DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., December 02, 2015 - In October 2015, the U.S. government issued an update to its recording system for health care classifications. To help students in its Medical Billing and Coding and Health Information Technology programs prepare for this transition, DeVry University is offering a new ICD-10 course; and for current students who have already completed DeVry University’s ICD-9 course, the new ICD-10 course will be offered at no cost.
ICD alphanumeric designations, set by the World Health Organization, are used by hospitals and health systems to code every diagnosis, description of symptoms and cause of death. The new International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) includes 70,000 codes detailing ways patients can become sick or injured; up from 13,000 codes as ICD-9.
“As electronic medical records replace shorthand patient charts, health care professionals need ongoing education to keep up with the new system’s growing levels of detail,” said Brian Bethune, national dean of the college of health sciences at DeVry University. “ICD-10 increases the number of codes in use more than threefold, making medical coders’ jobs even more complex.”
Medical coding professionals are certified through the Registered Health Information Technician® (RHIT) and Certified Coding Associate® (CCA) certification exams. Because these exams now test students on ICD-10, DeVry University will offer the new ICD-10 course to all students enrolled in the Medical Billing and Coding undergraduate certificate and Health Information Technology associate degree programs.
Current DeVry University students who have completed the ICD-9 course can take the new ICD-10 course at no tuition cost. Likewise, any Health Information Technology alum who graduated from DeVry University in 2015 and has not taken the RHIT exam is also eligible to return to take the ICD-10 course at no tuition cost. The ICD-10 course is not required for graduation; rather it is designed to help prepare students for the RHIT and CCA exams.
“DeVry University provides a comprehensive academic path for students interested in the growing professional opportunities in health care,” Bethune said. “Our Student Services and student success coaches are working closely with students to ensure they are prepared for ICD-10.”
To learn more about DeVry University’s College of Health Sciences, visit devry.edu.
