Credit Certificate Program

This 30-credit certificate program prepares students for careers as clinical coders (medical coders).  Clinical coders are skilled in classifying medical data utilizing knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and pharmacology.  Clinical coding is important to healthcare organizations because coding accuracy influences public health policy, impacts revenues, and drives the assessment of healthcare outcomes.

PROGRAM APPROVAL STATEMENT

The Middlesex Community College Clinical Coding Certificate coding program is approved by the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program. This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions to be acknowledged as offering an approved coding certificate program.

Value for Students

The AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program designation:

1. Identifies specialized programs that meet established coding educational standards
2. Stimulates improvement of educational standards through faculty development opportunities, and by involving faculty and staff in program evaluation and planning
3. Promotes a better understanding of the goals of professional coding education
4. Provides reasonable assurance that practitioners possess the necessary job skills upon entry into the profession

Program approval effective January of 2021 – January of 2024 with annual interim approval during these years.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION

Graduates of the Clinical Coding certificate program are eligible to sit for AHIMA coding certification exams including:

• Certified Coding Associate (CCA®)
• Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®)
• Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P®)

Students may also choose to seek additional coding certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

A coding credential provides proof of competency in the field and is often a requirement for clinical coding-related and healthcare revenue management positions.

More information about health information careers can be found in the AHIMA Career and Student Center at http://www.ahima.org/careers.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of data content structure and standards to apply classification system guidelines including ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS II, and SNOMED, and ensure health record documentation is complete and accurate.
2. Protect health information by controlling access, ensuring information security, and understanding the legal and ethical issues in the use of health data.
3. Utilize healthcare data to manage the revenue cycle of the healthcare organization through understanding of payment methods and systems in all care settings.
4. Evaluate organization compliance with regulations and standards to support reimbursement.
5. Understand and apply knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology, anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, computer concepts and computer applications as they relate to health information management.

Outlook

Clinical Coding Certificate graduates with a coding credential (CCA®, CCS®, CCS-P®) are prepared for immediate entry into the workforce.  AHIMA completed a salary survey in 2019 and found the average salaries for credentialed coders were $53,790 for the CCA®, $77,790 for the CCS-P®, and $79,060for the CCS® (AHIMA 2019 Salary Report)

Additional salary information is available in the US Salary Survey Report: HIM Professionals in 2019.

Transferability

• Graduates of the Clinical Coding Certificate will be able to apply 20 credits toward the Health Information Technology – Data Management Associate Degree Program.
• Successful completion of the associate degree program allows graduates to transfer to the Charter Oak State College bachelor degree program in Health Information Management.

Jobs in Connecticut

Health Information Technology skills are in demand in a number of workplace settings, including:

• Outpatient Clinics
• Hospitals
• Home Health Agencies
• Insurance Companies
• Physicians’ Offices
• Long-term Care

Program Coordinator

Jill Flanigan Professor & Program Coordinator, Health Information Management Phone: 860-343-5791 Email: jflanigan@mxcc.edu Office Location: Wheaton Hall, Room 313 See office hours here Read Biography