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CERTIFICATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (CAS) MEDICAL CODING SPECIALIST
The Medical Coding Specialist Certificate of Applied Science program provides academic and clinical education in inpatient and outpatient coding, including required courses in health record content, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology and pathophysiology and pharmacology.
Potential Jobs:
The program prepares graduates to perform medical coding functions in various health care facilities including but not limited to physician office clinics, long term care, home health, hospitals, urgent care, skilled nursing facilities and rehab services. It is designed for students who are interested in medical billing and coding, health information or informatics management, and various other jobs within the revenue cycle.
Students may wish to continue their studies towards a higher degree in Health Information Technology or Health Information and Informatics Management. This program currently has an affiliation agreement Louisiana Tech University, which means upon successful completion of our program, your credits from this program will automatically transfer. Students who plan to transfer should consult with the department head to learn more. Students completing required courses will also be eligible to sit for CEHRS (Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist) credential from the National Hospital Association before completion of the program.
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Professional Certificate Approval Program
This program has been granted approval from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Professional Certificate Approval Program. This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions to be acknowledged as offering an approved coding certificate program. River Parishes Community College is the only college in Louisiana with this designation. Students completing this certificate will be qualified to sit for either the Certified Coding Associate (CCA), the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), the Certified Coding Specialist -Physician based (CCS-P), or the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential.
Having a PCAP approved program adds value for our students by:
a. Identifying that our program meets established coding educational standards.
b. Stimulating improvement of educational standards through faculty development opportunities, and by involving faculty and staff in program evaluation and planning.
c. Promoting a better understanding of the goals of professional coding education.
d. Providing reasonable assurance that practitioners possess the necessary job skills upon entry into the profession.
According to O*NET Online Medical Record Specialists in Baton Rouge make an average of $42,990 annually. Retrieved November 2023, from Local Wages: 29-2072.00 - Medical Records Specialists (onetonline.org)
First Semester:
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Second Semester:
Third Semester:
Fourth Semester:
About the Courses:
Introduces students to the critical thinking, reading, writing and rhetorical skills required in the college/ university and beyond, including citation and documentation, writing as process, audience awareness; and writing effective essays. PRE-REQUISITES: ACT English score of 18, OR Accuplacer NG Writing score of 250, OR earned “C*” in ENGL 0099, OR SAT Writing score of 500.
MATH 1100 - In-depth treatment of solving equations and inequalities; function properties and graphs; inverse functions; linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions with applications; systems of RPCC General Catalog & Student Handbook 2023 – 2024 110 equations. PRE-REQUISITES: ACT score of 21, OR Accuplacer NG QRAS score of 263, OR SAT Math score of 530, OR earned “C*” in MATH 0099, OR “C” in MATH 1300, or “C” in MATH 1500
MATH 1203 – Emphasis on applications involving: solving equations and inequalities; function properties and graphs; linear, quadratic, polynomial, exponential and logarithmic functions. Credit will not be awarded for Applied Algebra and College Algebra. PRE-REQUISITES; ACT 19 or Accuplacer NG QRAS score of 250 or SAT 510, OR earned “C*” in MATH 0099.
MATH 1300 - An introduction to topics in contemporary mathematics. Topics may include the theory of finance, perspective and symmetry in art, formal Aristotelian logic, graph theory, probability and odds, statistics, elementary number theory, optimization, numeracy in the real world, and historical topics in mathematics that have influenced contemporary mathematics. (Topics will vary.) PRE-REQUISITES: ACT score of 19, OR Accuplacer NG QRAS score of 250, OR earned “C*” in MATH 0099.
MATH 1500 - Systems of linear equations, matrices, and matrix algebra; linear inequalities; counting techniques: permutations and combinations; probability; basic concepts in financial mathematics (annuities included); and an introduction to statistics. PRE-REQUISITES: ACT score of 19, OR Accuplacer NG QRAS score of 250, OR earned “C*” in MATH 0099.
This course is designed for students majoring in science or a related field. Principles of biology from the cellular to the ecosystem level, including biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, and evolution. PREREQUISITE: Eligibility for ENGL 1010 without ENGL 1000 (ACT English score of 18 or higher OR Accuplacer Writing Score of 250 or higher).
This course will introduce students entering the health field to basic medical and clinical terminology. Vocabulary, spelling, pronunciation, and word analysis for common medical terms that are relevant to anatomy and physiology, medicine, disease, and clinical specialties will be emphasized.
A descriptive presentation of the structure and function of the organ systems of the human body covering cells, tissues, bones, muscles, nervous system. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 1201 with a “C” or higher.
A study of U.S. legal structure and legal theories as they apply to healthcare, health information management, patient access and other allied health departments. Includes workings of the American legal system, ethical decision making, the legal health record, confidentiality laws, fraud and abuse, and management of information as it relates to risk, quality, utilization and information systems.
A laboratory course to accompany BIOL 2500 using specimens, models, and instruments to investigate the structure and function of the human body. PREREQUISITES: Concurrent enrollment in or completion of BIOL 2500 with a “C” or higher.
Introduces the theory, structure, and organization of the International Classification of Diseases-10-Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) coding system. Emphasis will be on the application of the coding principles and interpreting coding guidelines to accurately assign ICD-10-CM codes to health records. The role of ICD-10-CM codes in billing and reimbursement will be included.
(PRE-REQUISITE: HESC 1000, Pre-requisite or Co-requisite BIOL 2500)
This course introduces students to the theory, structure, and organization of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system. Emphasis will be on the application of the coding principles to accurately assign CPT codes to health records. The role of CPT codes in billing and reimbursement will be included.
(PREREQUISITES OR COREQUISITES: BIOL 2500, HEIT 1030, HEIT 2030)
Study of the disease processes affecting the human body. Includes the study of causes, diagnosis, and treatment of disease as well as an understanding of the basic principles of pharmacology. The course prepares the coding student to understand pathophysiology and pharmacology as they interpret health record data for medical coding.
(PREREQUISITE: HESC 1000, Pre-requisite or Co-Requisite BIOL 2500)
A descriptive presentation of the structure and function of the organ systems of the human body covering the endocrine, cardiovascular, immune, respiratory, digestive, excretory, and reproductive systems. PREREQUISITES: BIOL 2500 with a “C” or higher.
A laboratory course to accompany BIOL 2510 using specimens, models, and instruments to investigate the structure and function of the human body. PREREQUISITES: Concurrent enrollment or prior completion of BIOL 2510 with a “C’ or higher.
This course explores the more complex areas of ICD-10 with the addition of PCS procedure coding. Students will apply coding principles and guidelines related to complex diagnoses and procedures. contact the program director for more information.
(PREREQUISITES: HEIT 1030 Pre-requisite or Co-requisite BIOL 2510)
A continuation of CPT coding with emphasis on impact to healthcare, data collection, and reimbursement. Advanced revenue cycle functions will be explored including use of the encoder, DRG assignments, physician queries, and evaluation of revenue cycle functions.
(PRE-REQUISITE: HEIT 1230, Pre-requisite or Co-requisite BIOL 2510)
Introduction to the management of health information, informatics, the health record, master patient index, patient access and other data content and structure into the EHR. This course will provide an overview of the functions, content, and structure of the health record, data access and retrieval systems, quantitative and qualitative analysis; numbering and filing systems; and healthcare data sets. All types of data will be explored from the front of the house to the back of the house including Hospitals, Clinics, Home Health, Skilled Nursing, Long Term, Hospice, and the Health Information Exchange.
(PREREQUISITES OR COREQUISITES: HESC 1000, HEIT 1020)
This course is designed to promote career awareness through professional development exercises and a curriculum-related professional practice experience in an administrative healthcare environment. Students will integrate classroom theory with monitored and supervised experience, up to 40 hours, virtual option available. This course also explores preparatory modules and examinations for the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The cost of the exam is included in the course fees.
(PREREQUISITES OR COREQUISITES: HEIT 1100, HEIT 1240)
Take the next step
Accomplish your educational and professional goals. Take the next step and apply to join the River Parishes Community College family.
Campus Locations
Gonzales Campus
925 W. Edenborne Parkway
Gonzales, LA. 70737
Reserve Campus
181 Regala Park Road
Reserve, LA. 70084
St. Charles Campus
13145 HWY 90
Boutte, LA. 70039
Westside Campus
25250 Tenant Road
Plaquemine, LA. 70764
RPCC C.A.R.E.S.
River Parishes Community College is committed to collaboration, accountability, respect & inclusion,
excellence, and sustainability.
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