pass a national certification exam.

C.        Complete anatomy and terminology practice quizzes and review responses to determine additional areas of study.

 

Outcome III:

Demonstrate an understanding of reimbursement issues related to medical coding national examinations.

 

Competencies:

A.        Identify important insurance information to help review the connections between medical coding and insurance billing as related to national certification examinations.

B.        Define important insurance information to help review the connections between medical coding and reimbursement as related to national certification examinations.

C.        Complete reimbursement practice quizzes and review responses to determine additional areas of study.

 

Outcome IV:

Demonstrate on a course provided challenge exam an understanding of CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS coding applications related to national coding certification examinations.

 

Competencies:
A
.        Explain comprehensive coverage of different coding systems and their applications.

B.        Complete coding practice challenge exams utilizing exam time management techniques.

C.        Complete coding practice challenge exams and review responses to determine additional areas of study.

 COURSE OUTLINE

I.          Successful strategies for completion of a national coding examination. 

II.        Anatomy and terminology related to national examinations. 
III.       Reimbursement issues related to national examinations.

IV.       Utilizaiton of coding practice challenge examinations to relate CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS on national coding certification examinations.


INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

Instructional methods will include review of medical coding national examination testing areas provided in an approved examination review text. Online quizzes and practice medical coding challenge exams with feedback and threaded discussion activities will provide "national examination" medical coding experiences and exam time management techniques.

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION

Evaluation is directly related to the performance objectives. Performance is measured by examination, assignments, discussion input, and threaded discussion activities. The letter grade is based on the percentage of the total weighted points earned throughout the semester based on the following scale:


A = 90 to 100%

B = 80 to 89%

C = 70 to 79%

D = 60 to 69%

F = 69% and below


Assignments and threaded discussion activities will determine fifty percent of the final grade. The remaining fifty percent of the final grade is based on completion of a comprehensive, three part, challenge examination that models national medical coding examinations. To qualify for the total points on the examination, the student must successfully complete each section of the challenge examination within three attempts.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Absences that occur due to students participating in official college activities are excused except in those cases where outside bodies, such as the State Board of Nursing, have requirements for minimum class minutes for each student. Students who are excused will be given reasonable opportunity to make up any missed work or receive substitute assignments from the instructor and should not be penalized for the absence.  Proper procedure should be followed in notifying faculty in advance of the student’s planned participation in the event.  Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of the planned absence.

 

Unless students are participating in a school activity or are excused by the instructor, they are expected to attend class.  If a student’s absences exceed one-hundred (100) minutes per credit hour for the course or, in the case of on-line or other non-traditional courses, the student is inactive for one-eighth of the total course duration; the instructor has the right, but is not required, to withdraw a student from the course.  Once the student has been dropped for excessive absences, the registrar’s office will send a letter to the student, stating that he or she has been dropped.  A student may petition the chief academic officer for reinstatement by submitting a letter stating valid reasons for the absences within one week of the registrar’s notification.  If the student is reinstated into the class, the instructor and the registrar will be notified. 

 

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT GAIN

Student gain will be determined by student improvement in each of the areas of student competencies.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

NCCC expects every student to demonstrate ethical behavior with regard to academic pursuits.  Academic integrity in coursework is a specific requirement.  Definitions, examples, and possible consequences for violations of Academic Integrity, as well as the appeals process, can be found in the College Catalog, Student Handbook, and/or Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

 

CLASSROOM CELL PHONE POLICY

Student cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class times. Faculty may approve an exception for special circumstances.

 

INTERNET COURSE POLICY

In order to participate in Internet web based or web assist courses you must have access to a reliable Internet connection and an e-mail account. Minimum computer requirements: a 56 KB modem or higher (high speed connection strongly recommended), Internet Explorer web browser able to accommodate both JavaScript and Java; a multimedia capable PC to include CD player, sound card, and speakers with a process speed of a least Pentium 100 MHz or equivalent with a minimum of 64 MB of memory. You must have Microsoft Office or application viewers to access much of course materials.

 

NOTE

NOTE: If you are a student with a disability who may need accommodation(s) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify the Director of Advising and Counseling, Chanute Campus, Student Union, 620-431-2820 ext 280 or the Dean, Ottawa Campus, 785-242-2607 ext 312, as soon as possible.  You will need to bring your documentation for review in order to determine reasonable accommodations, and then we can assist you in arranging any necessary accommodations.



Information and statements in this document are subject to change at the discretion of NCCC.  Changes will be published in writing and made available to students.