Essential Functions: Medical Coding Specialist

Medical Coding Specialist program students must be able to demonstrate critical, logical and analytical thinking while also possessing motor, auditory and visual skills that enable them to meet program objectives and perform job duties required by the profession.

Disability Act Statement: Madison College complies with all provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act and makes reasonable accommodations upon request for qualified individuals. If you believe you may need accommodations to assist you in performing the functions listed below, please contact the Disability Resource Services (DRS) office at (608)246-6716 or (800)322-6282 ext. 6716 (deaf students via Relay 711) or via email(link sends e-mail).

Critical Thinking: Ability sufficient for clinical judgment and professional behavior

  • identify cause-effect relationship in clinical setting
  • correlate theory to practice
  • abstract information from patient records for coding, research studies and quality improvement projects
  • apply coding guidelines and conventions including proper sequencing of codes
  • correlate and review DRG, APC & RBRVS payment methodology to coded data
  • review and correct denied claims
  • appropriately use and apply authoritative resources

Vision: Ability to read and understand written documentation 

  • adequately read paper and electronic health records
  • read publications, paper and digital, such as federal/state regulations, Medicare policies and professional journals

Emotional Endurance: Ability to work in a high-stress and rapidly changing environment with multiple deadlines while maintaining emotional control and flexibility

  • calmly react to urgent situations
  • focus attention on task at hand
  • adapt to changing environment
  • accept feedback appropriately
  • accept responsibility of own actions

Interpersonal Skills: Abilities sufficient to interact with peers, coworkers, physicians, third party payers and other groups from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds

  • establish good rapport with classmates, instructors and healthcare professionals
  • be sensitive to needs of others
  • work together to reach a common goal (team player)
  • effectively de-escalate a situation

Communication: Ability to communicate and interact with others

  • communicate in English
  • follow written and oral directions
  • listen for content, emotional meaning and direction
  • communicate a thought, idea or fact in spoken and/or written form in a clear, concise and objective manner
  • compose written physician queries regarding documentation following official coding guidelines
  • participate in departmental and institutional meetings
  • use the telephone

Ethics: Ability to act in a professional manner

  • maintain patient confidentiality
  • maintain security of health information
  • demonstrate academic integrity
  • abide by the Code of Ethics of professional health information management/coding organizations

Motor Skills: Manual dexterity and physical agility necessary to perform duties while meeting productivity standards

  • keyboarding
  • locate information in medical record documentation (paper and electronic formats)
  • assign patient classificaton systems such as ICD-9-CM, HCPCS and CPT using code books or computer applications
  • assign DRGs, APCs, RBRVS payment methodology to patient cases using computer applications
  • carry items such as medical records, code books, and computer laptops/tablets
  • sit at the computer for extended periods of time to perform the coding function

Developed by the Medical Coding Specialist Program Advisory Committee, MATC, 6/96. Revised 9/09, 05/17.