In learning that a loved one has suffered a heart attack, a family's first reaction is to locate a reputable cardiologist to guide the care and recovery of its family member. The same logic is, with increasing frequency, being applied in the arena of medical coding, as physician specialists enlist the assistance of coding professionals with specific expertise related to their particular area of focus.

One thing is for sure: medical coding for cardiovascular and thoracic surgery isn't for the faint of heart. This line of medical practice involves some pretty hefty procedures, such as coronary artery bypass, angiography and bronchoscopy, with equally weighted price tags. There is no room for mistakes--not by the physician, not by whomever is documenting the procedure, and not by the coder deciphering the documentation using CPT, ICD-9-CM and HCPCS Level II codes.

Being a certified professional coder is an excellent way to up your coding knowledge, but it may not provide enough insight into the specialized coding intricacies of the advanced field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. To demonstrate your superior level of expertise in this specialty discipline, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) has developed the specialty credential, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CPC-CTS).

Although general certifications, such as CPC, CPC-H and CCS, CCS-P, provide practitioners with assurance that a coding professional has earned proficiency in general multi-specialty coding conventions, the specialty credential resonates a level of mastery in a given specialty arena. This mastery serves a dual purpose--ensuring that the coding professional is recognized and compensated for their expertise, and providing powerful assurance to the specialist physician that their hard-earned revenue is captured proficiently.

The added value of the specialty certification allows the coder to parlay his or her experience and knowledge base to better educate practitioners and maintain succinct compliance with particular coding guidelines. Further, the advent of specialty credentials provides employers and entities with yet another metric for determining the level of expertise expected from a potential employee.

Successfully completing the CPC-CTS specialty credential examination demonstrates you have:

1. Experience or extensive study of the specialty. (However, the AAPC does not have a prerequisite requirement for experience or core knowledge related to the given specialty.)

2. Sound command of terminology, acronyms, and procedural methodology specifically related to the specialty.

3. The ability to research and retain knowledge related to specialty-specific coding conventions, including adjunct references.

4. Current AAPC credential (such as CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P) or American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) credential (such as CCS, CCS-P, RHIT) or MD. (The specialty exam is not available to apprentice level coders due to its difficulty level.)

As coding professionals continue to rise to the forefront as candidates expected to lead revenue cycle improvement and compliance, specialty credentials become progressively essential to qualify for employment in specialty practices. A natural progression for professional development is to seek out and master the specialty credential examination of your choice. Your career and specialty practice employers will thank you for taking the initiative!

To learn more about obtaining the CPC-CTS specialty credential, visit the AAPC Web site at file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/ljusinski/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/OLK15D/www.aapc.com.

Brad Ericson is director of publications at AAPC and has been writing and editing coding publications for 16 years.