VGCC Information Session highlights new Medical Coding evening option
Vance-Granville Community College’s Franklin County Campus will offer an information session on Monday, July 25, at 6 p.m., in Room F-1204, focused on the Medical Office Administration program, including a new opportunity to train for careers in Medical Coding.
VGCC is offering the first course that students traditionally take as part of the Medical Coding Specialist certificate program on a new eight-week evening schedule at the Franklin Campus . Medical Terminology I ( OST 141 ) is scheduled for Monday evenings from 6 until 7:50 p.m. in Louisburg, from Aug. 15 through Oct. 3. The class will be taught in a “hybrid” format, with some online coursework in addition to one class meeting per week. The format is considered ideal for adults who work during the day but prefer some time in the classroom with an instructor rather than a fully-online course.
Following the completion of that course, students would go on to take the next course in the program, Medical Terminology II ( OST 142 ), on the same schedule at the same location, again over an eight-week period. That course would wrap up at the end of the fall semester in December.
Four more courses are required for the Medical Coding Specialist Certificate: Medical Coding, Billing & Insurance ( OST 148 ), Procedure Coding ( OST 247 ), Diagnostic Coding ( OST 248 ) and CPC Certification ( OST 249 ). The last course prepares students to sit for the “Certified Professional Coder” exam offered by the American Association of Professional Coders.
Medical coding is the process of reviewing patients’ written medical records and converting them into an alphanumeric language, primarily in order to submit a bill for services or supplies to an insurance company for payment. Employment opportunities are available in medical offices, hospitals, insurance companies, laboratories, medical supply companies, and other health-care-related organizations.
“Accurate medical coding is crucial to the health care industry,” said Christal Thomas, the program head for Office Administration at VGCC. “Medical coding and related career fields have grown in recent years and are expected to continue growing faster than other fields, as the demand for health services increases and insurance continues to change.”
Once students complete the Medical Coding certificate, their courses can be applied to the Associate in Applied Science degree in Medical Office Administration, which has general and Coding Specialist track options. VGCC also offers an Office Administration degree for training in administrative support careers outside the health care field. Courses are offered on VGCC’s four campuses and online . Prospective students can learn more about all of these program options at the July 25 information session.
Enrollment of new students is taking place throughout the summer. For more information, contact Christal Thomas at (252) 738-3325 or thomasc@vgcc.edu .
