Medical Coding Entry-to-Practice (E2P) Standards
Through the Future of Medical Coding program, we are pleased to present a draft national standard for Entry-to-Practice (E2P) medical coding for consultation.
The College analyzed existing academic curriculum and industry requirements from across Canada for the draft standards. Our result forms a baseline for member feedback to advance efforts to provide employers with job-ready E2P medical coding graduates.
Medical coders are a critical component of the health care journey and hold an incredible responsibility to the people receiving care. Missteps at the coding level can lead to consequential outcomes. This is why we believe medical coders entering the profession must have the knowledge and capabilities associated with the CHIM designation – as well as access to the professional community provided by their professional CHIMA membership.
The professionals who complete E2P Medical Coding programs registered with the College will either hold the CHIM designation or be on their way to holding the CHIM designation. The quality of individuals who choose the programs registered with the College will be much greater than those who choose programs outside of the College’s ecosystem.
Canada can not sacrifice the quality of its new medical coders at the expense of growing the workforce quickly.
Accredited HIM programs currently include course content that is included in this standard. However, the depth and breadth vary from program to program. This standard is designed to provide a focused concentration on the E2P medical coding competencies that are required by employers. It has been constructed to provide students and working professionals with an integrated learning package to prepare them for job readiness in entry-to-practice medical coding roles. Furthermore, the standards allow students the ability to review medical terminology, pathophysiology, anatomy and physiology while being integrated with learning content on ICD-10-CA/CCI and the CIHI coding standards.
This E2P medical coding standards falls within the approved governance framework for the College, approved by the Board of Directors. To learn more about this framework, please review the following sessions available through our learning management system:
0197 Evolving standards, elevating coding — Explore the profession’s modernized academic standards
0219 Ask, listen, and learn about the future of medical coding
Request access to the E2P Medical Coding Curricular Standards
Douglas College Medical Coding E2P certificate and CHIMA online community
This online capstone certificate is offered in an on-demand format. It can be taken by working professionals and students within their HIM program to increase their competency in E2P medical coding. It has been paired with a CHIMA online community for students and alumni of the certificate for continuous learning.
In addition, it has been recognized as a pilot to gain industry feedback on the draft E2P national standards from The Canadian College of Health Information that are now available for consultation.
It focuses on key competencies to ensure a graduate is job-ready for medical coding.