Sioux City Career Academy -

Behind every well-organized healthcare practice are support staff. Students interested in working with colleagues that care about their patients can train to work in the medical industry.

This 2-year regional pathway prepares students to use electronic records systems in creating, managing, retrieving, and accessing electronic health records Students who successfully complete the first five courses listed above will receive a Health Information Technology Certification from WITCC.

Key Competencies

• Understand basic concepts of information systems and computer literacy.

• Accurately analyze spreadsheets and database management systems.

• Learn the structure and function of the human organ systems and their organs.

• Study medical terminology, homeostasis, basic cell, and tissue structure and function.

• Identify specific organs including the major bones, the major muscles, and the major blood vessels.

• Create, collect, manage, retrieve, access medical records using an electronic records system.

• Use software to create and edit patient demographic and provider files used in an ambulatory care setting.

• Gain the knowledge and skills needed to work with patients, patient records, and professional responsibilities in the medical office.

• Understand a variety of medical and surgical conditions, including etiology, symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment.

• Gain a basic understanding of the usage of ICD-9 and CPT coding and how they are reported in medical practices and the logic behind the usage of ICD-9 and CPT.

• Assign codes to case studies for a better understanding of how ICD-9, CPT, modifiers, and HCPCS work together for insurance payment and compliance regulations.

• Assign CPT codes to surgical operations and procedures.

• Simulate an evaluation and management (E/M) audit for physician practices.

• Recognize the basic concepts and principles of pharmacology, including major drug classifications and their actions, indications for use, adverse effects, interactions, and contraindications for use.

Courses

View the High School Course Guide for an in-depth look at the courses outlined below.

High School Credits:

7G13Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology (2)
7611 Medical Terminology (1)
9GG9 Information Computing (1)
9GH9 Electronic Health Records (1)
BG04 Administrative Medical Office Procedures (1)
7G86 Clinical Pathology for Allied Health (2)
9GH7 Essentials of Medical Coding (1)
9GH6 Basic CPT Coding (1)
9GH8 Auditing of Evaluation & Management Codes (1)
7G71 Pharmacology (2)

Total College Credits: 29

Salary

Annual National Average Salary for a Medical Coder: $52,600

Career Opportunities