FLORENCE DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE Certificate in Medical Coding and Billing MEMO to Students Dear Medical Coding and Billing Student: Thank you so much for choosing Florence Darlington Technical College for your education in the healthcare professions. We look forward to helping you succeed in the program you have selected. This letter is to make you aware of two (2) very important issues that could impact your education in allied health sciences here at FDTC. The concern for the welfare and safety of patients, students, employees, visitors, and resources within the allied health science scope of education is critical and of utmost priority while working in the healthcare industry. In response to this concern, new policies have been instituted by our affiliating healthcare agencies where you would be participating in the clinical and/or practicum portion of your educational process. Since FDTC students are required to comply with the policies of all affiliated clinical agencies, the issues addressed in this letter are very important and required for your success. The first issue is related to the requirements for criminal background checks on all Health Science students. Any student entering the clinical/practicum portion of any health science related program must have a crime free criminal background check. Convictions of, pleas of guilty, pleas of nolo contendere (no contest), or any pending criminal charges during the past seven (7) years will prevent the student from meeting the requirements of clinical/practicum eligibility. There will be no time limit for crimes involving violence against a person including but not limited to: murder, manslaughter, use of deadly force, assault and battery (other than simple), sex crimes, abuse of children/elderly, abduction, or robbery and they will prohibit a student from a clinical/practicum course of study. If you know you do not have a crime free background check you may want to seek legal counsel regarding the possibility of having the record expunged or pardoned. The second issue is related to mandatory drug screens. All Allied Health Science students will be required to undergo drug screening before beginning the clinical/practicum portion of their program. The purposes of the drug screen policy are to comply with regulations of area health care agencies, to provide optimal care to patients, and to support the zero tolerance policy related to illicit use of substances as stated in the Alcohol and Drug Policy of Allied Health Science programs located in the syllabi. Random drug screens may be performed throughout the time students are enrolled in clinical courses. It is unacceptable for students to have detectable level of illegal drugs in their system, to be under the influence of alcohol, or to have detectable levels of legal drugs which are not disclosed and/or for which no prescription can be produced. A crime free criminal background check and a negative drug screen are vital to your success in the allied health science programs. Again, thank you for choosing FDTC and I wish you all the best in your educational experience. Sincerely, Allison Warren, RHIT Revised 02/2/2016 Page 1
College Admission Apply and be accepted to Florence Darlington Technical College Submit transcripts from High School and any colleges previously attended. Complete college admission placement testing for enrollment in the appropriate General education courses Pre-Requisites Attend Career Talk Session and meet with Medical Coding and Billing Advisor Must have completed High School Biology and Algebra 1 You must be eligible to take required courses to be considered into the Medical Coding and Billing Program MCB Program Application Complete and turn in the Medical Coding and Billing Application Packet Meet with MCB Advisor for review of program policies and requirements. Admission to MCB Program Notification will be sent to the student of acceptance into the Medical Coding and Billing Program for Fall term First of June Upon acceptance Student will be responsible for completing the following prior to attending the Fall semester term: Criminal Background Check, Drug Screen, Health History and Physical, CPR Certification, and other required immunizations. Failure to meet this requirement would result in forfeiture of admittance to the MCB Program Revised 02/2/2016 Page 2
MINIMUM APPLICATION CRITERIA for the Medical Coding and Billing Program (MCB-HIMC) Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, admission to Florence Darlington Technical College and have completed the college admission placement testing for enrollment. Completion of High School Biology and Algebra 1 Attended a Career Talk Session with in 1 year of the application date for the program. Applicants with college credit earned in high school must be completed with a C or better to get Transfer Credit (TR). College Registrar grants TR credit. Applicants with previously completed college credit or degree must have official transcript sent to Registrar s office and have a GPA of 2.0 or better. MINIMUM SELECTION CRITERIA for the Medical Coding and Billing Program (MCB-HIMC) Students are advised that should there be a greater number of applicants than positions available: Florence, Darlington and Marion County residents and/or students completing the majority of the required Program credit hours (prerequisites and co-requisites) at FDTC are given preference in the selection process when all other requirements have been met. The Program GPA earned will be used in selecting applicants for admission. This includes any program prerequisites and/or co-requisites. The number of program courses completed at FDTC PROOF OF RESIDENCE Required for anyone who has completed less than 50% of the program course work at FDTC. Proof of Residence includes: Electric, water, gas or telephone bill, car registration, real estate property tax receipt and rental agreements on business letterhead may be used as proof of residence. Bills must include the home address and names of the applicants, parent or legal guardian. If the bill is in the name of the legal guardian, it must be accompanied by guardianship papers signed by a judge. A driver s license or bank check will not be accepted as proof of residence. STATUS NOTIFICATION The applicant will be notified by MCB-HIMC program personnel to their FDTC email address, informing the applicant of their status regarding acceptance or rejection into the MCB program. Information regarding the status of the applicant s application will not be available from the Allied Health Programs nor from the Registrar s Office during the review of the applicants files. The applicant is asked to please make inquiries regarding the application only if the applicant becomes aware that an error or omission has occurred. We wish each applicant the best in the application and selection process. Revised 02/2/2016 Page 3
Please note that it is the applicant s responsibility to ensure that all documents are provided to the school by the last business day of March at 4:00pm Applications may only be submitted the first business day of March, through the last business day of March. Return the Application and Application Checklist to the MCB-HIMC Program completed. Make sure all of the instructions have been read. Be sure to keep a copy for your records. The Application and Application Checklist can be mailed to: o FDTC, Attention: Medical Coding and Billing P.O. Box 100548, Florence, SC 29501-0548 or delivered to Allison Warren MCB Program Office 315 the Health Science Campus (HSC) at 320 West Cheves Street, Florence, SC. If you would like proof of receipt you may send certified mail or by Federal Express(FedEx ). Applications are accepted beginning the first business day of March until the last business day of March, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and no later than 4:00 pm. ** NOTE** 1. The textbooks for this program are extensive. With most courses there will be textbook, workbook, additional software, and or code books for each course. I want to inform you of this so you are aware of the costs associated with the program. 2. For practicum/internship based course (HIM 150) you will be required to purchase an established attire to include Business Dress attire and/or a uniform vest that requires monograming. Please be aware of these additional costs. 3. The practicum/internship courses require FDTC clinical processes that include a CBC, Drug Screen, Immunizations, CPR, health physical, and for some sites additional orientations. This process can range from $200-$500 depending on the extent of the required facets. The following items are required upon acceptance into the Medical Coding and Billing Certificate Program: a. Medical Examination Forms are provided by the College and should be current (within one year) and complete b. Two-Step PPD/Chest X-Ray c. Hepatitis B Immunization or Signed Informed Refusal d. MMR Immunization e. Chicken Pox Vaccination f. CPR Certification by American Heart Association or American Red Cross g. Background Check h. Drug Screening Revised 02/2/2016 Page 4
Application Checklist Page 1 of Required Submission for Application Name: Email/Phone: Student ID#: The following are minimum requirements or necessary steps for consideration for admission to the Medical Coding and Billing Program. Complete each step/requirement and certify by initialing on this form that the step/requirement has been met. Submit this form with your completed application to Attention: Medical Coding and Billing Program, P.O. Box 100548, Florence, SC 29501-0548 or delivered to Allison Warren MCB Program, Office 315 at the Health Science Campus (HSC) at 320 West Cheves Street, Florence, SC, by the last business day of March. Each item must be initialed by the applicant indicating the requirement has been met: Admission as a credit degree- seeking student to Florence-Darlington Technical College. High School diploma or GED is on file with the Registrar. College transcripts of all transfer credits are on file with the Registrar. Admission testing completed with scores that meet the minimum required for the program Overall cumulative credit grade point average of 2.0 or higher has been earned. A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained in the Medical Coding and Billing Program, as a C or better is required in all Medical Coding and Billing and in all General Education courses. I have completed all of the above requirements. I affirm that all information submitted for the application process is truthful and accurate. Falsification of any requirement may disqualify the applicant for the MCB program. Student s Signature: Date: Revised 02/2/2016 Page 5
Page 2 of Required Submission for Application APPLICATION PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY AND PROVIDE THE INFORMATION REQUESTED IN ALL SECTIONS. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS. The completed application must be returned in person by the applicant to Allison Warren, Office 315 at the Health Science Campus by the last business day of March. Name: (LAST) (FIRST) (MIDDLE) Any Former Names: Student ID #: If mailing address is PO Box, you must also provide a physical address. Mailing Address: Home Address: City: County: State: Zip: County of residence: Home Telephone #: Work/Cell #: FDTC E-mail Address: NOTE: Florence Darlington Technical College is an equal opportunity institution and as such it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, creed, marital status, veteran status, disability, sex, or age in its admissions policies, programs, activities or employment practices. Admissions will be based on the information included on the application, and on the transcripts available. Information received after admission decisions are made will not be considered for the current application period. Revised 02/2/2016 Page 6
For Student Use-Please Keep for your own records Pre-requisites Co-requisites REQUIRED HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA, BIOLOGY, KEYBOARDING ** CLASSES CAN BE TAKEN IN ANY ORDER, CONSIDERING PREREQS, BELOW IS A SUGGESTED SEQUENCE FALL Lecture/Lab/Credit BIO 112 BASIC ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 3-3-4 BIO 100 or HS Biology AHS 102 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 3-0-3 HIM 103 INTRO TO HIM & CODING 3-0-3 HIM 266 COMPUTERS IN HEALTHCARE 2-3-3 11-6-13 SPRING AHS 121 PHARMACOLOGY 2-0-2 BIO 112 HIM 130 BILLING AND REIMBURSEMENT 3-0-3 HIM 135 MEDICAL PATHOLOGY 3-0-3 BIO 112 HIM 140 CURRENT PROCEDURAL TERM 2-3-3 HIM 216 CODING AND CLASSIFICATION 2-3-3 12-6-14 SUMMER HIM 150 CODING PRACTICUM 0-9-3 HIM 225 CODING AND CLASSIFICATION II 2-3-3 2-11-9 Semester Completed & Grade Received Revised 02/2/2016 Page 7