• Don’t wait until the last minute to study!  You should be reviewing you notes far before the test date.
• Take good notes.  Go over your notes and review new vocabulary words. Make sure you highlight any important concepts.
• Utilize study aids. Make flash cards, take practice test and quizzes or create diagrams and lists to help you remember the information.
• Reread chapters in your text book. Review the important concepts and make notes in the margins.
• Study every day.  With work, school and family, it’s hard to find time to sit down and study every day.  You don’t need several hours to study daily. Set aside at least 15-20 minutes to go over your notes and textbook.
• Participate in class discussions and ask questions in class.
• Do you understand the material? The instructor is testing your comprehension or understanding of the material, not how well you memorized the information.
• Be Prepared. Show up for your exam with all of the necessary material. Did you bring your 2 pencils, calculator, chart or specs?
• Pulling an “all nighter” does not work.  Get a good night’s sleep. It’s important to be well rested on the day of the exam. If you’re well rested you’ll feel less anxiety and you’ll be more alert.

Just what is a FICO score and why is it important? FICO stands for Fair, Isaac and Company. This is the business which creates the most widely used credit scoring formulas. Your FICO score is your personal credit score based upon your credit history. This score determines who will give you credit and at what rates.

It’s important to know your score or at least have an idea of what range your score falls in. This is especially true if you’re planning on making a large purchase in the future. Also, in order to guard yourself against identity theft you should be checking your credit reports to make sure that the information is accurate. Someone may be fraudulently using your personal information and may damage your credit history.  Be proactive
in knowing your credit score and history so that it won’t be a surprise when you need it. Even if you don’t plan of borrowing money soon you may find yourself in a situation where you need credit in an emergency. Plus, it’s not just lenders who look at your credit score. Potential employers and landlords also inquire about your FICO score and credit history when assessing applicants.

Your FICO Score will fall in the range of 300 to 900 points. Generally a score of 750 is considered a good score. Your score and credit history is assembled by the three major credit bureaus-Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian. Just what is taken into account when determining your score? The credit bureaus look at:

• Any outstanding balances you have
• How much available credit you have
• Any  history of late payments
• The age of your credit accounts

Knowing your FICO score ahead of time also allows you the ability to improve it. The easiest and fast way to improve your score is to pay your bills on time and pay off any outstanding debts.  Here are some other tips on how to improve your FICO score:

• Once you’ve paid off a credit card do not close the account. Having a card with a zero balance and a large amount of available credit will help improve your score.
•  Do not open any unnecessary cards.  Frequently applying for cards will lower your credit score.
• Correct any mistakes in your credit report.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to provide you with a free copy of your credit report every 12 months. You can do so by visiting this site:

https://www.annualcreditreport.com

For more information about how to request free copies of your credit report and FICO score please visit:

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0155-free-credit-reports

The next session is:

Date:                     Friday, May 10, 2013

Time:                    8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Location:             Coyne College, 230 Monroe Street Ste. 400, Chicago, IL 60606

RSVP:                   Email Ms. Mull if you want to participate (bmull@coynecollege.edu)

Please bring the following:

• Picture ID, Student ID, and/or Driver License, to access the building.
• Credit card to apply for membership as a student, if you have not done so.
• Or your membership card with your ID# if you have already joined as a member.
• 2012/2013 Coding Set Books (ICD-9-CM, HCPCs, and CPT)

Students and graduates are highly encouraged to become a member of the AAPC.  Cost of membership is available on the AAPC website.  AAPC provides valuable information that will enhance your knowledge and career. Also AAPC will let you sign up and acquire an ID #, but until you pay for the membership, the benefits are limited.

In the interim take the time to review your books to refresh your memory:

• ICD-9-CM, CPT-4, and HCPC’s GUIDELINES
• Anatomy and Physiology

Also, if you have sat for the exam, please email the following information to Ms. Mull (bmull@coynecollege.edu):

• If you have Passed or Failed.
• If you are scheduled or have re-schedule to take the exam and on what date.
• Provide feedback concerning the exam.
• What could be done to improve the classes and/or prep classes for the exam.

Your feedback is important and greatly appreciated!

Barbara Mull, BS, CPC, CMA(AAMA)

So is that it? To fairly and equally compare one amp with another you simply need to make sure the power rating has RMS before or after it? No, sorry. There is much, much more to it.  Even a true RMS rating can be stretched. Probably the most important factor for getting a true RMS reading and comparing it with another is distortion. Distortion, in very simple terms is unwanted sound that is added to the music signal. If you have ever turned up a stereo system too loud you may have noticed that the sound suddenly stops being clear. What you are hearing is distortion. Distortion is
rated in a percentage (%) and is often referred to as THD (total harmonic distortion). There are many kinds of distortion but I don’t want to get too far off track here by going into them. The way it is measured, as a percentage, is the music signal is measured coming out of the amp and then it is compared to the music signal that originally went into the amp and anything that is in the output that was not in the input is distortion. From the comparison of before versus after we come up with a percentage of distortion vs. original signal. So if we say an amp has a power rating of 100Watts RMS at 1% distortion then at 100Watts One percent of the sound coming out is unwanted noise that the amp itself is injecting. So what is a tolerable level? Generally an amp for your speakers other than subwoofers 1% THD or lower is tolerable. This is debatable but generally the accepted number. Subwoofer amps however, have a different threshold. Generally a subwoofer amp or speaker can have up to 10% THD. So how does this apply to us? How can we use this to compare amps or speakers? Well if you see a power rating like this; [50Watts per channel with 15% THD] then you should immediately know that this will not be a useable 50Watts of power. Now it is possible to use this amp but you will have to keep the volume down because generally distortion goes up as power levels increase. The reality is this amp is not going to provide 50Watts of useable power it may produce 25Watts at a 1% distortion rating.

So is that it? To fairly and equally compare one amp with another you simply need to make sure the power rating has RMS before or after it and make sure that the distortion is either below 1% for main speakers or 10% for subwoofers? No, sorry. Next time we will examine more factors that come into play when comparing amplifiers and speakers power ratings.

The award recipients are:

• Employer of the Year – Four Seasons^TM Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing in Chicago.  Between February and December 2012, Four Seasons hired 46 Coyne graduates.
• Externship Partner of the Year – Walgreens.  Walgreens sponsored 22 students in 2012 for pharmacy externship programs, which provided on-the-job experience, and then hired eight of those students full time.
• Program Advisory Committee (PAC) Member of the Year – Laura Reynolds, of NorthStar Heating and Air Conditioning of Chicago.  PAC is a group of industry professionals, practitioners, affiliated partners, and other interested parties who meet with Coyne faculty and administrators to chart improvements in the college’s training programs.  Ms. Reynolds has been a contributing PAC member since 2010.
• Employee of the Year – Durwin Morris, Operations Coordinator.  Mr. Morris was a computer systems student at Coyne.  He has been an employee since 1995, moving up from Records Manager to his current position in the Education Office.
• Instructor of the Year – Rhonda Steakley, Medical Terminology and Law and Ethics for Allied Health.  Ms. Steakley has been at Coyne since 2009.  She started working in healthcare in 1971, and has held previous positions in medical transcription and as an operating room assistant.

 “The success of Coyne College students is directly related to the quality and commitment of our staff, our professional advisers and the employers who hire our students as externs and for full-time positions,” said Russell Freeman, president of Coyne College.  “In appreciation of these efforts, we recognize and congratulate the particularly strong contributions each year with our annual awards.”

Coyne College has been recognizing employers, externship partners and PAC members since 2008.  Previous award recipients include the Chicago Transit Authority; PolyScience; Professional Eye Center; Rush University Medical Center; Scheck & Siress; and Taylor Medical.

]]> http://www.coynecollege.edu/blog/2013/01/22/coyne-college-announces-2012-award-recipients/feed/ 2 http://www.coynecollege.edu/blog/2012/11/28/coyne-graduates-gain-experience-at-premier-medical-billing-company/ http://www.coynecollege.edu/blog/2012/11/28/coyne-graduates-gain-experience-at-premier-medical-billing-company/#comments Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:10:13 +0000 Coyne http://www.coynecollege.edu/blog/?p=297 RMK Holdings Inc. and its affiliate companies were founded in 1980 as a privately held financial services firm targeting private and public sectors in multiple industries across the United States.  Today, RMK encompasses robust, proactive solutions-based revenue cycle management services for doctors, physician groups and other healthcare organizations. As a third party medical billing company, core services includes advanced customized medical billing strategies, coding verification and early out collection programs. Third party debt collection services continue to be offered through Revenue Management of Illinois Corporation. RMK averages a 17 to 40 percent increase or more in cash flow for its clients and each service is
delivered to safeguard a client’s trusted image. In 2011, Medical Bill & Claim Resolution (MBCR) was added to aid consumers in resolving issues while enabling them to become better self-advocates for their healthcare financial decisions.

The student quality received through Coyne’s medical billing and coding program is terrific. Shannon Moore is RMK’s acting Billing Team Leader and plays a critical role in assisting and developing new talent through hands on training, coaching, and positive reinforcement. She recommends that students entering  the field ask questions and remain open to learning opportunities to acquire a well rounded understanding of an organization’s operations.

RMK has several Coyne students on its team. Recent and past graduates include Cynthia Wilson, Sekea Jones, Nicole Hill, Samantha Ruiz, Janette Almazan, and Tamara Flowers. After researching other colleges, they chose Coyne for its longevity, highly knowledgeable teaching staff with real world indepth experience, and accreditation association. They also attribute Coyne’s supporting environment and career mentoring in assisting them to achieve their educational goals and subsequent entry into the job market.

To learn more about RMK, please visit them online at www.RMK123.com or request information by dropping an email to info@rmk123.com.

From Left to Right, Back Row: Nicole Hill, Tamara Flowers, Cynthia Wilson, Sekea Jones  From Left to Right, Front Row: Samantha Ruiz, Shannon Moore, Janette Almazan

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has mandated the replacement of the ICD-9-CM code sets used by medical coders and billers to report health care diagnoses and procedures with ICD-10 codes, effective Oct. 1, 2014. ICD-10 implementation will radically change the way coding is currently done and will require a significant effort to implement. The time for ICD-10 implementation training is now, and through AAPC, thousands of organizations and individuals have become ICD-10 Implementation Ready.

All AAPC Certified Coders  are required to take an assessment exam for ICD-10-CM in order to keep their certification.  See below:

ICD-10
Proficiency Assessment and Online Proficiency Assessment

The ICD-10 Proficiency Assessment is the only step of our training plan required for all certified AAPC members (excluding CPPM®, CPCO™, and CIRCC®). You should prepare yourself as you would for other exams or assessments. To ensure employers continue to have confidence in a certified coder’s ability to accurately code the current code sets, AAPC certified members will have two years to pass an open-book, online, unproctored assessment.

It will measure your understanding of ICD-10-CM format and structure, groupings and categories of codes, ICD-10-CM official guidelines, and coding concepts.

• Required for all AAPC credential holders (excluding CPPM®, CPCO™, and CIRCC®), recommended for all others working with the new code set
• Two (2) years to take and pass the assessment, beginning October 1, 2013 (one year before implementation  of ICD-10) and ending September 30, 2015 (one year after implementation)
• 75 questions, open-book, online, unproctored, use any resource available Coders will have two (2) attempts at passing over a two year window (Oct 1, 2013 – Sept. 30, 2015) for the $60 administration fee
• ICD-10-CM only (ICD-10-PCS will not be covered in the assessment)
• No CEUs given

Tip: Prepare for the Proficiency Assessment with the Online Proficiency Prep Tool.

Above information is taken from www.aapc.com; please review all and any updates from the AAPC website.

Wattage is very confusing very (very!) confusing.  If you don’t exactly get it let me tell you it is not your fault. Manufacturers or more precisely marketing departments that work for these manufacturers work very hard at stretching, distorting, and twisting the truth. People pay for Wattage higher power usually equates to higher sales figures. I am going to concentrate on speakers first.  Let me start by saying SPEAKERS DO NOT PRODUCE POWER THEY CONSUME IT.  It is your amplifier that produces power. What I am saying is that If you have speakers rated at 1000Watts RMS (more on RMS later) and you have a 400Watt amplifier then guess what, you have the right to brag about your 400Watt system not a 1000Watt system.

Here is the analogy I like to use in class. Many people upgrade their wheels and tires on their cars. There is a type of tire called Z rated. The Z-rated
tire is capable of speeds over 149 MPH. A Corvette is sold new with Z-rated tires. But let’s say that you put new rims and Z-rated tires on your Chevy
Cavalier. Will the car, after being fitted with Z rated tires then be able to go over 149 MPH? OK for those of you on the edge of your seat, the answer is NO. Z-rated tires will not make your car any faster than it was before. The same goes for speakers really. Think of speakers as the tires on your car and the engine as the amplifier. It is really the power of the engine that moves the car. And it is the power of your amplifier that moves your speaker. The wattage rating of your system that you will brag about should be derived from your amplifiers output power rating.

But of course speakers do have a wattage rating. What is the purpose of a speaker’s power rating? The wattage rating of a speaker is merely a limit. Again the amplifier produces power the speaker consumes it. Your amplifiers (RMS) output power rating should not exceed the input power rating of the speaker.

Next time I will talk about power ratings specifically the different types such as Peak Power, Maximum Power and more importantly, RMS.

Auditory Learners

Do you learn best from class discussions or instructor lectures?  Do you find yourself reading aloud or talking through problems? This would be an example of an auditory learner.  Try audio recording your class lectures or your notes and play them back on your commute to class. This would
be an excellent way for auditory learners to prepare for class.

Visual Learners

Do you find yourself drawing examples of class topics in your notebook? Do you copy drawings that instructors make on the whiteboard? Do
you prefer PowerPoint presentations or visual slides of material? Visual learners learn best when material is presented in some type of picture or
diagram. This type of student learns best when they are able to see concepts.  Detailed notes will help visual learners remember information covered in class. Copy everything the instructor places on the whiteboard. If they took the time to write it up there, chances are it’s important for you to know.

Tactile Learners

Do you learn better working with your hands? Do you prefer manipulating material over reading a textbook or listening to lectures? Chances
are you would be considered a tactile learner.  To become a successful student make sure you pay attention and participate in your labs. This class time is geared specifically towards your learning style.

Here are some examples of ways in which you can become an active participant in class.

• Come prepared for class. This is the best way to become an active participant in discussions.  If you’ve read the material and reviewed your class notes you’ll be able to contribute.
• While you’re reading or taking notes jot down any questions you may have for the instructor. Chances are you’re not the only person who has the same question.
• Make sure your discussions stay on topic. Derailing the discussion will not help you learn the material.
• Don’t become defensive or argumentative when having discussions with others. The ability to discuss topics with those who may not agree with you is important.
• Most importantly, don’t be afraid to contribute.  It’s ok to sometimes be wrong. Some of our greatest minds have failed hundreds of times before succeeding. The only true failures are those who do not try.