A comprehensive 47-day training schedule covering ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, inpatient procedures, live chart preparation, and interview readiness — from June 8 to July 25, 2026.
The program kicks off with a deep dive into ICD-10-CM chapters, building a strong diagnostic coding foundation before advancing to procedural systems.
ICD Chapters 2–6
ICD Chapters 7–10
ICD Chapters 11–15
ICD Chapters 16–19
ICD Chapters 20–22 + Doubt Clarification
Practice Assessments
ICD Chapter-Specific Assessment + Doubt Clarification
Starting June 16, the curriculum transitions into ICD-10-PCS — the procedural coding system used for inpatient hospital settings. This phase covers general guidelines, conventions, and the full structure of PCS characters and sections.
Wednesday 06/17: Root Operations 1–15
Thursday 06/18: Root Operations 16–31
The Medical and Surgical section is the largest and most complex section of PCS, containing 31 root operations that define the objective of every procedure performed.
A comprehensive single-day session covering eight specialized PCS sections beyond Medical and Surgical, each governing distinct clinical domains.
Obstetrics & Newborn Procedures
Placement
Administration
Measurement & Monitoring
Extracorporeal or Systemic Assistance & Performance
Extracorporeal or Systemic Therapies
Osteopathic
Other Procedures
Sat–Sun 06/20–21 are reserved for Practice Assessments. Monday 06/22 continues with Sections 9 through X, including Chiropractic, Imaging, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy, Physical Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment, and New Technology.
Beginning June 24, the curriculum shifts to hands-on clinical procedure knowledge essential for accurate inpatient coding. These sessions cover the most frequently encountered bedside and diagnostic procedures in hospital settings.
The final phase of clinical procedure training begins with the most complex and high-value surgical procedures encountered in inpatient coding.
Wednesday July 1 focuses on neurosurgical procedures — among the most technically complex cases in inpatient coding, requiring precise root operation and approach identification.
Surgical opening of the skull for access to the brain.
Excision of neoplastic tissue from brain parenchyma.
Occlusion of cerebral aneurysm via open or endovascular approach.
Arthrodesis of vertebral segments for stabilization.
Removal of lamina to relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure.
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus management.
July 2 covers two major surgical specialties with high inpatient coding volume — orthopedics and obstetrics/gynecology.
July 3 covers three additional major surgical specialties, completing the comprehensive inpatient procedure curriculum before the final assessment block.
This four-phase journey takes students from foundational diagnostic coding through procedural systems, clinical procedure knowledge, and finally into real-world chart preparation and career readiness.
Three intensive days covering the practical tools and knowledge frameworks that professional inpatient coders use daily in hospital settings.
Understanding the different inpatient facility types — acute care hospitals, long-term acute care (LTAC), rehabilitation facilities, and psychiatric hospitals — and how coding rules differ across each setting.
Drug classifications, common inpatient medications, and how pharmacological treatments impact diagnosis and procedure coding. Understanding medication administration routes and their PCS implications.
Physician query best practices — when to query, how to format compliant queries, and how query responses affect final code assignment and DRG determination.
Systematic approach to medical record review: face sheet, H&P, operative reports, discharge summary, lab results, and nursing notes — and how each document contributes to code selection.
Hands-on training with 3M encoder software: how to find DRGs, look up ICD-10-CM and PCS codes, use the grouper, and validate coding accuracy. Practice chart discussion included.
The most intensive phase of the program — eight full days of live chart preparation, where students apply everything they have learned to real inpatient medical records under guided supervision.
Systematically review all components of the inpatient medical record — face sheet, H&P, operative notes, discharge summary, and ancillary reports.
Apply UHDDS guidelines to identify the principal diagnosis — the condition established after study to be chiefly responsible for the admission.
Identify all reportable secondary diagnoses, comorbidities, and complications that affect patient care, and determine their CC or MCC status.
Assign all ICD-10-PCS codes for procedures performed during the inpatient stay, selecting the correct section, root operation, body part, approach, device, and qualifier.
Use 3M or equivalent software to group the final code set into the appropriate DRG and validate the reimbursement impact of coding decisions.
Live chart sessions run Monday through Friday from July 13–17, with Live Chart Assessment on Sat–Sun July 18–19, followed by additional live chart preparation July 20–22.
The program concludes with three career-focused sessions designed to transition students from learners to job-ready inpatient coding professionals.
Interview Preparation
Resume review, common inpatient coding interview questions, how to discuss coding experience, and strategies for demonstrating ICD-10-CM/PCS competency to employers.
Mock Interview
Simulated interview session with real-time feedback. Students practice answering technical coding questions, scenario-based queries, and behavioral interview questions in a professional setting.
Final Class Orientation
Program wrap-up, certification guidance, next steps for CCS or CIC credentialing, job search resources, and celebration of program completion.
ICD & PCS Medical Coding Mastery Program