Over the next few days, I’ll be writing a few posts about clinical coding education and the field in Canada, as I know there has been some recent confusion and lack of clarity around available training options and the reason they are required. Follow my posts if you’re a Health Information Management (HIM) professional, employer or coder and reach out to me with any questions or to have a discussion.
CHA Learning has been providing distance learning to the health system and the field of HIM for over 70 years. Unlike other Canadian Schools, we are first and foremost a healthcare organization, not a college. We specialize exclusively in healthcare professional development. In fact, we were created to serve the educational needs of healthcare organizations across Canada, all those decades ago. As such, our mandate is to serve the health system, so we continually listen and respond to the needs of healthcare organizations and employers and create our programs accordingly.
One of our specialty areas for professional development is Health Information Management and in fact, we are the leader in this space, with the longest-running and most popular HIM program in Canada and two clinical coding programs – the Coding Refresher and the Coding Specialist Program.
CHA Learning – the Leader in Canadian HIM Education
The HIM Program is a two-year diploma-level program that leads a graduate to be eligible for certification with the Canadian College of Health Information Management (CCHIM). The domains of practice and curriculum standards for HIM professionals have surprising depth and breadth. As such, those graduating from the program become entry-to-practice professionals, with much knowledge that benefits the health system. Clinical coding (also called medical coding) is a highly specialized, detail-oriented sub-profession, requiring more than undergraduate education to become proficient, particularly in complex settings. New graduates are not coding specialists, and require additional on-the-job training and experience to become truly skilled coders.
The Development of the Coding Specialist Program
In 2019, CHA Learning, in collaboration with national coding experts and input from employers across Canada, developed the Coding Specialist Program, in response to feedback from professionals and employers about the need for more advanced education. This was also in response to the advanced certification created by CCHIM, the Certified Coding and Classification Specialist designation. While this designation was of interest to HIM professionals, many lacked the advanced coding skills to challenge the exam.
The program is for those who have at least 2 years of experience and who are seeking to become specialized. Using real, deidentified charts and an innovative e-learning format, the program trains coders using a proprietary approach so that they can code any chart, even the most complex. This program has graduated more than 200 individuals and a number of hospitals use the program as a means of upskilling their coders in tertiary and quaternary facilities with highly complex care.
About a year after the launch of the Coding Specialist Program, we launched the Coding Refresher Certificate, in response to industry feedback. A gap in the system meant that hospitals had coder shortages and needed cost-efficient ways of upskilling new graduates or those moving into coding roles from other HIM positions. Also, we had HIM professionals who had not coded for years who wanted to return to coding but needed to improve their skills once more. So, the Coding Refresher course was born and has been a tremendous asset to the field.
Entry-To Practice Coding Education
In my next post, I’ll share more about the difference between these two clinical coding programs.
Do you want to learn more or have a personal conversation with me about HIM and clinical coding education, or your individual or team professional development needs? Are you an employer with feedback or who wants to discuss current industry needs? Send me a message!
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Jessica Schierbeck
Director, Strategic Solutions
CHA Learning / HealthCareCAN
Jessica Schierbeck is the Director of Strategic Solutions at CHA Learning/HealthCareCAN.
With 23 years of experience within the healthcare system as a Health Information Management Professional and healthcare leader, Jessica is passionate about working with healthcare organizations and professionals to impact health system improvement through professional development.
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