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Clinical Coding—Virtual Work Integrated Learning

Design Pattern

: Course, Graduate employability, Online learning, Virtual worlds, Building graduate attributes

Clinical Coding—Virtual Work Integrated Learning

Trish Newstead, Diane Bates, Jeremy Sager
December 2015
Abstract/Snapshot: 

The School of Vocational Health and Science have recently begun delivering an Associate Degree in Health Science. In the second year of this two year program, students have a choice to specialize in Health Promotion or Clinical Coding. Clinical Coding is a relatively new job role in the health sector and there is an increasing demand for graduates to fill such roles. Clinical Coders translate medical diagnoses and procedures into codes which capture healthcare data and influence funding allocation to service providers. Consultation with the Department of Health, Workforce Development Unit provides evidence that there is currently a severe workforce shortage of clinical coders and it is anticipated that there will be a growing demand for graduates with these skills in the future. Concerns have
also been expressed that graduates are not “work-ready” when they graduate and require further training in the workplace. Clinical placements which traditionally provide students with “on the job” skills and enable them to become “work-ready” are severely limited and highly contested with other education providers.

To address this issue and ensure the School produces “workready” graduates we have decided to act on advice from our industry partners and design a technology enhanced, simulated workplace environment which will enable students to engage in authentic workplace coding activities and be taught and assessed by industry experts.