Surgical tech, medical coding certificates awarded
Published or Revised May 13, 2013
In the top photo, surgical technology students receiving their certificates are, from the left: Kelly Annette Ferguson, Amanda Kay Fisk, Thomas Wesley Murphy, Grace A. Parker, Ronny Lee Hill, Carley E. Vaughn, Tamra Marchelle Holmes, Jordan Leigh Stafford, Chantelle Rebecca Brinkley and Rebecca Lynn Dupree. In the bottom photo, medical records coding students receiving their certificates are, from the left: Kelly Madrigal, Kristina Covert, LaTosha Turner, Kimberly Allen, Sandra Edwards and Teresa Ogletree.
Surgical technology photo on Flickr »
Medical records coding photo on Flickr »
Paris Junior College Health Occupations Department held pinning and recognition ceremonies Thursday for those receiving certificates from the Medical Records Coding and Surgical Technology programs.
Health Occupations director Marcia Putnam welcomed everyone and introduced coordinators and faculty, including Medical Records Coding coordinator Ron Vrba; Surgical Technology coordinator Norman Gilbert and instructor Ginger Edwards.
Vrba explained that the coding program trained students to take the physician's diagnosis and turn it into a five-digit code. The code specifies the type of operation or procedure. Those receiving certificates will sit for the national Certified Coding Associate examination.
Graduates of the Coding program and their hometowns are: Kristina Covert and LaTosha Turner of Paris; Kimberly Allen of Blossom; Sandra Edwards of Greenville; Kelly Madrigal of Wolfe City; and Teresa Ogletree of Quinlan.
The Medical Records Coding Program at Paris Junior College is approved by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and is one of only three approved programs in Texas.
AHIMA states: "Medical coding is the transformation of verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries, and procedures into numeric or alphanumeric designations. Delivering quality healthcare depends on capturing accurate and timely medical data. Currently, reimbursement of hospitals and physician claims for Medicare patients depends entirely on the assignment of codes to describe diagnosis, services and procedures provided. Medical coding professionals fulfill the need as key players in the healthcare workplace."
Graduates of the Surgical Technology program and their hometowns include: Rebecca Dupree and Ronny Hill of Paris; Kelly Ferguson of Blossom; Thomas Murphy of Roxton; Tamra Holmes of Detroit; Carley Vaughn of Deport; Chantelle Brinkley of Cooper, Jordan Stafford of Clarksville; Amanda Fisk and Grace Parker of Cumby.
Gilbert explained that surgical technicians assist doctors and nurses and play an integral role in the operating room. They assure there is a sterile field for patients from entering to leaving surgery. They set up and pass instruments to the surgeons and anticipate what the surgeons will need, and help control patient blood loss.
Those receiving certificates have completed the curriculum accredited by the Council of Allied Heath Education Programs (CAAHEP).
