Program Overview

Major ID: 330D

Program Start Dates: Fall, Spring, Summer-limited course offerings

Graduates of the Medical Coding Diploma program are proficient in coding diagnoses and procedures, abstracting medical data, meeting physician documentation needs, and other related duties. Coders work closely with billing personnel at healthcare facilities, and proficiency in billing and reimbursement procedures is included in the Medical Coding Diploma program. Courses taken to meet requirements for the Medical Coding Diploma also prepare a student to continue into the Health Information Technology AAS degree program.

Applicants should possess excellent communication skills, meticulous attention to detail, good spelling, finger dexterity, and extreme accuracy in their work. Candidates considering this field should be comfortable reading and analyzing data for long periods of time, abstracting information from patient health records, assisting billers and other reimbursement personnel, and using critical thinking skills.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Medical Coding Diploma program may work in a physician’s office, surgery center, specialty clinic, hospital, insurance company, government agency, research foundation, long-term care facility, dental office, consulting firm, rehabilitation center or other health care facility. Medical coding may be done at home through use of a secure Internet connection. Working from one’s home is generally for employees who have completed training in an office setting for a period of time.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Job Outlook for Medical Record and Health Information Technology careers is projected to increase 11% between 2018 and 2028, which is much faster than average (www.bls.gov).

Program Outcomes

1. Graduates will apply basic medical sciences in accordance to the profession.
2. Graduates will demonstrate use of office and coding based software applications.
3. Graduates will perform accurate medical coding in accordance with official guidelines for coding and reporting.
4. Graduates will model professional and ethical behavior consistent with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Code of Ethics. 

Part-time/Full-time Options

This program can be completed by using a combination of online, day, evening, and Saturday courses. Part-time and full-time options are available.

Program Faculty 

Kelly Dale
kelly.dale@saintpaul.edu