OVERVIEW
The medical coding professional is responsible for translating healthcare providers’ diagnostic and procedural phrases into coded form. Coding professionals do this by reviewing and analyzing health records to identify relevant diagnoses and procedures. This translation process requires interaction with the health care provider to ensure terms are translated correctly. Certified medical coders are trained in the anatomy and physiology of the human body and disease processes in order to understand the etiology, pathology, symptoms, signs, diagnostic studies, treatment modalities, and prognosis of diseases and procedures to be coded. The job entails knowledge of disease processes and procedural techniques to consistently apply the correct codes. A medical coding professional works as part of a team to achieve the best quality patient care. The HIMT: Coding Specialist Certificate prepares students to take the CPC coding certification exam.
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Program Details
The health information management technology certificate consists of nine courses and students are able to complete the program in three semesters.
Career Outlook
Graduates of this program obtain positions as:
- Health information technicians
- Medical billing and coding professionals
- Data Quality Managers
- HIM Compliance Specialists
Employers include hospitals, medical offices, clinics, and insurance companies.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage for medical records and health information technicians was $35,900 in May 2014.
Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 15 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages.