Health information technology is one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the US. As a Medical Coding Specialist Professional, you stand at the crossroads of health care and technology, and make an important contribution to the delivery of quality care. The Medical Coding Specialist Program at RETS College is a no-nonsense approach to coding and billing that takes students through a careful step-by-step study of what medical coders and billers really need to know to be successful in this growing career field. Medical Coding Specialist has begun a day program as well as an evening program.
This program is divided into 15-week semesters for evening students. It is a diploma program that requires completion of 39 credit hours over three semesters. It is presently offered only in the evening.
Evening students complete 39 credit hours over three semesters, (45 weeks), and attend 4 hours per evening, 4 evenings per week, (16 class hours per week), and are considered full-time students.
The objective of the Medical Coding Specialist program is to prepare the student for entry level positions in coding in the medical field. Typical job titles in this health care field are Medical Coding Specialist, Insurance Coder, Insurance Biller, Claims Specialist, and ICD 9/CPT Coder.
"Medical Coding Specialist" means transforming the written or verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries and procedures into numerical designations. Students will be instructed in all aspects of Medical Coding Specialist and billing, the assignment of codes for indexing diagnoses and procedures, to provide information for reimbursement purposes, and the analysis of medical records (charts).
Students will learn the etiology, pathology, symptoms, signs, diagnostics and treatment of patients to properly code medical records and bill the insurance companies. They will also become familiar with the content of the medical record in order to be able to locate information to support or provide specificity for accurate coding.
Upon completion of the program, students will have gained the knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and the diseases and disorders of the human body and the skills of ICD 9/ CPT coding, hospital coding, and coding and billing. They will be an asset to any medical office or health care facility and will be able to take advantage of the many opportunities available in today's Medical Coding Specialist profession.
Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics through 2006 show that positions for Nurses will experience faster than average employment growth, with job opportunities increasing by 21 percent in nursing, versus 14 percent for all occupations. Government projections indicate that demand for Nurses will outstrip supply by 2010, and, by 2015, it is anticipated that 114,000 full-time equivalent Nursing positions will be unfilled nationally.
Source: Lubin, Vivian H. ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN: The New Nursing Shortage.
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