Physician Coding Specialist Program Outline
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Overview
This program is incredibly thorough and intensely focused on the skills you need to establish a career in the exciting field of medical coding and health records management. It’s entirely online, self-paced, and developed by certified coding experts.
Program Timeline
We want you to absorb and synthesize every bit of information presented throughout the program. That’s why you get 12 months of full program access: so you can move at your own pace, spending more time on complicated topics or cruising through each course at lightning speed.
471 online training hours
12 months of full program access
Training Format
Our Physician Coding Specialist program is designed so you can train on your own terms in virtually any environment. If you’ve got a laptop, a reliable wifi connection, and a thirst for knowledge, you’re good to go.
Learn from home (or anywhere)
Study online (anytime)
Support
At CareerStep, your success is our success. That’s why we’ve got Advisors, Advocates, and Instructors cheering you on every step of the way. If you need anything at all—tech support, extra time, additional coaching—we’ve got your back.
One-on-one support
Phone, live chat, and email
Physician Coding Specialist Program Outline
Our 471-hour Physician Coding Specialist program is built for entry-level professionals who want to establish a strong foundation for a long, prosperous career. Each course covers a variety of topics ranging from medical terminology, HIPAA laws, soft skills, and coding best practices.
Program Orientation: Physician Coding Specialist
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Initiate the Physician Coding Specialist Program
Introduction to Healthcare
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Identify health information management concepts common to allied health professionals.
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Describe characteristics of health care delivery and settings in the United States.
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Delineate career opportunities for health information management professionals.
Digital Technology
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Have a basic understanding of the internet and evaluated hardware
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Understand and be able to use various programs and apps
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Be able to explain privacy and digital security in digital technology
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Describe the fundamentals of input and output
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Have an understanding of network devices
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Use technology to help you find a career
Comprehensive Medical Terminology
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Analyze how medical terms are built using common word parts.
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Properly spell, define, and pronounce medical terms associated with each of the major body systems.
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Identify and define the word parts most frequently associated with the major body systems.
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Interpret common abbreviations used in medical terminology and cautions to remember when using them.
Law, Liability and Ethics for Healthcare
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Describe the structure of the healthcare industry and how it relates to the medical office profession.
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Identify law and regulations related to the healthcare workplace.
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Describe how law flows from the constitution to the courtroom
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Identify criminal acts and intentional torts
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Recognize what makes a contract and who can contract.
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Identify medical malpractice and other lawsuits.
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Explain the characteristics, ownership, and confidentiality of the health record.
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Recognize the importance of the laws and ethics of patient confidentiality.
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Explain professional ethics and how they apply to patients.
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Recognize ethical issues surrounding the beginning of life.
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Recognize ethical issues surrounding death and dying.
Anatomy and Physiology Essentials
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Identify the structures, locations, and functions of major body systems and the organs that comprise them.
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Explain how the organs of the major body systems interact and maintain homeostasis.
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Compare various risk factors leading to high mortality and morbidity.
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Describe the components of cell structure and their functions.
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Summarize how infectious agents affect cellular growth and function.
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Define basic anatomical terms.
Comprehensive Pharmacology
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Define basic pharmacology terminology.
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Identify U.S. drug laws and explain their importance in patient care and health services documentation.
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Differentiate among drug classifications, routes of entry, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic treatments related to specific body systems and disease conditions..
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Identify medication side effects, precautions, contraindications, and interactions.
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Identify major drug standards, legislation, legal responsibilities of the health care practitioner when dispensing medications.
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Identify the major drug classification systems and differentiate among the various types of drug names with examples.
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Evaluate the standard and online pharmacological references in use today.
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Classify the sources of drugs, examine their pharmacokinetic processes, and analyze the variables that affect drug actions and effects.
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Analyze various drug forms, routes of delivery, and the supplies and techniques necessary for safe and appropriate administration.
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Identify commonly used medications and their characteristics.
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Identify the sources, mechanism of action, and indications for specific drug therapies.
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Analyze the side effects, precautions, contraindications, and interactions for specific medications.
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Assess the factors that influence the absorption and effectiveness of drugs.
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Analyze the physiological effects of prolonged drug use and discuss the responsibilities of a health care practitioner in addressing and treating drug abuse.
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Investigate recent actions taken by the government and by manufacturers for specific drugs.
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Identify the key factors involved in considering drug therapies for older adults.
Comprehensive Electronic Health Records
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Demonstrate how patient records are used and regulated.
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Complete tasks required for scheduling patient appointments.
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Clinical information reporting.
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Apply basic coding for reimbursement claims.
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Revenue cycle and financial reporting.
Outpatient Coding
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Understanding of ICD-10-CM format, symbols, punctuation, and instructional notations (domain 1).
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Accurately assign and sequence ICD-10-CM diagnostic codes for inpatient, outpatient, and physician services according to the official coding guidelines.
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Employ both manual and electronic resources to accurately code and sequence information from patient health records using the ICD-10-CM classification system.
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Describe the impact of reimbursement policies on individuals and healthcare providers
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Differentiate reimbursement systems for various programs, including private insurance and contacts, managed care, Medicare, Medicaid, Workers’ Compensation, and other disability.
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Understand the difference between CPT, ICD, and HCPCS coding systems and identify their appropriate use in health records.
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Identify local, state and federal statutes and regulations surrounding the control and use of health information.
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Describe the key elements of the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and its impact on healthcare professionals.
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Explain the differences between the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS).
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Provides the foundational understanding and application of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems and includes a focus on using Official Coding Guidelines to accurately assign diagnosis codes using ICD-10, along with coding rules for CPT and HCPCS coding systems.
Medical Billing
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Explain health insurance careers, opportunities, and expectations.
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Differentiate between major health insurance programs, government-sponsored health benefit programs, and related federal health care legislation.
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Explain revenue cycle management.
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Demonstrate basic principles of national diagnosis and procedure/service coding and compliance systems.
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Explain impact of coding compliance, clinical documentation improvement (CDI), and coding for medical necessity in health care settings.
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CMS-1500 and UB-04 claims and payer-specific claims.
Physician Coding
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Define Professional Fee Coding and differentiate from facility coding.
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Recognize the terms and processes as they relate to Medical Coding for Physician services.
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Describe the rules and policies that are specific to teaching physicians, residents, and interns.
Program Completion: Physician Coding Specialist
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Prepare to take the next steps for program completion.
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Physician Coding Specialist Certifications
CareerStep’s online Physician Coding Specialist training covers the knowledge and skills you need to successfully sit for industry-recognized certification. We want to support our learners in securing the certification that fits based on your career goals and current job requirements. Your training includes up to two different exam vouchers for the certifications listed below, your choice of coding exam and NHA exam, relevant to your training – a significant value add of several hundred dollars.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC®)
The gold standard and most recognized medical coding credential—certified by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Certified Coding Specialist-Physician (CCS-P®)
The exam assesses proficiency level in the coding of health services delivery beyond the hospital setting – certified by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
The only standalone outpatient coding credential—certified by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS)
Validate your knowledge of industry coding and billing with the CBCS certification from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)
Demonstrate you have the Electronic Health Record skills employers seek with the CEHRS from National Healthcareer Association.
Documents
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