Getting  started

If you don’t feel that you can commit to the full Diploma this course includes the introductory components of the Diploma and you can always add the more complex units later if you decide that this is for you.  You will be supported throughout and can work at your own pace.

Prerequisites

None – though a good understanding of English is needed.

Learn Online Anytime

This course is presented in 8 modules.  The learning is integrated, teaching a number of skills at the same time covering moderately complex clinical coding for inpatient coding.  The estimated hours for the course are an average of 115 hours including study time, practice and assessments.

Required Tools

Code Books – you must have access to ICD-10-AM resources to take this course – full details of how to obtain your books are in the Getting Started Guide but a summary and links are given below.

• Text book – Medical Terms ($60 – $100)
• Code books – an authorised copy of ICD-10-AM :
  • Electronic Code Books – Use the student discount code is provided when you enrol – we use the TurboCoder – Electronic code book and reference tools combined. We suggest this option as the best fit for our courses ($400 – 500 depending on the version and format you choose)
  • Hardcopy Code Books

If you are in a country where ICD-10-AM is not licensed (such as India or the Philippines) you will need to obtain permission to purchase the code books.

We will give you information on how to do this and as an EHE student you can expect to be approved. You will need you have your EHE student number when you apply.

Text and Materials Provided

• Learner’s guides – are the text book as well as a guide on how to move through the course.
• Presentation videos of key content where relevant.
• References to other sites and documents to assist additional learning
• Access to eHRol is included: this simulated coding environment contains thousands of real patient records or extracts from real records with instant feedback for practice and assessment in addition to tutor support.
• Formal assessment is ongoing throughout the course building your confidence and skills as you go.
• Zoom meetings for online discussions with your personal teacher.

Graduates of this course will cultivate high value skills

Knowledge of:

• Health classifications and standards used by clinical coders
• Patient management across clinical disciplines and its documentation and recording requirements

Factual knowledge of:

• Accurately interpret the health information statutory and legislative reporting requirements of a health service
• Analyse clinical data to accurately assign codes
• Analyse patient information documentation to identify principal diagnosis, additional diagnoses and interventions
• Identify sequencing of diagnoses and interventions
• Identify and address incomplete clinical documentation

Technical and communication skills to:

• Accurately code
• Use relevant technology
• Address deficiencies in documentation with relevant clinicians

eHE staff and contributors have been active participants in the national Workforce evaluations of clinical coder education, and the recent review which led to the development of the Diploma in Clinical Coding.

Our course developers and tutors have worked as coders, auditors, and lecturers in Health Information Management Programs and many have been senior members of the Health Information Management Association National Board. They have worked as advisers to coding services in Australia and internationally and are regarded as senior members of the profession.

The eHE training team participate regularly in clinical coding governance activities discussing coding standards and correct coding with the eHRol community of Teachers, Coding Managers and Mentors.

If requesting RPL, please forward a copy of your qualification and the units you successfully completed with your enquiry

The eHealth Records online learning portal (eHRol) is cloud-based and ideal for studying health record content, data and code systems. eHRol is the end-to-end tool to simulate the EHR (electronic health record) environment, develop skills and workforce capabilities.

Gain access to a simulated workplace environment for immersion in digital health.

Applying for Course Credit LOCAL

Doctors and Nurses

If you have medical or nursing qualifications and are up to date with clinical practice you may claim competency in medical language and clinical practice. You qualify for a shorter version of the course without clinical knowledge units and can complete in 440 instead of 510 hours of study. This version has a lower cost than the full program but gives you the same full qualification.

What to do:

• To enrol in the course with credit provide copies of your qualifications for Cert IV less terms (22274 Clinical). We will review your documentation and confirm if you do/do not qualify.

Clinical Coders

If you are a qualified clinical coder with inpatient coding experience in other code systems you may also claim credit, For example if you are qualified in ICD-10-CM or different versions of the ICD are used in different countries.

The conversion course is still a full Certificate IV qualification but can be completed in 390 instead of 510 hours of study. But as an experienced clinical coder you will be credited with understanding the interpretation and application of medical terminologies and the principles of clinical coding.

• To enrol in the course with credit provide copies of:
  • your qualifications (the qualifications must be for inpatient coding, outpatient coders find the transition difficult and must undertake the full course),
  • a statement from your employer confirming your coding experience,
  • we will enrol you in a short coding assessment to indicate your general coding skills and if you are successful you will be eligible for the CM to AM conversion program.

The Diploma must be taught in the current edition of ICD-10-AM. The current version differs depending on the country you will be working in and eHE will offer courses in each code system version – but we are starting with ICD-10-AM 11th edition.

• Australia is currently using ICD-10-AM 12th edition with ACHI (the procedure code system)
• New Zealand, Qatar and others are currently using ICD-10-AM 11th edition with ACHI
• Saudi Arabia, Ireland and others – currently using ICD-10-AM 10th edition with ACHI.

Select the relevant code system version for where you wish to work.

Note: ICD coding is considered to be a skill in demand as defined by the Australian Government for the purposes of immigration.