Graduate Experiences
Career Step graduates get jobs! Read what some of our graduates are saying:
(Penny, Commerce City, CO) - I have to give the course the credit. The AAPC test was tough, but not as tough as the final test of the course. When I was called in to test for a position, I was very well qualified to take [their pre-employment] test and did get the first job I was called in for. My employers are very satisfied with my level of knowledge, especially considering, I had never been a "coder" before. I learned so much in the course and all of it has served me well. I tell anyone that is interested in becoming a coder to check into the course!
(Rachel, Stilesville, IN) - I currently work for a national healthcare consulting company and thanks to the Career Step program my career is advancing very rapidly... I am taking the AAPC exam in the next few weeks and I feel very comfortable thanks to the Career Step program. Without Career Step I never would have been ready for the national exam. The setup of the program was very user friendly and if I ever had a question it was answered in a very prompt manner. I have referred others to the program... THANK YOU CAREER STEP!!!!
(Nancy, Arvada, CO) - I was very fortunate to be hired as a coder just as I was finishing up the course and before I passed my certification exam. I have worked for Ameripath, a pathology lab for almost 18 months now as a medical coder.
(Stephen, Smithfield, RI) - I am working as a Coding Tech at Rhode Island Hospital. The experience with Career Step was a wonderful one. I was working two jobs and raising my newborn son while taking these courses, and the program is so convenient that even I was able to find the appropriate time. [My questions] always received a prompt response from Randy Johnson and [the rest of the staff], and I'd like to thank them for that.
(Sadie, Arvada, CO) - I appreciate all that Career Step did for me to accomplish my goal [to become] a coder.
Chris Foster, a Manager for EGOS, a Career Step Academic Partner that offers our Medical Coding Program through their school related this information about his students and graduates:
"I am getting VERY positive feedback... Grads from other programs are unable to sit for the certification test and are told by their schools to go out and TRY to get a job, work for a year or two, and then take the test. Their programs are 6 months, in classrooms, and cost between $9,500 and $10,000. SHAME ON THEM!! My grads have said that those students don't have a clue about what to do on the job and are frustrated and unhappy. My [Career Step] grads feel good about the education they got and are happy with their jobs!
More excellent news! Kaiser Medical visited EGOS in the Spring to do some mock interviewing. They kept resumes for all our students they interviewed with and called to offer ALL of them jobs.
Employers Hire Our Graduates
Inpatient & Outpatient Coding & Billing Curriculum
The Career Step Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing online career training program consists of 20 modules, or course subjects, that are broken into smaller units. The program helps you develop coding and billing skills through knowledge acquisition and hands-on application. Immediate assessment and guidance is offered upon the completion of each unit, and a final exam is scheduled and graded by our coding and billing student support specialists.
A portion of your time within the Career Step Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program will be spent training on industry-standard 3M encoding software*. Your experience with this software will help you cement your knowledge of inpatient codes and procedures and is important to your transition into the inpatient coding industry. This hands-on training with the 3M encoding software builds and refines the important skills that differentiate inpatient coders from outpatient coders and is a crucial part of your preparation for a career in inpatient coding.
*Note: The hands-on training with the 3M encoding software is only compatible with PCs and the Internet Explorer 7 browser. Mac users can access all other program material, and students can complete the program's practical sections with the industry-standard codebooks included with the program.
Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program module descriptions:
Program Orientation
In the Introduction and Program Orientation module the student will be introduced to the healthcare coding and billing industries, the inpatient and outpatient medical coding and billing training program, and the format of the online program. A learning objective for each of the modules in the program is presented. Information for navigating, using the features and functions of the online program, and understanding tests and feedback is presented. Skills necessary to be a successful coder/biller are outlined. Available resources are presented along with a detailed study guide designed to make the learning experience a successful one.
Technology and the Medical Professional
In the Technology and the Medical Professional module, the student will become familiar with basic computer skills, including the use of hardware, software, peripherals, and wireless technology; the Internet as a resource; and various methods of data storage and networking. The student will also study the multiple software and hardware products developed specifically for the healthcare environment.
Learning and Mastering Medical Terminology, Block 1
In the first block of Medical Terminology, the student will learn how to use resources (e.g., medical dictionaries and online resources), how to look up words, how words are structured, and how medical words are built using suffixes and prefixes.
Documentation, Confidentiality, and Ethics
The Documentation, Confidentiality, and Ethics module provides the student with an overview of documentation and confidentiality requirements within the healthcare environment and the impact advances in technology have had on the healthcare profession. The student will become familiar with healthcare documentation standards, HIPAA compliance regulations, and the adaptation of the electronic health record (EHR) in institutions throughout the United States and the world. The student will explore the role of the medical coding and billing professional in maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the medical record.
Learning and Mastering Medical Terminology, Block 2
In the second block of Mastering Medical Terminology, the student will begin learning medical word building through the study of root words. The module will be broken down into the root words A through Ir and Is through X. A review of block 1 of Learning and Mastering Medical Terminology will also be presented.
Evolution of Coding in the Healthcare Environment
In the Evolution of Coding in the Healthcare Environment module, the student will learn the history of healthcare coding in the United States and throughout the world. Learning objectives, career opportunities, and certification will be introduced. The coding systems utilized in the United States will be explored, including ICD-9-CM, CPT®, HCPCS Level II, DSM-IV, and ICD-O. The future implementation of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS will be presented.
Learning and Mastering Medical Terminology, Block 3
In the third block of Mastering Medical Terminology, the student will learn about medical plurals, medical slang and jargon, foreign medical terms, word differentiation, and medical abbreviations. A review of blocks 1 and 2 of Learning and Mastering Medical Terminology will also be presented.
Healthcare Structure and Organization
In the Healthcare Structure and Organization module, the student will learn about the structure and organization of the healthcare system in the United States. The student will study healthcare consumers, healthcare providers, governing and regulatory agencies, third-party payers, healthcare vendors, and trade associations.
Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Disease Processes, Block 1
In the first block of Anatomy, the student will learn basic anatomical structures with a body system approach, including pathophysiology and disease processes affecting the human body. Disease entities, diagnosis, and treatment will be emphasized. The body systems in this module include skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, and reproductive. Throughout the module, there will also be graphic representations of the various systems and structures to improve student understanding.
Exploring Pharmacology
The Exploring Pharmacology module introduces the student to the science of pharmacology and provides an overview of basic pharmacologics, including drug actions and effects, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and drug classifications and formulary. This module also gives the student the opportunity to see and reference pharmaceutical terms in the context of medical reports with exposure to commonly prescribed drugs.
Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Disease Processes, Block 2
In the second block of Anatomy, the student will continue learning basic anatomical structures with a body system approach, including pathophysiology and disease processes affecting the human body. As in block 1, disease entities, diagnosis, and treatment will be emphasized. The body systems in this module include urinary, cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, and integumentary/sensory organs. Throughout the module, there will also be graphic representations of the various systems and structures to improve student understanding.
Medical Record Content
In the healthcare setting, various reports make up a patient's medical record. The Medical Record Content module will provide an overview and detailed discussion of each of these reports. This module will also present the composition of each of the report types and how they relate to medical coding.
Diagnostic Coding with ICD-9-CM, Block 1
Students will be introduced to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codebook. Block 1 gives students a thorough understanding of this critical reference book and introduces and explores important information regarding the general guidelines and several chapter-specific guidelines for coding and reporting healthcare services.
Diagnostic Coding with ICD-9-CM, Block 2
Block 2 continues the detailed instruction on the concepts presented in the ICD-9-CM codebook and explores the remaining chapter-specific guidelines and procedure codes for coding and reporting healthcare services.
Medical Procedural Coding, Block 1
In the first block of the Medical Procedural Coding module, students will be introduced to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codebook. This module provides a thorough understanding of the structure of the codebook and introduces some of the critical coding guidelines presented in the text.
Medical Procedural Coding, Block 2
The second block of the Medical Procedural Coding module continues the detailed instruction of the procedural codes presented in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codebook. This module also provides a thorough explanation of the structure and application of the HCPCS Level II codebook.
Exploring Healthcare Reimbursement
The Exploring Healthcare Reimbursement module provides detailed information about the various types of third-party payers that reimburse healthcare facility and physician services. Additionally, the module introduces information about claims processing and coding, billing for healthcare services, and auditing and monitoring the coding process.
Skill Building for Outpatient Coding
The Skill Building for Outpatient Coding module consists of actual outpatient medical records, which the students will be required to code. The reports in this module are drawn from medical reports across a wide variety of outpatient settings that a coding professional would come across as an outpatient coder. The reports are divided into levels of difficulty — and the student builds skills as they work through increasing levels of complexity.
Skill Building for Inpatient Coding
The Skill Building for Inpatient Coding module consists of authentic inpatient medical charts that the student will be required to code. The records in this module are drawn from inpatient records across a wide variety of specialties. The students will gain hands-on experience with encoding software as they use it to assign diagnosis and procedure codes and DRGs. Records are, again, divided into levels of difficulty — and the student builds skills as they work through increasing levels of complexity.
Final Exam Overview and Preparation
Upon completion of the program, students have the opportunity to assess their skills through a final exam. The Final Exam Overview and Preparation module contains information about the structure of the exam, tips for passing the exam, and instruction on how to schedule the exam.
