Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

This course has been changed from the previous catalog, the changed field(s) are highlighted in red:

 Course Title:   Ambulatory Care Coding Procedures

 Title Abbreviation:   AMBULA CARE CODING PROCE

 Department:    AHE

 Course #:    122

 Credits:    6

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    6

 CIP:    510801

 EPC:    381

 REV:    2018


 Course Description  

Application of professional skills in abstracting medical records and assigning appropriate ICD-10-CM, CPT-4 and HCPCS codes for data retrieval and claims processing in ambulatory healthcare settings.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: AHE 106 and 110 with minimum C grade or department chair permission.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 66

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Vocational Preparatory Required for certificate  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
N/A

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Become skilled in the use of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual.
  2. Be familiar with selected ambulatory care codes and modifiers.
  3. Become practiced in selected Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes.
  4. Use research techniques to determine accurate coding of unlisted procedures.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to code procedures and diagnoses for various procedural studies.
  6. Be proficient in the use of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) manual.
  7. Be proficient in the use of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) manual.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.1 Determine the extent of information needed.
1.2 Access the needed information effectively, efficiently, ethically, and legally.
1.3 Evaluate information and its sources critically.
1.5 Effectively integrate and use information ethically and legally to accomplish a specific purpose.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.3 Identify, interpret, and evaluate pertinent data and previous experience to reach conclusions.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.3 Apply successful organizational strategies of planning, goal setting, prioritizing, resolving conflict, and managing time to specific goals and/or projects.

10. Technology

Definition: Understanding the role of technology in society and using technology appropriately and effectively.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
10.2 Demonstrate an understanding of legal, ethical, and environmental issues in the use and misuse of technology.
10.3 Use technology appropriate to the context and task to effectively retrieve and manage information, solve problems, and facilitate communication.

Course Contents

  1. Abstracting pertinent information to accurately code health care records for billing purposes.
  2. Assignment and sequencing of correct diagnosis codes.
  3. Assignment and sequencing of correct procedure codes including modifiers.
  4. Assignment of correct HCPCS codes and modifiers.