Coding Specialist Certificate (COC)

This is an archived copy of the 2016-17 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.cincinnatistate.edu.

Coding Specialist Certificate (COC)

In many instances, financial reimbursement to patients or medical professionals for healthcare services is tied to the use of standard numeric coding systems. The Coding Specialist Certificate prepares students for entry-level positions applying these codes to healthcare records in hospitals, outpatient clinics, physician group practices, billing companies, and insurance companies. Students learn to accurately determine code assignments using ICD and CPT coding systems.

Graduates of the certificate program may take an entry-level certification exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Successful completion of the exam earns the credential Certified Coding Associate (CCA).

Professional organizations that offer advanced certification recommend coding education along with experience in the field prior to pursuing certification. Individuals should evaluate their knowledge and experience prior to considering an advanced certification examination.

For more information, please contact the Health and Public Safety Division at (513) 569-1670.

Coding Specialist Certificate (COC)

Semester 1LecLabCredits
FYE 1XX First Year Experience Elective  101
HIM 100Introduction to Health Information Management 303
BIO 151Anatomy and Physiology 1 324
Semester 2  
HIM 115Clinical Abstracting of Health Data 202
BIO 152Anatomy and Physiology 2 324
MCH 104Comprehensive Medical Terminology 303
Semester 3  
HIM 130International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding 404
HIM 135Pharmacology for Health Information Management 101
BIO 240Pathophysiology 303
Semester 4  
HIM 210Healthcare Reimbursement Methodologies 303
HIM 215Advanced Medical Coding 404
HIM 225Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding 303
Total Credits:  33435

Electives 

First Year Experience Elective
FYE 100College Survival Skills1
FYE 105College Success Strategies2
FYE 110Community College Experience3

Courses

HIM 100 Introduction to Health Information Management
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on key concepts of the health information management profession and health care documentation. Topics include: function, maintenance, storage, and processing of health records; and accreditation/regulatory requirements for health record documentation in acute and specialized care settings.
Prerequisites: BIO 100 or BIO 111, and CHE 100 or CHE 110 (minimum grade C for all) or high school or college-level Biology and Chemistry within the past 7 years with a minimum grade of C, and instructor consent

Instructor Consent Required

HIM 105 Legal Aspects of Health Information Management
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on the health record as a legal document. Topics include: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, release of information procedures, legal requirements for health record documentation, risk management, and physician credentialing.
Prerequisites: BIO 100 or BIO 111, and CHE 100 or CHE 110 (minimum grade C for all)

Ohio Transfer Assurance Guide Approved

HIM 110 Healthcare Quality Management and Data Analysis
4 Credits. 4 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on fundamentals of quality improvement and data analytics in healthcare. Topics include: quality improvement activities and processes, healthcare data analysis and presentation, and calculation of healthcare statistics.
Prerequisites: HIM 100 and IM 120 and MAT 131 (minimum grade C for all)

HIM 115 Clinical Abstracting of Health Data
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on abstracting supportive data used to validate diagnoses, and applying procedures used to create clinical databases. Topics include: analyzing and interpreting documentation, pharmacotherapy, establishing medical necessity for common laboratory and radiology tests, and Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) guidelines.
Prerequisites: BIO 151 and HIM 100 (minimum grade C for both)

HIM 120 Health Information Technology Systems
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on fundamentals of healthcare information systems, with a focus on the electronic health record. Topics include: health information security, and data exchange standards.
Prerequisites: HIM 105 (minimum grade C)

HIM 125 CPT Coding
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on principles of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system used to identify medical services and procedures performed by physicians. Topics include: coding for surgical procedures, radiology, pathology, laboratory, evaluation and management services, and anesthesiology; and modifiers and HCPCS Level II codes.
Prerequisites: BIO 152, HIM 115 (minimum grade C for both)

HIM 130 International Classification of Diseases (ICD) Coding
4 Credits. 4 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on principles of the ICD classification system for disease and procedure coding, including revision of the ICD to meet federal regulations. Topics include: coding for diseases and procedures associated with all body systems, coding to identify external causes of morbidity, health status factors, contact with health services, and preparing for entry-level certification exams.
Prerequisites: BIO 152 and HIM 115

HIM 135 Pharmacology for Health Information Management
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on health information related to drug therapy. Topics include: principles of drug therapy, drug classes and schedules, modes of administration, and indications and adverse effects for the major drug classes.
Prerequisites: BIO 152 and MCH 104

HIM 191 Part-Time Cooperative Education 1: Health Information Management
1 Credit. 1 Lecture Hour. 20 Lab Hours.

Students seeking an associate's degree participate in their first part-time field learning experience related to their degree. Students are expected to register for academic courses during the same semester. Students must follow cooperative education policies and procedures to earn credit. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: HIM 100 (minimum grade C)

Instructor Consent Required

HIM 198 First Year Special Topics in Health Information Management
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on selected topics related to Health Information Management, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: None

HIM 199 First Year Independent Project in Health Information Management
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A project related to Health Information Management that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Health Information Management faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: Vary by section

HIM 200 Health Information Management Strategies
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on fundamental principles of healthcare management and project management. Topics include: skills and methods for effective management of people, budgets, and projects; and roles of teams and committees.
Prerequisites: HIM 210 and HIM 215 (minimum grade C for both)

HIM 210 Healthcare Reimbursement Methodologies
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on reimbursement systems for healthcare services. Topics include: CMS 1500, UB-04, inpatient and outpatient prospective payment systems, Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS), and compliance monitoring.
Prerequisites: HIM 130 (minimum grade C)

Ohio Transfer Assurance Guide Approved

HIM 215 Advanced Medical Coding
4 Credits. 4 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on advanced principles of medical coding. Topics include: medical documentation concepts, code assignment, Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG), and Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APC).
Prerequisites: HIM 130 (minimum grade C)

HIM 220 Health Information Management Certification Exam Review
2 Credits. 2 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

Students review theory and practice in health information management to prepare for the national certification examination.
Prerequisites: HIM 210 and HIM 215 (minimum grade C for both)

HIM 225 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding
3 Credits. 3 Lecture Hours. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on principles of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system used to identify medical services and procedures performed by physicians. Topics include: coding for surgical procedures, radiology, pathology, anesthesiology, and laboratory, evaluation, and management services; and modifiers and Heathcare Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II Codes.
Prerequisites: BIO 152

HIM 280 Health Information Management Professional Practice
1 Credit. 0 Lecture Hour. 7 Lab Hours.

Students observe and participate in the operational functions of a community health information management department or specialized health information management work setting. Students also apply health information management principles to complete on-campus assignments and projects.
Prerequisites: HIM 110 and HIM 120 and HIM 130 (minimum grade C for all)

HIM 291 Full-time Cooperative Education 1: Health Information Management
2 Credits. 1 Lecture Hour. 40 Lab Hours.

Students seeking an associate's degree participate in their first full-time field learning experience related to their degree. Students must follow cooperative education policies and procedures to earn credit. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: HIM 100 (minimum grade C)

Instructor Consent Required

HIM 298 Second Year Special Topics in Health Information Management
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A course on selected topics related to Health Information Management, which gives students opportunities to study information not currently covered in other courses. Grades issued are A, B, C, D, or F.
Prerequisites: None

HIM 299 Second Year Independent Project in Health Information Management
1-9 Credits. 0 Lecture Hour. 0 Lab Hour.

A project related to Health Information Management that is completed by one or more students to meet specific educational goals. Projects must have prior approval and supervision by Health Information Management faculty. Grades issued are Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Prerequisites: None

Faculty

Program Chair/Advisor

Professor Cindy Kneip, RHIA
cindy.kneip@cincinnatistate.edu