Certified coder

tiffany_susantiffany_susan
in CDI Talk Archive
Good morning everyone! I have decided to move forward and become a certified coder. Can anyone offer advice/suggestions on the best route to take? I am also looking for exam prep courses.

Thank You,
Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program
" You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!" Mae West

Comments

  • mahmed1mahmed1
    edited May 2016
    what kind of certification you are looking for? I have some option for you.

  • dvitalone1dvitalone1
    edited May 2016
    I plan to do the same prior to ICD 10 so any information will be helpful


    DAWN, RN
    Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist


  • sharon.colesharon.cole
    edited May 2016
    Most community colleges offer an Associate's in Coding - I was going to do that after I complete my BSN.

    Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
    Providence Health Center
    Case Management Dept
    254.751.4256
    srcole@phn-waco.org

  • dvitalone1dvitalone1
    edited May 2016
    There is a local college here that offers a coding certificate. Has anyone heard of that?



  • mahmed1mahmed1
    edited May 2016
    there is few certification for coding like CPC, CCA and CCS, I used to teach CCA and CCS to my coworker and friends and all of them passed you do not needs to attend college or school for these.

  • ddouthitddouthit
    edited May 2016
    Susan,

    There are many community colleges that offer a coding certificate program and then you can begin studying for the actual exam. AHIMA offers some great study guides for CCS and the Professional Review Guide is also a good review. There are also coding workbooks available thru AHIMA an HCPro that are great ways to beef up on the knowledge you already have and help you get familiar with the ICD9-CM book.
    AHIMA and HCPro both offer coding certification.
    Good Luck!

    Dorie Douthit, RHIT,CCS


  • pagebrpagebr
    edited May 2016
    I am Taking the AHIMA online coding courses. There are 4 clusters of 3-4 classes. All online. You have 15 weeks to complete a cluster.

    http://www.ahima.org/ContinuingEd/Campus/courseinfo/cb.aspx?tab=6

    Brigitte Page, RRT, RN
    UM/Clinical Documentation Improvement
    Upstate University Hospital
    750 E. Adams Street
    Syracuse, NY 13210
    315-464-5854


  • tiffany_susantiffany_susan
    edited May 2016

    I am looking specifically at the CCS

    Thank You,
    Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
    Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program

  • ddouthitddouthit
    edited May 2016
    How comfortable are you with assigning ICD9-CM codes? I think that will determine how intensive your education needs will be? There are not education requirements to sit for the CCS or HcPro certification?

  • bosankorbosankor
    edited May 2016
    I am certified through AHIMA and AAPC and if you are trying to decide which organization to certify through I would recommend AHIMA. This is only my opinion but the AHIMA credential in my experience carries more prestige/recognition. However there will be critical demand for certified coders and an even higher demand for clinical documentation specialists who are also certified so either way is a win/win. My only other advice if you are looking at a school ensure that their curriculum and offering of ICD-9 versus ICD-10 classes are on target for when the organizations start testing and certifying. If you only take ICD-10 classes but due to the delay the certification test is in ICD-9 you don't want to wait a year to take the certification exam until it is offered in ICD-10. Good luck to you all!

    Roberta Bosanko-Cera MS, CCS-P, CPMA, CPC-P, CEMC
    AHIMA ICD-10-CM/PCS Ambassador & Training Instructor
    Director, Finance ICD-10
    Hospital For Special Surgery
    535 E 70th Street
    New York, NY 10021
    bosankor@hss.edu
    212-774-2906 Office

  • sharon.colesharon.cole
    edited May 2016
    I don't know a lot about it but, there are coding certificates and coding degrees: Associates=RHIT, Bachelor's=RHIA. I think someone once told me the certificates are more for outpatient coding (like physician offices-but am not completely sure).

    Sharon Cole, RN, CCDS
    Providence Health Center
    Case Management Dept
    254.751.4256
    srcole@phn-waco.org


  • paxnerospaxneros
    edited May 2016

    If you are looking. To obtain your CCS, AHIMA has some online classes for
    basic ICD 9 coding and Basic Outpatient. There are also workbooks
    w/exercises - coding scenarios which are helpful for studying.

    Mark is currently taking a CCS prep course - I believe it is mentioned in a
    previous thread here on CDI Talk. Its $250 for several weeks online.
    Vicki Davis has also shared her experience in prepping for the exam in that
    thread as well.

    Most people will also recommend you study the Coding Guidelines and the
    Professional Review Guide (PRG) for CCS exam. You can get this through
    Amazon.

    NBrunson, RHIA, CDIP,CCDS

  • tiffany_susantiffany_susan
    edited May 2016

    I feel very comfortable assigning ICD-9. I have been working towards by BS
    in HIM for a few years ... very slowly .... and plan to continue. I just
    feel I need the certification.
    Thank You,
    Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
    Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program

  • ddouthitddouthit
    edited May 2016
    Susan,

    Then I would start with a study guide from AHIMA or PRG. This would be a good way to gauge a starting point. Good Luck!!

    Dorie Douthit, RHIT,CCS

  • tiffany_susantiffany_susan
    edited May 2016

    Basically I am looking for a prep class before I take the exam.
    Thank You,
    Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
    Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program

  • tiffany_susantiffany_susan
    edited May 2016

    Thank You!
    Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
    Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program

  • mdomineseymdominesey
    edited May 2016
    I would be sure to work on a BS program that is certified by AHIMA so you can sit for the RHIA when done. Your options get wide open with the RHIA! Probably something I will pursue as well as my research shows that I should be able to get into and complete a RHIA certified BS with 30-40 hours of course work as it will be a second bachelors (second bachelors have less coursework to do for just about any program as the core liberal arts and preparatory stuff is already done).

    Mark



    Mark N. Dominesey, RN, BSN, MBA, CCDS, CDIP
    Clinical Documentation Excellence
    Sr. Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
    Sibley Memorial Hospital

    Information Technology
    5255 Loughboro Rd NW
    Washington DC, 20016-2695

    W: 202.660.6782
    F: 202.537.4477
    mdominesey@sibley.org

    [cid:image001.gif@01CD2462.72325AB0]
    http://www.sibley.org

  • katysuegood@gmail.comkatysuegood@gmail.com
    edited May 2016
    I took my CCS a few months ago. I did not take any classes. I bought two study guides and just studied those. I was pretty comfortable assigning ICD-9 prior.

    Good luck!

    Katy Good, RN, BSN, CCDS, CCS
    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

  • paxnerospaxneros
    edited May 2016

    That's great Tiffany! I think its a good goal to achieve for your
    professional life. :)

    NBrunson, RHIA, CDIP, CCDS

  • paxnerospaxneros
    edited May 2016
    That's right - it was you Katy who posted your experience w/ the CCS! My bad! I found it to be good information. :)

    NBrunson, RHIA,CDIP, CCDS

  • paxnerospaxneros
    edited May 2016
    Good to hear back from you on that course, Mark.  Glad you have found it beneficial.  Wonder what else will be included on the new test? (After June 1st)  if I sit for it it will definitely be after then...

    NBrunson, RHIA,CDIP,CCDS

  • mahmed1mahmed1
    edited May 2016
    call you I will guide you for the exam.


  • evanspx@sutterhealth.orgevanspx@sutterhealth.org
    edited May 2016
    There are many levels of 'coders', just as there are many levels of
    nurses, and not all nurses are an RN:

    The AHIMA credentials are, roughly

    RHIA - Requires 4 year degree - B.S. - concentrates on many facets
    other than coding, alone - probably not the type of commitment an RN
    would wish to undertake given, unless you want to commitment time and
    energy to earn a 2nd B.S.? (Does require clinical education - A&P,
    pathophysiology, Clinical laboratory science, and other courses I am
    not listing - I am sure an RN would not need to repeat these classes)

    RHIT- Similar to RHIA, but offers an A.A. degree - 2-year program

    CCS - This is not a degree program, but is a valuable credential. I
    think this one is perfect for an RN that wants to commit to earning a
    recognized coding credential - RN has the necessary course requirements
    satisfied. There are many messages here regarding content of this exam
    and study preparation.

    Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS



    Supervisor, Clinical Documentation Integrity, Quality Department

    California Pacific Medical Center

    2351 Clay #243

    San Francisco, CA 94115

    Cell: 415.637.9002

    Fax: 415.600.1325

    Ofc: 415.600.3739

    evanspx@sutterhealth.org

  • evanspx@sutterhealth.orgevanspx@sutterhealth.org
    edited May 2016
    Ensure any certificate you earned is recognized by a major body, such as
    AHIMA or Association of Procedure Coders - (APC).

    I have to get on my soapbox her a bit - there is so much talk on this
    site about coders and sometimes the decisions made by coders and/or
    'clinical knowledge of 'coders' has been questioned.

    We should recognize that some business offer 'learn how to code'
    courses that one can learn in 'just a few weekends'. Please be aware
    that many people work as 'coders' and many business offer 'coding and
    billing courses'. The education and competency of coders can vary.

    There are also institutions that are fully accredited offering 4-year
    degrees requiring courses that can satisfy admission to medical school -
    at my university, several that earned the RHIA were accepted to Med
    School and earned their MD.

    So, be mindful that a 'certificate' in coding has many connotations.


    Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS

    Supervisor, Clinical Documentation Integrity, Quality Department
    California Pacific Medical Center
    2351 Clay #243
    San Francisco, CA 94115
    Cell: 415.637.9002
    Fax: 415.600.1325
    Ofc: 415.600.3739
    evanspx@sutterhealth.org
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