CCS Exam!

katysuegood@gmail.comkatysuegood@gmail.com
in CDI Talk Archive
I PASSED!! it certainly was the hardest test I have ever taken, but I made it through. I want to scream it out here as no one I know identifies with how difficult a coding exam can be!

As I was testing, I was thinking "how did I end up here, taking a coding test?". 18mo ago I was a Part-time ER nurse with a background in ICU. It's crazy how a career can change. This certainly wasn't what I envisioned in nursing school! But, I am enjoying it!

Anyways, I'm blabbering. Just happy its over.

Any other nurses that have taken the test? How did you feel? For me, the NCLEX were a breeze compared to this!

Comments

  • lsipos@monument.healthlsipos@monument.health
    edited May 2016
    Congratulations!
    I AM PLANNING ON TAKING THE CCDS EXAM IN MAY OR JUNE...BUT YOU ARE REALLY SCARING ME WITH HOW DIFFICULT YOU MADE IT SOUND. ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR STUDYING? DID YOU ORDER THE STUDY GUIDE?

    jULI

  • mdomineseymdominesey
    edited May 2016
    Congratulations!!!!!

    I am currently enrolled in Pietro Ingrande's CCS Prep course (2nights/week/3hrs each x 5 weeks for $250) and I am hoping to take the CCS test in April while I am between PhD classes.

    Can you send me some tips that may make my life easier as I prepare?



    Mark N. Dominesey, RN, BSN, MBA, CCDS
    Sr. Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
    Sibley Memorial Hospital
    5255 Loughboro Rd NW
    Washington DC, 20016-2695

    W: 202.660.6782
    F: 202.537.4477
    mdominesey@sibley.org

  • ddouthitddouthit
    Mark,

    The below reference (PRG for CCS)is extremely helpful in studying for the CCS. It is reasonably priced and you can order it off Amazon.com. Good Luck!

    The PROFESSIONAL REVIEW GUIDE FOR THE CCS EXAMINATION, 2012 EDITION is an essential, effective preparation tool for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam. This comprehensive learning package includes a reader-friendly, content-rich book, along with a CD-ROM featuring additional useful resources and interactive study tools. Thorough and up-to-date, this invaluable guide covers critical information to help you pass the exam and prepare for professional success, including material on current code sets and AHIMA standards, ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS coding, electronic medical records, HIPAA requirements, and relevant laws, standards, and procedures. In addition to mock exam questions and detailed answer keys, the guide includes study tips, coding case studies, and quizzes and activities linked to AHIMA competencies to help you hone your skills by assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures for a variety of patient settings.
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  • ddouthitddouthit
    CONGRATULATIONS!!! As a coder, I feel that way about sitting for the CCDS. :)
  • mdomineseymdominesey
    edited May 2016
    I like to pile it on - I am waiting with baited breath for the results of the CDIP test from AHIMA. The results are supposed to be mailed today and the Pearson/VUE website is supposed to be updated with Pass/Fail Status the "week of March 6". So yes, I am checking every 30 minutes or so to see if I passed that exam (took it December 8).

    If you are a praying person, please take a moment to offer one for me!

    Mark
  • katysuegood@gmail.comkatysuegood@gmail.com
    edited May 2016
    Ok, I do have some guidance in retrospect.

    The test is split in domains. I had no problem (100%) on compliance, privacy/ethics, Data quality management, Documentation and the inpatient regulatory/reporting guidelines. I did fine on the information/communication technology as well. I struggled a little more with the outpatient regulation/reporting guidelines (probably because I have no background in outpatient).
    But, what really threw me was the actual diagnosis and procedure coding. It was BRUTAL! Prior to beginning to study I had never opened a CPT book so the outpatient procedure coding was exceedingly difficult. I also don’t ever look at V-codes, so I needed to learn those as well.
    The exam has roughly 100 mult choice/mult select. That was the easy part for me. Then there are 12 cases that you have to code. Time is really the issue. I realized that I was only on case #7 with 30 minutes left in the exam (and I am a fast reader)! I had read somewhere that you get points for each correct dx/procedure but you get extra point for having the correct Pdx. When I realized there was no way I would complete every case I began flipping though, assigning the principle dx and any easy dx I saw in the D/C summery (HTN, DM, hyperlipemia) and just entering 0000 for the other blanks (you have to enter something to move on). This worked for me. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have wasted so much time searching for one missing dx (you know how many codes you should have based on the blanks) and should have focused on just getting the easy dx. I also likely should have skipped the CPT procedure entirely and moved on to the ones I was more likely to get right. I am positive my score would have been higher this way. You actually can miss a lot of the coding questions and still pass when you do well on the other portion.

    I did use the AHIMA study guide. I would also suggest memorizing as much as possible of the "Guidelines" in the book. You have the book but you do not have time look that stuff up. I would not waste my time (although I did) on reviewing coding clinics.

    Katy Good, RN, BSN
    Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
    AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
    Flagstaff Medical Center
    Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
    Office: 928.214.3864
    Cell: 928.814.9404

  • katysuegood@gmail.comkatysuegood@gmail.com
    edited May 2016
    Whose taken the CCDS exam?

    I registered for the CCDS exam (at least I thought I did?), but I have not heard back about a ATT? Does it take a while to get it or should I contact HcPro about this?

    Katy Good, RN, BSN
    Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
    AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
    Flagstaff Medical Center
    Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
    Office: 928.214.3864
    Cell: 928.814.9404


  • mdomineseymdominesey
    edited May 2016
    Awesome!! Thanks so much for the helpful advice.

    Mark

  • paxnerospaxneros
    edited May 2016

    Congratulations! It is a test that strikes fear in the strongest of hearts!
    Way to kick it in the teeth!

    NBrunson, RHIA, CCDS

  • mdomineseymdominesey
    edited May 2016
    Took them several days - week to give me an ATT, then registered and took at an H&R Block a week later. Probably not nearly as hard as the CCS!

    Mark



  • robert.hodges2robert.hodges2
    edited May 2016
    Katy,

    I'd shoot Penny an email to check on the status.

    Robert

    Robert S. Hodges, BSN, MSN, RN, CCDS
    Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
    Aleda E. Lutz VAMC
    Mail Code 136
    1500 Weiss Street
    Saginaw MI 48602
     
    P: 989-497-2500 x13101
    F: 989-321-4912
    E: Robert.Hodges2@va.gov
     
    "We are dealing with Veterans, not procedures; With their problems, not ours." --General Omar Bradley

  • katysuegood@gmail.comkatysuegood@gmail.com
    edited May 2016
    Ok. I need to contact them. I had pushed it aside as I was studying for the CCS, but I need to move on to the next one now....

    Thanks for the info.

    Katy Good, RN, BSN
    Clinical Documentation Program Coordinator
    AHIMA Approved ICD-10CM/PCS Trainer
    Flagstaff Medical Center
    Kathryn.Good@nahealth.com
    Office: 928.214.3864
    Cell: 928.814.9404


  • jamiedugan2012jamiedugan2012
    edited May 2016
    Thanks for your input! I am not ready to take the test but am trying to
    study already!

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