Online Medical Coding Curriculum and Classes

Our curriculum is developed specifically for the distance education learner by instructional designers who specialize in how to develop content for adults and well-qualified subject matter experts that include certified professional coders and a registered health information administrator to ensure quality content. The current subject matter expert has a Master's of Public Health Informatics. In addition, USCI works with a program advisory council of non-USCI employee who is a registered health information administrator and certified professional auditor working in the field to review content annually to ensure students receive content that is up-to-date, relevant and accurate.

The coursework trains students to:

Describe the roles, average day, personal qualities, and desirable character traits of various healthcare professionals.

Apply an understanding of anatomy and physiology as well as medical terminology to their work as medical coding professionals.

Explain the parts of a medical record.

Use the ICD-10-CM manual to identify diagnostic codes.

Integrate ICD-10-CM and CPT codes.

Describe the history, organization and use of the HCPCS Level II manual.

Adhere to ethical standards and guidelines for healthcare professionals.

Program Curriculum Breakdown

Your Online Medical Coding Classes are broken down into 5 units.

Instruction Pack I: Introduction to Medical Coding

In Pack 1, students explore the roles of various healthcare professionals. Additionally, students discover the role medical records play in a coding specialist’s job, and gain a basic understanding of electronic records. They begin learning medical terminology using a unique word-building system to help them interpret new terms. Students wrap up by examining important ethical and legal issues that they may encounter.

Instruction Pack II: Ethics, Resources and Anatomy

After building on their medical terminology knowledge within each body system, students also examine the structure and function of the human body. Areas covered include anatomical landmarks, divisions of the abdomen, location terms and how the body is organized from cells to tissues and organs to systems. Then, students study each body system in detail—from the major organs and structures to how each system functions.

Instruction Pack III: Diagnostic Coding

In Pack 3, students examine the structure of the ICD-10-CM coding manual, as well as the guidelines and rules of ICD-10-CM coding. Additionally, students integrate diagnosis coding processes with additional physiology knowledge—from infections to mental disorders to pregnancy. Students also begin coding symptoms, ill-defined conditions, injuries and poisonings. Students will use an ICD-10-CM coding manual to complete this course.

Instruction Pack IV: Procedure Coding and Code Integration

Students can apply their anatomy and diagnostic coding knowledge in Instruction Pack IV, which focuses on the CPT. Students gain an introduction to the HCPCS coding manual format and coding rules. Students learn about the sections within the CPT, integrate the diagnostic and procedure codes. Students will use a CPT coding manual to complete the course.

Instruction Pack V: Evaluation and Management Services and Final Exam

Students learn how and when to use evaluation and management codes in their final pack. They complete a Final Exam, giving them an opportunity to apply outpatient coding skills.