CCS

judithbates

Would like some feedback on obtaining a CCS. I already have my CDS. Are there many nurses who have taken and find this helpful in their practice? My thought is that in reading some of the answers that people give to presented questions on CDI talk, their maus t be some that have more coding experience than CDI...

tiffany_susan

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All five members of my department are in the process of obtaining our CCS.
I feel it gives us a much better understand of "why" we ask the questions
we do, and it will give us a little more credibility with the providers. (
And, honestly, it looks great on a resume!)
Thank You,
Susan Tiffany RN, CCDS
Supervisor Clinical Documentation Program

email: tiffany_susan@guthrie.org
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail
away from safe harbor.Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." Mark Twain

Unknown

I have my CPC which I found very beneficial to understanding the coding guidelines. I am very glad I went through the course.

Charlene Thiry RN, BSN, CPC, CCDS
Clinical Documentation Specialist
Menorah Medical Center

mahmed1

I have CCS credential with coding back coding and medical back ground, its much beneficial. if any body need any suggestion regarding CCS, feel free to contact.


thanks,


Mohammad

Sincerely,

Mohammad Ahmed, M.D, CCS, CCDS,
Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist
Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center
Health Information Management
1650 Grand Concourse
Bronx, NY 10457
Phone: 718-518-5119
Fax: 718-518-5634
Email: mahmed1@bronxleb.org

catladyrn

Charlene, I am just curious if you were already a coder when you became a nurse. I've looked into different coding certifications and the CPC requires two years as a inpatient coder, which I clearly do not have. And the CCS, because it includes CPT coding, seems way beyond my skill set. So I'd be interested in the experiences of the nurses here who've never been coders.

Renee


Linda Renee Brown, RN, CCRN, CCDS
Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center

Unknown

No. I'm a lifetime RN and had the CPC for 3 1/2 years now. I have never 'coded'. I was looking for a coding job when this Clinical Documentation Specialist job was offered.

If I jog my memory having a BSN helped on the requirement end. The CPC class included CPT, HCPC and ICD-9.

Coming into this position understanding the coding guidelines was a real bonus and the learning curve was not quite as steep.

The inpatient coders whom I work with were great teachers and have been my guides since I started.

Charlene

paxneros

I know 3-5 years of Coding experiennce is encouraged before sitting for the exam.

It depends a lot on how well you test. Every person is different.

It also depends on what kind of coding you do in your CDI program. This is only a general observation - again its up to the individual - but I wouldn't think the type coding done in most CDI programs would benefit CCS. Some help certainly but I would not rely on it being the only source.

We have a condition for hire for our coders that they be certified within a year. They start with the CCA - Certified Coding Associate. After they have some time to gain experience they may sit for CCS.

With ICD 10 looming in te future, now is the time to do it!

parrispa@musc.edu

Good question, would like to know myself. I have been a CDI nurse for 7

tpeyton

Yes good question. I have been doing CDI for almost 5 years. I am afraid to take the test because it has outpatient as well as inpatient. I know nothing about the outpatient side.



Tracy M Peyton RN, CCDS
Bradford Regional Medical Center
Upper Allegany Health Systems
116 Interstate Parkway
Bradford, PA 16701
814-558-0406

gail.spratlin@eamc.org

I worked as CDI for 18 months and I studied the ACDIS CCDS Exam Study Guide for several weeks and took the practice tests until I felt comfortable with my results.

nieke.oglesby

What materials did you use to study? I have only been a CDI for less
than a year so I am looking for different sources for study guide as
well as personal knowledge to improve my job performance.

Thank you.
Nieke Oglesby, RN
Baptist Health System
Jacksonville, Florida.

tpeyton

I already have the CCDS, I was thinking about doing the CCS



Tracy M Peyton RN, CCDS
Bradford Regional Medical Center
Upper Allegany Health Systems
116 Interstate Parkway
Bradford, PA 16701
814-558-0406

katysuegood@gmail.com

We are talking about the CCS right? It seems like some people are talking about the CCDS? I took the test with 1 year experience as a CDI. I did not have any prior coding experience but I have lucked out with a Coding Manager that took me under her wing and has guided me in learning the ropes. We sat side-by-side reviewing death charts and doing DRG audits for several hours weekly for about 9months before I took the test. So, my experience with coding may have been greater than a CDI that is primarily focused on concurrent reviews (I was about 50% concurrent). I did not take any classes and stuff and began "studying" (I use that term loosely) about a month prior to the test. The week before, I literally spent every evening from 8-midnight and both days on the weekend cramming.

I C/P this from a post I made right after the test about my experience.


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.


Just go for it!!


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

parrispa@musc.edu

I am using the ACDIS CCDS Exam Study Guide. I also have an INGENIX coding book.
pam

Pamela Parris,RN
Clinical Documentation Integrity
MUSC
Charleston, South Carolina 29425
Pager: 12295
(843) 792-3442
MAIN HOSPITAL

Confidentiality Notice:

katysuegood@gmail.com

In my experience, You can have large gaps in knowledge and still pass the test . I also had no OP experience. Honestly, I should have just skipped the CPT procedure coding part. It was time consuming and I doubt I was right anyways. Focus on the parts you do know. Everyone I know who has taken the test has not completed all the questions, so your best bet is to skip to the ones you are most confident on instead of wasting time on the ones you are going to struggle with.

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

tkreiling

I was recently told you have to take the CCS test yearly to renew, do you know if that is true or not. I haven't looked it up myself.

Thanks,

Tara RN,CCDS

katysuegood@gmail.com

I would cry! My understanding is you just have to stay up to date on continuing education...

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

nieke.oglesby

That is a good advice Katy, thank you. I still have a long way to go
but feel never too early to start gathering knowledge. I will
definitely keep your suggestion in mind.

Nieke Oglesby.

parrispa@musc.edu

Thanks for the info.
pam

Pamela Parris,RN
Clinical Documentation Integrity
MUSC
Charleston, South Carolina 29425
Pager: 12295
(843) 792-3442
MAIN HOSPITAL

epracz

For those who took the CCS, what books would you recommend?

Thanks,
Eileen RN, CCDS

katysuegood@gmail.com

I used the AHIMA guide.

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

dvitalone1

Been a CDI nurse for 2 years. Not a good test taker at all. Wrote all the info in the DRG expert, that is how I studied. No other studying. It is what you do every day. Be confident in yourself and go take the test. If I can do it you can do it!

tkreiling

Thanks, that makes more sense to me but after I was told that by one of our coders I was discouraged to start pursing it. I will see what I can find on AHIMA's website.

Tara RN,CCDS

katysuegood@gmail.com

If that were to be true, it would be a very recent change. It definitely has not been this way in the past.

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

tkreiling

I just looked, doesn't appear to be true from what I am reading just CEU's and self-assessments. Guess I should have looked before I even brought it up


Tara, RN,CCDS

fishdl@shands.ufl.edu

I highly recommend Faye Brown's ICD-9-CM Coding Handbook.

To maintain your (AHIMA) CCS credential you are required to complete an annual Self-Assessment which you can complete either on-line or complete on paper and mail in. It consists of 25 multiple choice questions - both ICD-9 and CPT related questions. It costs $25 for AHIMA members and $50 for non-members.
You must also report your CEUs every two years (20 per year)

Donna, CCS, CCDS
fishdl@shands.ufl.edu

vivian.gannon

Thank you for your wonderful insight, Katy. I am preparing to sit for the CSS exam in the very near future, so your comments are most helpful!

Vivian


Vivian E. Gannon RN,CCM,CCDS
Clinical Documentation Improvement Coordinator
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center
vivian.gannon@chesapeakeregional.com

paxneros

You have to take two tests a year. It is not a certification test. These are competency tests which count towards your CEUs- and because its AHIMA- you have to pay for them! Gotta love'em! I do believe they count for 10 of your CEUs.

NBrunson, RHIA,CDIP,CCDS

sabullock

I took the CCS in August. I have been involved with CDI since 2007. I had some knowledge on outpatient but it was limited. The greatest hurdle for me was I am used to an electronic encoder and the CCS exam is book based. So I practiced a great deal with both ICD-9 and CPT coding from the book. This test is electronic. And if my memory services me correctly (took the test in August so have slept since then) you cannot leave things blank. You can mark a question to go back to it if you have time. So I went in with an unlisted codes to use as my place holders.

I was on the last question when time ran out so I did not get to go back. My advice is to work quickly. Try to answer correctly but if you do not know it at all - add a place holder and hope you have time to go back - realizing you very well may not.

I used AHIMA CCS study guide, Faye Brown, a borrowed book on CPT/Outpt from a coder friend don't remember the name and enrolled in an online CCS prep class taught by Pietro S. Ingrande, D.B.A. CodeMasters. What this class really did for me was help me recognize my weaknesses and where I needed to self study. This class is a book coding class and goes over coding rules for inpt and outpt but mostly inpt. I was the only RN CDI - everyone else taking were coders.

I registered for the test and set up a study schedule. I did cram a lot the week prior. I tabbed my ICD-9 and CPT code books. You can write notes in the books so I included sepsis coding rules (brief) where the sepsis codes were and things of that nature. In my CPT code book I wrote some of the outpt rules so I would remember.

The test is very hard. I did pass, thankfully. You do not have to take the test every year. Certification renewal is by required pertinent continuing education documentation just like other certifications.

Shelia Bullock, RN, BSN, MBA, CCM, CCDS, CCS
University of MS Med Ctr
Sabullock@umc.edu

nieke.oglesby

Is CCS required for CCDS?

Nieke Oglesby, RN

katysuegood@gmail.com

no. they are completely different. CCS is a coding certification. CCDS is a CDI certification.

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

Debbie.Carmack

I have coded for Inpatient since 1994 , and been doing CDI since 2008 . I am not certified in either. Needing to get certified , feel like the CCDS would be more beneficial ? I am not a good test taker, so I am nervous . What do you all recommend on which books to get , and do you agree that the CCDS Exam is the right one to go for , since I do CDI now ?
   Debbie Carmack, CDS
   Carlisle , PA

katysuegood@gmail.com

Both are valuable certifications. If you are not a great test taker and have been working as a CDI for 9 years and do not anticipate going back to coding, I would pursue the CCDS. It should be far easier to pass because it truly is reflective of what a CDI does on a daily basis. The CCS is a far more difficult exam, especially for those of us who are not truly coding records.

Katy