Jan 31, 2018 – Middletown, Conn.—Middlesex Community College is pleased to announce that the Health Information Management Certificate program has been approved by the Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP) Council of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) as of January 2018. The PCAP approval identifies medical coding education programs that have been evaluated by a peer review process against national minimum standards for entry-level coding professionals. This approval process allows academic institutions to be acknowledged as providing an approved coding certificate program. Middlesex is the only community college in Connecticut with this distinction.
“On the advice of our advisory board, we developed the coding-intensive Health Information Management Certificate to address the unmet demand for coding professionals in Connecticut,” explained Jill Flanigan, coordinator of the program at Middlesex. “AHIMA PCAP approval of our certificate creates new opportunities for professional certification for our students that will open up these career opportunities to them. The approval puts us in a better position to serve both our students and the employers in our community.”
Health care organizations rely on accurate and skilled coding professionals because it affects revenues and health outcomes. This designation assures them that certificate holders of the Middlesex Community College HIM Certificate coding program possess the necessary job skills to attain success in entry-level coding positions. Students are guided through a 30-credit comprehensive coding curriculum providing them with instruction in ICD-10-CM/PCS coding and CPT coding and reimbursement methodologies.
Students who complete PCAP-approved programs are eligible for the CCA (Certified Coding Associate), the CCS (Certified Coding Specialist), and CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist—Physician’s Office) examinations. These credentials set them apart with expertise that employers are looking for, leading to increased salary and career enhancement.
According to their website, the AHIMA Professional Certificate Approval Program designation identifies specialized programs that meet established coding educational standards and stimulates improvement of educational standards through faculty development opportunities, and by involving faculty and staff in program evaluation and planning. It also promotes a better understanding of the goals of professional coding education and provides reasonable assurance that practitioners possess the necessary job skills upon entry into the profession
Since 1966, Middlesex Community College has provided high-quality, affordable, and accessible education to a diverse population, enhancing the strengths of individuals through degree, certificate, and lifelong learning programs that lead to university transfer, employment, and an enriched awareness of our shared responsibilities as global citizens. A part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, MxCC offers more than 60 degree or certificate programs at the main 35-acre campus in Middletown, MxCC@Platt in Meriden, and online.
