Clinical coder

The abstraction phase involves reading the entire record of the health encounter and analysing the information to determine what condition(s) the patient had, what caused it and how it was treated. The information comes from a variety of sources within the medical record, such as clinical notes, laboratory and radiology results, and operation notes.

The assignment phase has two parts: finding the appropriate code(s) from the classification for the abstraction; and entering the code into the system being used to collect the coded data.

Reviewing the code set produced from the assignment phase is very important. Clinical coder must ask themselves, "does this code set fairly represent what happened to this patient in this health encounter at this facility?" By doing this, clinical coders are checking that they have covered everything that they must, but not used extraneous codes. For health encounters that are funded through a case mix mechanism, the clinical coder will also review the diagnosis-related group (DRG) to ensure that it does fairly represent the health encounter.

An entry-level coder has completed (or nearly completed) an introductory training program in using clinical classifications. Depending on the country, this program may be in the form of a certificate, or even a degree, which has to be earned before the trainee is allowed to start coding. All trainee coders will have some form of continuous, on-the-job training, often being overseen by a more senior coder.

An intermediate-level coder has acquired the skills necessary to code many cases independently. Coders at this level are also able to code cases with incomplete information. They have a good understanding of anatomy and physiology along with disease processes. Intermediate-level coders have their work audited periodically by an advanced coder.

Advanced-level and senior coders are authorized to code all cases including the most complex. Advanced coders will usually be credentialed and will have several years of experience. An advanced coder is also able to train entry-level coders.

A nosologist understands how the classification is underpinned. Nosologists consult nationally and internationally to resolve issues in the classification and are viewed as experts who can not only code, but design and deliver education, assist in the development of the classification and the rules for using it.

Nosologists are usually expert in more than one classification, including morbidity, mortality and case mix. In some countries the term nosologist is used as a catch-all term for all levels.[7]

A statistical classification, such as ICD-10 or DSM-5, will bring together similar clinical concepts, and group them into one category. This allows the number of categories to be limited so that the classification does not become too big, but still allows statistical analysis. An example of this is in ICD-10 at code I47.1. The code title (or rubric)[8] is Supraventricular tachycardia. However, there are several other clinical concepts that are also classified here. Amongst them are paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, paroxysmal junctional tachycardia, auricular tachycardia and nodal tachycardia.

With a nomenclature, for example SNOMED CT, there is a separate listing and code for every clinical concept. So, in the tachycardia example above, each type and clinical term for tachycardia would have its own code listed. This makes nomenclatures unwieldy for compiling health statistics.

• Clinical Coders' Society of Australia (CCSA)[10]
• Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA)[11]

• Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA)[12]

• Saudi Health Information Management Association (SHIMA)[13]

Clinical coders start as trainees, and there are no conversion courses for coders immigrating to the United Kingdom.

The National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) is an exam for experienced coders, and is recognised by the four health agencies of the UK. Institute of Health Records and Information Management (IHRIM)[14] are the awarding body.

In England, a novice coder will complete the national standards course written by NHS Digital within six months of being in post.[15] They will then start working towards the NCCQ.

Three years after passing the NCCQ, two further professional qualifications are made available to the coder in the form of NHS Digital's clinical coding auditor and trainer programmes.[16][17]

In 2015, National Services Scotland, in collaboration with Health Boards, launched the Certificate of Technical Competence (CTC) in Clinical Coding (Scotland). Awarded by the Institute of Health Records & Information Management (IHRIM), the aims of the certificate include supporting staff new to clinical coding, and providing a standardised framework of clinical coding training across NHS Scotland.[18]

The NCCQ is a recognized coding qualification in Scotland.

The NCCQ is a recognized coding qualification by NHS Wales.

Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland recognizes the NCCQ as a coding qualification.

As of 2016, the typical qualification for an entry-level medical coder in the United States is completion of a diploma or certificate, or, where they are offered, an associate degree. The diploma, certificate, or degree will usually always include an Internet-based and/or in-person internship at some form of a medical office or facility. Some form of on-the-job training is also usually provided in the first months on the job until the coder can earn an intermediate or advanced level of certification and accumulate time on the job. For further academic training, a baccalaureate or master's degree in medical information technology, or a related field, can be earned by those who wish to advance to a supervisory or academic role. A nosologist (medical coding expert) in the U.S. will usually be certified by either AHIMA or the AAPC (often both) at their highest level of certification and speciality inpatient and/or outpatient certification (pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, gerontology, oncology are among those offered by AHIMA and/or the AAPC), have at least 3–5 years of intermediate experience beyond entry-level certification and employment, and often holds an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree.[19][20]

There are several associations that medical coders in the United States may join, including:

• AAPC (formerly American Academy of Professional Coders)
• American Board of Health Care Professionals (ABHCP)[21]
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)[22]

Some medical coders elect to be certified by more than one society.

The AAPC offers the following entry-level certifications in the U.S.: Certified Professional Coder (CPC); which tests on most areas of medical coding, and also the Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC) and Certified Outpatient Coder (COC). Both the CPC and COC have apprentice designations (CPC-A and COC-A, respectively) for those who pass the certification exams but do not have two years of on the job experience. There is no apprentice designation available for the CIC. After completing two years of on the job experience the apprentice credential holder can request to have the apprentice designation removed from their credential. There are also further specialist coding certifications, for example, the CHONC credential for those who specialize in hematology and oncology coding and the CASCC credential for those who specialize in ambulatory surgery center coding.

The other main organization is American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) which offers the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P), and the entry-level Certified Coding Associate (CCA). [23] [24]

Some U.S. states now mandate or at least strongly encourage certification from either AAPC or AHIMA or a degree from a college to be employed. Some states have registries of medical coders, though these can be voluntary listings. This trend was accelerated in part by the passage of HIPAA and the Affordable Care Act and similar changes in other Western countries, many of which use the ICD-10 for diagnostic medical coding. The change to more regulation and training has also been driven by the need to create accurate, detailed, and secure medical records (especially patient charts, bills, and claim form submissions) that can be recorded efficiently in an electronic era of medical records where they need to be carefully shared between different providers or institutions of care. This was encouraged and later required by legislation and institutional policy.[25][26]