Detailed Course Description
The Andrews School Medical Coding program facilitates learning by:
- Structuring coding as the foundation and focus of each
module throughout the course, from the very beginning to the end.
- Integrating coding, medical language, and the basic
sciences in carefully planned lessons so that students
begin using what they are learning right away.
- Emphasizing faculty interaction and instruction to
facilitate mastery of concepts and accuracy in coding.
Some of the benefits of the Andrews program include:
- Self-paced with structured assistance in developing
scheduling and pacing skills for course completion and later work in
a production coding environment.
- Clear, detailed lesson plan outlines broken into one-week
sections allow easy planning and prevent students from becoming
overwhelmed.
- Hard-copy, industry-standard texts are provided.
- Minimal technological requirements. There are
no online "teaching" modules.
- Emphasis on research, reference, and self-learning skill
development to enable successful work and advancement in the coding
field.
- Inpatient and outpatient ICD-9 coding
are taught as separate courses, enabling students to grasp the
distinction between the two.
Medical Language
- A comprehensive study of the structure
and use of medical language, including prefixes, suffixes, word
roots, and combining forms. Emphasis is on learning to accurately
spell, pronounce, and define medical terms pertaining to human
anatomy, major disease processes, diagnostic and therapeutic
procedures, laboratory tests, abbreviations, and drugs. Students will
develop the ability to recognize and use medical terms, as well as
the ability to use printed and online medical references such as
medical dictionaries.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written exercises and assignments, audio pronunciation practice, and objective testing.
Contact hours: 45.
- A study of the disease processes affecting
the human body, using an integrated approach including the study of
causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Emphasis is on developing a
knowledge base sufficient to allow the practicing coder to meet the
increased requirements of ICD-10.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, workbook assignments, written assignments, and objective tests.
Contact Hours: 45.
Pharmacotherapy
- A study of the drugs used in treatment of
human disease, emphasizing mode of action, including absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion. This course includes laws
and regulations, drug classifications, methods of administration, and
dosage calculations.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written assignments, and objective tests.
Contact Hours: 45.
Diagnosis Coding for Physician Services
- An introductory
study of the ICD-9-CM diagnosis coding system with a focus on
physician services coding. Emphasis is on developing a thorough
grounding in the content and use of Volumes 1 and 2 of the ICD-9-CM
code book, including Official Coding Guidelines and Coding
Conventions, as well as on study of medical conditions and their
coding. Through close instructor interaction, students develop
the ability to recognize when physician query is necessary and they
are encouraged and guided toward achieving at least 95% accuracy in
code selection. This course also includes an introduction to
professional ethics and responsibilities, the ICD-10 coding system,
the DSM-IV code set, and other code sets commonly used in healthcare
settings.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written exercises, written assignments, objective testing, and instructor-facilitated error analysis.
Contact Hours: 45.
Diagnosis Coding for Inpatient Services
- A study of the
ICD-9-CM diagnosis coding system with a focus on inpatient coding
rules and scenarios. Emphasis is on expanding knowledge of Vol. 1 and
2 of the ICD-9-CM code book with a study of diseases and conditions
typically encountered in hospital situations, on correct sequencing,
and on procedural coding using ICD-9-CM Vol. 3. The course covers
Prospective Payment Systems (DRGs, RUGs, etc.). Through close
instructor interaction, students develop the ability to recognize
when physician query is necessary and they are encouraged and guided
toward achieving at least 95% accuracy in code selection.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written exercises, written assignments, objective testing, and instructor-facilitated error analysis.
Contact Hours: 45.
Procedure Coding for Physician Services – CPT & HCPCS
- A study of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT-4) and
HCPCS code sets for physician services, including guidelines and
rules. Students study the indications for and techniques employed in
major medical and surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, and
laboratory tests. This course includes a discussion of professional
ethics and responsibilities pertaining to submission of procedure
codes for reimbursement. Through close instructor interaction, students develop the ability to recognize when physician query is
necessary and they are encouraged and guided toward achieving at
least 95% accuracy in code selection.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written exercises, written assignments, objective testing, and instructor-facilitated error analysis.
Contact Hours: 45.
Intermediate Procedure & Diagnosis Coding
- Case studies
and more complex code assignments with ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS for
both inpatient and outpatient services. Includes RBRVS, APCs, ASC,
and professional fee scenarios. Focus on 95% accuracy and recognition
of the need to query the physician continues.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, coding of
increasingly complex scenarios, objective testing,
instructor-facilitated error analysis.
Contact Hours: 45.
Healthcare Delivery Systems
- An introduction to the
history of medicine and healthcare delivery. Discusses the
ownership and organizational structure of health care facilities,
licensure, regulation, and accreditation. Examines the
organization and structure of acute care facilities, ambulatory and
outpatient care settings, behavioral health, home care, hospice, and
long-term care facilities. Includes a discussion of managed
care, federal, state, and local health care systems.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written assignments, and objective testing.
Contact Hours: 45.
Healthcare Data Content & Structure
- An
introduction to the purpose, structure and content of medical records
used in inpatient, outpatient, and alternative care settings.
Examines medical record storage, numbering and filing systems, data
collection, indexes and registers. Provides an overview of the
legal aspects of health information, including state and federal
law, confidentiality of information, the HIPAA privacy and
security provisions, and requirements for release of protected health
information.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, written
assignments, and objective testing.
Contact Hours:
45.
Reimbursement Methodologies
- A study of reimbursement and
payment systems for all types of healthcare systems and managed care.
Includes prospective payment systems, charge master maintenance,
DRGs, APCs, ASC Groups, RBRVS, third-party payers, EOB, Quality
Improvement Organizations, managed care/capitation, and compliance.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, workbook
assignments, and objective testing.
Contact Hours: 45.
Medical Office Procedures
- An introduction to medical
office reimbursement processes and procedures. Covers
billing and insurance procedures, contracts, and regulatory
requirements, coding and claims processing for health plans, medical
office management software, submission of paper and electronic
claims, auditing and monitoring the coding process, and
identification of fraudulent billing practices.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, workbook assignments, and objective testing.
Contact Hours: 45.
- An overview
of computer systems, concepts, and applications such as
word-processing, database, spreadsheet, email communication
software. This course introduces the concept of the Internet as
an information resource and tool for professional contact and
networking. It emphasizes developing the professional
communication skills necessary for successful work in an electronic
environment, and the ability to research medical, coding, and
reimbursement issues from government and private sources.
Method of Instruction: Textbook readings, practical exercises, and objective testing.
Contact Hours: 45
Clinical Practice Simulation
- This course provides coding
practice similar to what would be experienced in a variety of
healthcare settings. Emphasis is on maintaining accuracy while
developing speed in the coding process.
Method of Instruction: Coding workbook and simulated cases, instructor-guided error analysis.
Contact Hours: 45