MEDICAL CODING COURSE OUTLINE

You get everything you need to know in easy-to-understand lessons. You learn it all!

Anatomy You learn the structure of the human body to increase your understanding.
Physiology How the human body functions.
Medical definitions and terminology Includes pronunciation and use of medical prefixes.
Coding medical procedures What to code and how to prepare the forms.
Professional claim information How to set up medical claims for Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs, workers' compensation and personal injury cases.
Practice You'll get plenty of practice doing Medical Coding with personal consultation from your own instructor.

Click on the instruction links below for complete course content.

Instruction Pack 1
Instruction Pack 2
Instruction Pack 3
Instruction Pack 4
Instruction Pack 5

Medical Coding Instruction Pack I  Back to Top

The World of Health Care
In this introductory lesson, students learn about the daily activities in medical facilities. Students learn about the responsibilities of various healthcare professionals, and they discover how medical coders interact with these professionals. This lesson also discusses the many career opportunities available to medical coding specialists.

Medical Insurance 101
Learn how health insurance works. Students learn about types of insurance, common medical insurance terms, and how insurance companies are billed. The lesson covers the basics of electronic billing, and students also see how diagnostic and procedure codes apply to insurance.

Introduction to Medical Terminology: Word Parts
Students get their first taste of how they will use medical terms in their new careers. They learn about root words, prefixes and suffixes and learn how to derive word parts from medical terms. In addition, students practice using a medical dictionary.

Medical Terminology: Dividing and Combining Terms
In this second lesson on medical terminology, learn to divide and combine difficult medical words to help you understand and meanings of these words. Students also learn how these medical terms are used to describe diagnoses and procedures.

Medical Terminology: Abbreviations, Symbols and Special Terms
The last lesson on medical terminology teaches students to recognize common medical abbreviations, symbols and plural words. This lesson also discusses special terms such as eponyms, acronyms, homophones, and antonyms.

Documenting Medical Records
In this lesson, students learn about the role medical records play in a coding specialist's job. They explore the importance of documentation in medical records and learn to recognize the various types of dictation formats. This lesson also discusses how healthcare professionals manage medical records.

Also included in Pack I:
• Instruction and Materials Schedule
• Study binder
• You Can Do It! CD
• Course Catalog
• Quick-Learn System
   • Quick-Learn pocket folder
   • Quick-Learn Tutor
   • Quick-Learn flashcards and CD
• Quiz Answer Sheets and Envelopes
• Student Assistance Forms

Medical Coding Instruction Pack II  Back to Top

Medical Ethics
This lesson explains the concepts of ethics, compliance, fraud and abuse and teaches students how these concepts apply to medial coding specialists. Students also learn about the importance of confidentiality when dealing with medical records. Lastly, this lesson discusses insurance audits and the legal concepts involved.

Introduction to Anatomy
Students get an overview of human anatomy. They learn about the basic components of human biology and the associated terminology. The lesson also teaches how the human body is put together and how it works.

Anatomy: Landmarks and Divisions
In this lesson, students delve deeper into anatomy, discussing landmarks and divisions. Students learn about the basic body cavities and how the body is organized physiologically.

Cell and Tissue Anatomy and Pathology
This lesson discusses the components of the cell and the primary functions of each component. Students learn to differentiate among the categories of etiologies. Additional, the students learn how cells and the human body respond and react to injury.

Diagnostic Coding 101
In this lesson, students are introduced to the actual coding process. Students learn about the history of the International Classification of Diseases and the development of the ICD-9-CM coding system. Additionally, students learn to identify main terms and subterms and describe coding pathways.

Also included in Pack II:
• Your Family and Working at Home
• Organ Systems Resource Manual
• Human Anatomy Reference Cards
• Professional Development Supplement, Part 1: Creating a Professional Image
• Quiz Answer Sheets and Envelopes

Medical Coding Instruction Pack III  Back to Top

ICD-9-CM Coding Manual Introduction
This lesson discusses the structure of the coding manual as well as the purposes of the various volumes within the manual. Students learn to handle abbreviations, cross references, and punctuation when coding, and they gain an introduction to Volumes I and II of the ICD-9-CM.

ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Coding: Guidelines and Rules
In this lesson, students learn the guidelines and rules of the diagnosis coding process. Students learn how coders interact with the super bill and claim forms and how the forms relate to the ICD-9-CM. Basic coding exercises also allow students to practice what they've learned so far.

ICD-9-CM Coding from Infections to Blood Diseases
Student start coding diagnoses. Students learn about infections, parasitic diseases, and neoplasms, as well as how to code them. The lesson also discusses the coding of endocrine, nutritional, metabolic, and blood diseases.

ICD-9-CM Coding from Mental Disorders to the Respiratory System
Students get more practice with diagnosis coding as they learn about the nervous, circulatory, and respiratory systems. This lesson also teaches students about mental disorders and how to code these disorders.

ICD-9-CM Coding from the Digestive System to Pregnancy
In this lesson, students learn about the digestive and genitourinary systems. Students gain practice coding diagnoses related to childbirth, the puerperium and complications of pregnancy.

ICD-9-CM Coding from the Skin to Conditions of the Perinatal Period
This lesson teaches students about diagnosis coding of skin and subcutaneous tissue. Students also learn about the musculoskeletal system, congenital abnormalities, and conditions in the perinatal period, as well as how to code related diagnoses.

ICD-9-CM Coding from Symptoms to Complications
From this lessons, students practice coding symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions, as well as injuries and poisoning.

V Codes, E Codes and ICD-9-CM Coding Practicum
Students get to practice their new coding skills. This practicum allows students to apply their diagnosis coding knowledge in real-world scenarios. Students also learn how to apply V-codes and E-codes in coding situations.

Also included in Pack III:
• Study binder
• Professional Development, Part 2: Managing Stress, Time and Money
• Coding Quick-Reference Guide
• Coder's Comprehensive Glossary
• Exam Answer Sheets and Envelopes

Medical Coding Instruction Pack IV  Back to Top

The Technology of Health Care
This lesson provides students with a basic understanding of electronic coding, web-based coding and the many opportunities for these services.

CPT Coding 101
Students learn about the history of procedural coding and how to differentiate between CPT and HCPCS codes. This lesson also explains the structure and format of the CPT coding manual, as well as the basic steps of CPT coding.

CPT Coding from the Integumentary System to the Urinary System
In this lesson, students learn to code procedures related to the integumentary, musculoskeletal, digestive, and urinary systems. Coding for the respiratory, cardiovascular, hemix, and lymphatic systems is included as well as the mediastinum and diaphragm.

CPT Coding from the Reproductive Systems to the Operating Microscope
This lesson teaches students about the male and female reproductive systems. Students learn to code maternity and childbirth procedures, as well as procedures related to the endocrine, nervous, visual, and auditory systems. Students also learn coding for microscopic procedures.

Comprehensive Surgery Coding
In this lesson, students continue to practice procedure coding. They get a review of previously discussed CPT codes specific to surgery, a major area of outpatient medical coding.

CPT Coding for Radiology, Pathology, Medicine and Anesthesia
The last lesson in the pack teaches students about radiology terms, subsections, guidelines and coding radiology procedures. Guidelines and coding information for pathology and anesthesia are also included.

Also included in Pack IV:
• Professional Development, Part 3: Career Advancement
• Computer Buyer's and User's Guide
• Quiz Answer Sheets and Envelopes

Medical Coding Instruction Pack V  Back to Top

Integrating ICD-9-CM and CPT Coding Practicum
Just as in the previous lessons, student get a chance to apply all of their medical and coding knowledge they've learned so far in the course. Students code diagnoses and procedures together to work through real-world medical coding specialist situations.

CPT Coding Evaluation and Management Services
This lesson introduces students to evaluation and management codes, an important area for outpatient coders. Additionally, the lesson covers documentation guidelines and evaluation and management level sections and modifiers.

Comprehensive CPT Evaluation and Management
Students continue to learn about evaluation and management coding in this lesson. In addition, students learn about the coding auditing process, as well as, how encounter forms are used in a coding specialist's work.

Coding Resources
This lesson teaches students to use coding resources available to them throughout their medical coding careers. Associations, websites, continuing education, and certification options are discussed. Students also learn why it's important to stay abreast of coding changes and research.

HCPCS Coding
Students gain an introduction to HCPCS coding. The formats, different levels and coding rules are discussed. Students learn how to determine when to use HCPCS coding.

Putting It All Together: Final Practicum
Students use this practicum as a final opportunity to apply their new coding skills as they prepare to enter the workforce as medical coding specialists.

Also included in Pack V:
• Quiz Answer Sheets and Envelopes
• HIPAA Supplement
• Jobs Finder Supplement
• Guide to Electronic Coding
• Electronic Coding Software Demonstration CD