MEDR 1333 - Coding v-PPE, 3 Credits

Prerequisite(s): MEDR 1214 with C or better and MEDR 1224 with C or better and MEDR 5114 with C or better

Level: Lower

Course Attributes: Clinical Liability Insurance

A supervised virtual (Internet-based) professional practical experience (PPE) in coding, which requires students to assign ICD-9-CM, CPT and HCPCS level II codes to inpatient, outpatient surgery, physician office, and emergency department electronic records and use appropriate software to abstract a minimum of 50 inpatient records. Students eligible to complete the virtual PPE in coding include those currently employed in the health information department of a health care facility and those whom obtain permission of the instructor. Students are on site in the health information department of a health care facility for a minimum of 40 hours (of 120 total PPE hours) to perform coding functions and to develop interpersonal and professionalism skills. The PPE Coordinator makes on site arrangements in cooperation with the student, and placement at an alternate care setting (e.g., nursing facility, outpatient clinic, large physician practice, and so on) is permitted. Students work under the supervision of the College's PPE Coordinator, who is a qualified RHIT. The virtual professional practice experience allows students to obtain actual work experience in theoretical and application-based procedures previously studied. This virtual professional practice consists of 120 hours (of which 40 are on site) and can be completed by the student on a full-time basis (40 hours/week for three weeks) or on a part-time basis over an extended period of time (e.g., eight hours/week for 15 weeks).