Facility coding (hospital coding) is one of the best-paying sectors of the coding profession. If you're already performing some aspect of facility coding, the Advanced Hospital Coding (AHC) course will fill in the gaps, making you a more marketable employee. If you're currently working in a physician's office or other ambulatory care setting, this course will give you the edge you need to advance in the workplace.
Hospital coding is rarely an entry-level position, and most hospital coders are required to be certified. AHC covers advanced, hospital-specific coding and billing procedures and is designed to help you meet the challenge of today's changing standards. This course utilizes your existing knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare sciences. Upon completion, you will receive a voucher to take the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam.
I.
Hospital Structure, Billing, and Insurance
II.
Ethics and HIPAA Administrative Simplification
III.
Inpatient Acute Care Diagnosis Coding
IV.
Regulatory Guidelines and Reporting Requirements for Acute (Inpatient)
Care
V.
ICD-10-PCS Inpatient Procedure Coding
VI.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Coding for Ambulatory Care
VII. Data
Quality, Compliance, and Auditing
VIII.
Career Roadmap
IX.
Certified Coding Specialist (CCS®) Certification Exam Prep
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows XP or later.
- Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download the Flash Player.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
- Coding and Reimbursement for Hospital Inpatient Services
- Professional Review Guide for the CCS/CCS-P Examination (1yr access to e-book)
You should have the current year's version of the following materials for the Advanced Hospital Coding & CCS Prep Course. Before purchasing, please check the AHIMA website for the Allowable Code Books List for the CCS certification examination.
You must have these materials:
- Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
- Healthcare Professional Coding System (HCPCS) Level II
- ICD-10-CM
- ICD-10-PCS
Prerequisites:
This is not an entry-level course. Advanced Hospital Coding course was designed specifically for students with previous coding experience or education and for students who have completed either the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with Medical Billing and Coding course or the Medical Billing and Coding course.
CCS candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- By Credential: RHIA®, RHIT®, or CCS-P® OR
- By Education: The following courses MUST be completed; anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic/procedural and CPT coding; OR
- By Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
- By Credential with Experience: CCA® plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
- Other Coding credential from other certifying organization plus one (1) year coding experience directly applying codes.
If you do not qualify for the CCS exam, you may still be eligible for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA®) an entry-level certification exam offered by AHIMA or the American Association of Professional Coders Apprentice level certification, the Certified Professional Coder Apprentice (CPC-A) or Certified Inpatient Coder (CICTM). This course will prepare you for those certifications as well, and you'll find more information about them in the Certification Prep lesson at the end of the course.
Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.
Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island's St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
1. Can I
register for courses if I am an international student?
Yes, because ed2go courses are online you never have to actually
travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online
registration.
2. How long
does it take to complete a course?
All of our courses are self-paced and open enrollment, so you can
start them when you want and finish them at your own pace. Upon
registering, you're given six months to complete this course.
3. Do I have to
buy additional materials?
If you don't have access to current coding books, you'll be responsible
for obtaining them.
4. Does this course prepare for National Certification?
Yes, the Advanced Hospital Coding course prepares students to sit for
the Certified Coding Specialist exam offered by AHIMA.
5. Can I get
financial assistance?
ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for
federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development
boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.
6. What happens
when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a
certificate of completion.
7. Am I
guaranteed a job?
ed2go courses will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an
entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job
placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will
help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding
your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a
professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential
students should always do research on the job market in their area
before registering.
8. Who will be
my instructor?
Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one
interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer
any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance.
All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the
fields in which they teach.
9. What
software or hardware do I need in order to take online courses and
what are the system requirements?
In order to take our online courses, you must have access to a
computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any
Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in
to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing
program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet
Explorer.
10. Can I use a
Mac?
Yes, you can use a Mac for this course.
11. How can I
get more information about the course?
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel
free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button toward the top of
the page). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please
feel free to send us a question using the "Contact Us" form to the
right. You may also call us at 1-855-520-6806. We will answer your
questions promptly.
12. When can I
start the course?
Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the
program as soon as you are ready.
Please note:
Once the course curriculum is accessed online or through submission of
a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.
13. What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?
The
time allotted to complete your program has been calculated based on the
number of hours for each program, so don't worry too much about not
completing in time. If, after a concerted effort, you are still unable
to complete, your Student Advisor will help you work out a suitable
completion date. Please note that a fee may be charged for an extension.
As a bilingual I really enjoy everything about this course... The teacher responded very promptly whenever I sent her a question; this is a great opportunity for anyone who would love to achieve a better future for tomorrow
- E.H., DePaul University
My facilitator's responses were always quick when I had a question. Bunny is very knowledgeable.
- M.S., Excelsior College
My facilitator was always easy to contact and always answered questions quickly. I thought the course was very well organized, especially for a course that contains so many smaller areas within a broader-based field of content. This course had to be difficult to set up and have the information flow as smoothly as it did. It was very well set up in my opinion. This contributed greatly to my ability to learn and relate the various types of information so that I could complete assignments and tests. I had an excellent learning experience. This is exactly the type of learning environment that students need. I learn more in a positive learning environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and that sums up my experience with the AHC & CCS Prep course. It was great!
- E.B., Middle Tennessee State University
I enjoyed the ability to work at my own pace. The immediate feedback from my facilitator was amazing and the coursework was exceptional. I will be recommending ed2go to everyone. Thank You.
- B.V., University of Houston
I liked that it was available to do at my own pace and yet I could reach someone when I had a question. The combination of the online course and the books proved to be an intense learning experience. I am happy that I was able to pass the CCS exam earlier this week and could not have done it without this preparation!
- M.H., Madonna University