Medical Coding Certificate Information

This certificate prepares the individual to assign numerical codes to diagnoses, symptoms, and operative (surgical and invasive) procedures using the ICD-10-CM/PCS (International Classification of Diseases - 10th Revision, Clinical Modification and Procedure Coding System) and medical and surgical procedures according to CPT - 4 (Current Procedural Terminology - 4th Edition), and HCPCS Level II (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) describing non-physician services. CPT coding is used to describe services provided by physicians and is used for services provided by hospital outpatient and ancillary departments, hospital emergency departments and other ambulatory care facilities.

Credits earned in this certificate may be applied toward the Health Information Technology, AAS (Owens Code: HINF)  program, if the student wishes to pursue certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

Department of Health Information Technology Program

Student Learning Outcomes

Student will be able to:

• Code and classify and index diagnoses and procedures for the purpose of reimbursement, standardization, retrieval and statistical analysis.
• Develop, implement and monitor procedures to ensure healthcare data integrity.
• Resolve discrepancies between coded data and supporting documentation.
• Adhere to current regulations and established guidelines in code assignment.

Admission to the Medical Coding Certificate Program

Admission to the Medical Coding Certificate (ZMED) is offered for the Fall Semester only. To begin the program, students must:

1. Apply to Owens Community College and complete the admissions process including placement testing.

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2. Submit an application for the Medical Coding Certificate.  Preferred deadline for application is June 15th for Fall Semester enrollment.  Applications can be submitted in the following ways:

- download Medical Coding Certificate Application.pdf  

Email application to the Chair Skytha Fleming at skytha_fleming@owens.edu

Mail the application to Skytha Fleming at:

Owens Community College

Attention: Skytha Fleming - Medical Coding Certificate

PO Box 10,000

Toledo, OH 43699

Drop the application off in Health Tech Hall, School of Nursing and Health Professions, Health Information Technology Program, Chair Office (HT 323).

3. Earn a total grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher at Owens Community College or the school or college most recently attended (high school, technical program or other college).
4. Students must meet with the Chair prior to scheduling classes. 

Admission Requirements

Class Selection Criteria

• 50 students are admitted to the certificate once each year for Fall Semester.  Completed applications are reviewed as they arrive in the Chair’s office.
• Students who do not qualify for admission can reapply in following years. Students may take Arts and Sciences courses as specified in the Medical Coding Certificate.  Upon successful completion of these courses, the students may apply for entrance into the program.  Contact the Academic Advising Office for more information.
• Applicants who have been dismissed through disciplinary action/s from any other health program at Owens Community College are not eligible to apply.

Progression/Completion Requirements

Prior to beginning the Medical Coding Certificate, students must have successfully completed all developmental courses into which they have tested. 

Courses follow a specific sequence and should be taken together as indicated. Courses within the program are offered once per academic year.

Students have a maximum of two years to complete the Medical Coding Certificate. The two-year completion period begins with enrollment in HIT 102 .  It is extremely important to meet with the Academic Advisor and Chair to plan your course of study.

All Medical Coding Certificate students must earn a “C” or better in each program course and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better.  Students who earn these grades must participate in a mandatory review of their progress with the Chair and meet with their Academic Advisor to assess their potential and aptitude to meet program standards. 

A student who earns a “D” or “F” in a Health Information Technology course will be dismissed from the certificate and may be readmitted only one time on a space available basis. (See Academic Readmission) 

Academic Readmission

A student may be readmitted only once under this academic readmission procedure.  If a student is not enrolled in the Certificate for more than two years from the date of their initial enrollment in the Certificate, Health Information Technology courses will need to be retaken upon readmission into the program.

A student requesting readmission after dismissal for academic reasons must complete the following before being considered:

The student must complete an academic readmission form.  Contact the Academic Advising Office for assistance in the development of a written academic plan to resolve the academic problems. 

The following requirements must be included in the academic plan before readmission:

Written notification to the Department Chair of the student’s intention to return to the program at least four months prior to start of the semester.

A 2.0 overall GPA.

The plan then is submitted to the Chair and Dean for approval.  This plan must be completed and approved to continue enrollment in the College.  Students are readmitted on a space available basis.  No second readmission will be considered.

Non-Academic Readmission

Students who leave the Medical Coding Certificate for reasons other than academic reasons (“D” or “F” in a Health Information Technology course) may request readmission and be readmitted provided there is course seat availability.  The Chair must be notified in writing of the student’s intention to return to the certificate at least four months prior to the start of the semester of re-admittance.

Technical Standards

Technical standards are those considered to be necessary or fundamental to perform a job. In the programs offered through the Health Information Technology Department, the student’s job is to learn and participate in an academic and clinical environment as well. The student, with or without reasonable accommodation, must possess these essential functions:

• Protect the confidentiality, privacy and security of patient health information.
• Comply with laws, regulations and standards pertaining to health information management.
• Demonstrate honesty/ethics in completing all assigned work within the courses.
• Effectively communicate with faculty, fellow students and healthcare professionals using oral, written and computer modalities in an appropriate and professional manner.
• Use critical thinking, exhibit sound judgment, show emotional stability/maturity, show physical/mental stamina, and receive/share information/instructions from instructors and others in didactic and/or clinical setting.
• Demonstrate sufficient problem-solving skills to assess multifactorial aspects of health information management practices.
• Complete tasks accurately and timely.
• Demonstrate adaptability, being able to make decisions related to class/lab/Professional practice assignments.
• Demonstrate the ability to build/maintain constructive cooperative working relationships with others and develop goals/priorities to organize/accomplish work.
• Demonstrate professionalism; work alone or in teams, demonstrating integrity and sincerity. Show respect to others.
• Participate in directed, supervised practice activities through a professional practice experience.
• Demonstrate ability to use computer programs following written and verbal instructions (ex. Microsoft office products, databases as well as electronic health records, encoders, and other HIT applications).
• Ability to travel to and from any or all of the following: home of the student, college campus, professional practice sites, public locations for the purposes of various meetings and other assigned locations off campus.

Employment Opportunities

Individuals skilled in clinical coding are employed as coders for hospitals, physician’s offices, peer review organizations, clinics, consulting firms or insurance companies.

Health Requirements

Not required at this time for the Medical Coding Certificate

Background Check Requirements

Not required at this time for the Medical Coding Certificate

Certification

The Medical Coding Certificate prepares the student to take the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) to become a Certified Coding Associate (CCA).

Associate Degree Options

Credits earned in this certificate may be applied toward the Health Information Technology, AAS (Owens Code: HINF)  program, if the student wishes to pursue certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).