The Road to ICD-10-CM/PCS Implementation: Forecasting the Transition for Providers, Payers, and Other Healthcare Organizations

by Tekla B. Sanders, MBA, MHA; Felicia M. Bowens, MSM; William Pierce, RHIA; Bridgette Stasher-Booker, PhD, CSM; Erica Q. Thompson, MD, CDFS; and Warren A. Jones, MD, FAAFP
Abstract

This article will examine the benefits and challenges of the US healthcare system’s upcoming conversion to use of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS) and will review the cost implications of the transition.

Benefits including improved quality of care, potential cost savings from increased accuracy of payments and reduction of unpaid claims, and improved tracking of healthcare data related to public health and bioterrorism events are discussed.

Challenges are noted in the areas of planning and implementation, the financial cost of the transition, a shortage of qualified coders, the need for further training and education of the healthcare workforce, and the loss of productivity during the transition. Although the transition will require substantial implementation and conversion costs, potential benefits can be achieved in the areas of data integrity, fraud detection, enhanced cost analysis capabilities, and improved monitoring of patients’ health outcomes that will yield greater cost savings over time. The discussion concludes with recommendations to healthcare organizations of ways in which technological advances and workforce training and development opportunities can ease the transition to the new coding system.

Key words: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System; ICD-10-CM/PCS; International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification; ICD-9-CM; disease classifications; coding
Introduction

On October 1, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will convert from using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) to using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS).1 The US healthcare industry has not seen a change of this magnitude since the conversion to the use of diagnosis related groups (DRGs). The migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS will allow healthcare providers to categorize diseases, document medical complications, and track healthcare outcomes more effectively.2–11 Improvements expected to occur as a result of the conversion to ICD-10-CM/PCS should enhance clinical documentation of patients’ medical conditions; positively impact the health status of rural, underserved, and disadvantaged populations; and improve continuity of care.12 It is expected that revenue will decrease during the initial implementation period due to decreased productivity. Additionally, possible shortages of qualified coding professionals may occur during the transition period.13–15 Accordingly, with potential decreases in productivity, attitudes toward the ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation are mixed among healthcare providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations.16–19

As the US healthcare industry transitions to a more integrated system of care through technological innovations (e.g., the increased utilization of electronic health records, electronic prescribing systems, and health information exchanges), changes are also occurring in the regulatory policies related to coding.20–22 For nearly 30 years the United States has used the ICD-9-CM system of coding; over time, however, the ICD-9-CM code sets have become archaic in identifying clinical care patterns, and they lack the granularity needed to practice evidence-based medicine.23–26 With advances in medical technology and the expansion of medical procedures, the level of specificity desired in diagnostic and procedural codes is growing.27, 28 The change to ICD-10-CM/PCS presents an opportunity for US providers, healthcare organizations, and payers not only to expand the ways in which medical procedures are documented for billing purposes but also to enhance the specificity at which patient-level data may be utilized to improve patient health outcomes, reduce medical errors, enhance quality data reporting, and increase the accuracy of claims payments.29–32 This article will examine the benefits and challenges of converting to ICD-10-CM/PCS, review the costs of implementation, and assess the potential benefits for health outcomes.
Background
Classification of Diseases and the Establishment and Utilization of ICD-9-CM

The systematic classification of diseases associated with mortality and morbidity has been documented since the late 18th century.33, 34 The classification of diseases has evolved from the Bertillon Classification of Causes of Death and the International List of Causes of Death to the development of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), which is used worldwide by healthcare providers and organizations.35, 36 Developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1975 and revised in 1976, the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) has been utilized globally by countries including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Germany to document and track various categories of disease.37, 38 ICD-9-CM, the clinical modification of ICD-9 introduced by the United States in 1979, increased the number of diagnostic codes and created a coding system to capture inpatient procedural codes in the United States.39 Nevertheless, with advances in medical applications and the continuous development of new, innovative medical procedures, ICD-9-CM no longer produces the desired results necessary to meet the increasing information needs to ensure uniformity within the evolving healthcare industry.40, 41
Conversion to ICD-10-CM/PCS

Under the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January 2009 issued a final rule guiding the adoption of ICD-10-CM/PCS.42 Developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ICD-10-CM/PCS is poised to take full effect on October 1, 2013.43–46 The switch to ICD-10-CM/PCS signals the country’s shift to a universal coding system that could offer a more precise representation of procedures and services being performed by providers and healthcare organizations across the United States.47 ICD-10-CM/PCS will more accurately illustrate the types of medical conditions encountered by providers and other healthcare organizations, thereby reducing redundancy of healthcare, improving patient health outcomes, decreasing medical errors, and enhancing reporting of healthcare quality data.48, 49 Additionally, it will possibly aid in the reduction of fraud and abuse and increase the overall accuracy of medical claims payments.50 The transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS may also afford the United States opportunities to disseminate public health disease and surveillance data globally.51, 52
Differences between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS

The migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS signals a major upgrade to the country’s current coding system. With the conversion, the number of available diagnosis and procedural codes will significantly increase. Under ICD-9-CM, approximately 17,000 codes are currently available for use.53, 54 In contrast, ICD-10-CM/PCS will consist of more than 155,000 codes and will be able to more effectively implement new codes as the evolution of medical technology and medical procedures continues.55, 56 ICD-10-CM/PCS offers numerous advantages over ICD-9-CM that underscore the importance of migrating to the new version. For providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations, the advantages of ICD-10-CM/PCS include the expansion of injury codes, the reduction in the number of codes necessary to accurately describe a medical condition due to increased specificity of diagnostic codes, and the inclusion of pertinent information vital to measuring ambulatory and managed care encounters.57, 58 As a result, the shift to ICD-10-CM/PCS heightens the US healthcare system’s ability to more accurately gauge healthcare services, improve the monitoring and surveillance of diseases, and produce quality healthcare data to improve patient outcomes.59
Migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS

For entities covered under HIPAA (e.g., “health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, and . . . healthcare providers”), the move to ICD-10-CM/PCS will require understanding both the benefits and the challenges of implementation, recognizing the cost associated with converting to ICD-10-CM/PCS, and identifying the potential benefits to improving patient outcomes, as illustrated in Figure 1.60, 61 With the October 1, 2013, deadline steadily approaching, providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations must prepare for the transition that lies ahead. In the following sections, the perceived benefits and challenges of ICD-10-CM/PCS conversion are discussed, costs of ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation are reviewed, and the potential benefits of ICD-10-CM/PCS for improving patient outcomes are presented.
Perceived Benefits of Implementation

The transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS has been described as both essential and beneficial to the progression of the US healthcare system.62 As the US healthcare industry continues to advance medically and technologically, a more modern coding structure is required to reflect and support these developments.63 To that end, ICD-10-CM/PCS offers many benefits that will in turn improve major areas of concern, as illustrated in Figure 2. The country’s push for implementation is not a new undertaking because various divisions of the US healthcare industry (hospitals, professional healthcare organizations, medical/surgical device manufacturers, etc.) have advocated and embraced the idea of implementing ICD-10-CM/PCS for many years.64 ICD-10-CM/PCS will provide more precise classification and reimbursement of medical procedures and allow providers to query data related to health conditions to improve patient health outcomes.65, 66 The new coding structure will facilitate improvements in cost reduction, improve quality of care for patients, and update the way healthcare data are captured to positively affect health outcomes.67, 68
Benefit: Enhanced Quality of Care

Through the utilization of ICD-10-CM/PCS, providers will be able to increase the capture of data on diagnoses that can be used for assessing and improving the quality of care for certain chronic health conditions.69 Numerous updates have been made to basic terminology and the disease classification system to create consistency with existing clinical practice. The specificity offered in the new classification system will support healthcare professionals in their delivery of services in addition to enabling assessment and improvement of the overall quality of patient care.70 The utilization of the ICD-10-CM/PCS coding system will increase the efficiency of disease management and documentation for provider performance programs.71
Benefit: Cost

According to a HHS estimate, the conversion to ICD-10-CM/PCS will cost an annual estimated cost of $2.6 million at a present value discount of 3 percent and $2.3 million at a present value discount of 7 percent over 15 years.72 Despite these figures, the advancement of the nation’s coding system will equip healthcare providers and payers with better information in their attempts to control costs.73 The increased accuracy of payments and reduction of unpaid claims will produce cost benefits that overshadow the expenses of migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS.74, 75 These savings have been projected by HHS to surpass costs within five years.76–78 It is anticipated that a reduction in healthcare costs will result from the employment of a more specific coding system and ultimately produce great incentives and quality outcomes for years to come.
Benefit: Data Capture

The United States in recent years has faced many public health and bioterrorism events (e.g., the Gulf oil spill and outbreaks of the West Nile virus and Salmonella infection).79 The country’s immediate response to such events has been limited due to the US healthcare system’s dependence on ICD-9-CM.80 The initial tracking of these public health and bioterrorism incidences was hindered due to the country’s inability to effectively record, document, and report occurrences.81, 82 The transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS will allow the United States to efficiently report statistical information for dissemination to public health and disease surveillance systems including the World Health Organization.83 The use of a classification system similar to those established in other developed countries would allow the United States to more effectively track and monitor medical conditions and health outcomes.84
Perceived Challenges to ICD-10-CM/PCS Conversion

As US providers and payers embark on the tedious migration from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM/PCS, numerous challenges include concerns with planning, implementation costs, possible shortages of qualified coders, and the need to address workforce training and education shortfalls to prevent losses in productivity and reductions in revenue. With each challenge, various obstacles lie ahead as providers and payers prepare to meet the 2013 deadline. Left unresolved, these challenges will significantly disrupt the ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation and conversion process.
Challenge: Planning

The transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS will be complex and somewhat cumbersome. The migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS will necessitate that multiple key personnel on both the clinical and administrative sides of healthcare and payer organizations come together to meet the challenges.85 Conversion to ICD-10-CM/PCS will require implementation teams (comprising administrators and other key department managers) to meet and strategically plan months ahead of the actual implementation.86, 87 It will require the “synchronization and symmetry” of entire healthcare organizations.88 Additionally, healthcare organizations will need to effectively and efficiently develop implementation plans and plans to communicate scheduled timelines.89–91 Moreover, providers and payers will also need to keep each other informed of their respective implementation timelines.92, 93 Working closely together in a collaborative effort, providers and payers will ultimately guide the implementation process, which will determine the level to which ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation is successful.94
Challenge: Cost

Another challenge that could potentially hinder the conversion process is the estimated cost associated with transitioning to ICD-10-CM/PCS. Recent literature suggests that the estimated cost associated with converting to ICD-10-CM/PCS will exceed $25,000, depending on the size of hospitals, physician offices, or other healthcare entities.95 It is estimated that for small physician practices composed of three physicians, the cost for converting to ICD-10-CM/PCS will average around $83,000.96, 97 Medium-sized physician offices (ranging from 9 to 10 physicians), on the other hand, are predicted to spend on average an estimated $285,000 on the conversion.98 For larger physicians’ offices, the cost associated with converting is estimated to average $2.7 million, and the cost could reach $15 million to $20 million for hospitals and other large healthcare entities.99–101 In light of the estimated cost associated with converting to ICD-10-CM/PCS, it will become essential for hospitals, physicians, payers, and other healthcare entities to thoroughly plan for the conversion process to ensure all required tasks are outlined and properly budgeted for so that a complete picture of expected expenses can be determined.
Challenge: Shortage of Qualified Coders

In addition to planning and cost, the reduction in qualified coding professionals may also impede the implementation process. Transitioning to ICD-10-CM/PCS will require coders to learn a more complex coding system, which may be intimidating for some.102 With the average age of today’s coding professional estimated at age 54, the healthcare industry could experience an unprecedented shortage of qualified coders because many may opt to retire instead of learning the new coding requirements.103, 104 As a result, providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations may have to invest resources to recruit and train new coding professionals.105 Failure to maintain adequate numbers of coders could potentially create backlogs in record processing, which could lead to a reduction in revenue streams.106
Challenge: Workforce Training and Education

While the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS will necessitate the advance training of inpatient and outpatient coders, training will also be necessary for other healthcare personnel.107, 108 For physicians and other healthcare workers, the transition will signal a change in the way patient encounters must be documented for timely reimbursement and the collection of critical patient data.109 As clinicians prepare for the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS, it will be important for them to recognize how ICD-10-CM/PCS will impact their ability to properly identify diagnosis and procedure codes.110 As a result, the level of accuracy required for complete documentation will require physicians to be more detailed in their reporting of patient interactions.111, 112 Failure to efficiently and accurately document patient encounters will result in possible backlogs, which will ultimately delay the processing of claims and impact the flow of incoming revenue for hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other healthcare facilities.113
Challenge: Loss of Productivity

The potential reduction in productivity may serve as an additional barrier to ICD-10-CM/PCS migration. As providers and payers begin the migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS, the transition may affect various departments throughout healthcare organizations, resulting in periods of reduced productivity.114, 115 Hence, it will be essential for various departments within healthcare and payer organizations to communicate levels of readiness to reduce or eliminate disruptions.116 Physicians’ encounters with patients will require more detailed descriptions of activities conducted during the encounters.117 This will in turn supply coders with the level of detail necessary to process claims. Failing to thoroughly document these encounters will result in delays in coding patient encounters and in processing claims and will affect the overall time frame of payment.118, 119
Overview of ICD-10-CM/PCS Implementation and Conversion Costs

In an effort to ensure quality, reduce fraud, and provide surveillance of diseases, policy makers will continuously have to reframe healthcare legislation over time to enhance the collection and transfer of health information, as demonstrated with the enactment of HIPAA.120 The transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS may result in substantial implementation and conversion costs. For covered entities, the cost associated with migrating to ICD-10-CM/PCS is based on a variety of factors that include training personnel, purchasing equipment and software, and renegotiating contracts.121, 122 While the precise cost of implementation and conversion may vary for providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations, the potential benefits of ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation, including improvement of data integrity, reduction of fraud and abuse, the ability to conduct enhanced cost analyses, and the improved monitoring of patient health outcomes, will yield greater cost savings over time.123, 124
Implications for Improving Quality of Healthcare and Patient Outcomes

Through uniformity of coding and more detailed data capture, ICD-10-CM/PCS offers potential benefits to patients, providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations. The utilization of ICD-10-CM/PCS has the potential not only to improve the efficiency of the delivery of healthcare but also to enhance patient healthcare outcomes for individuals in rural, underserved, and disadvantaged populations.125 In addition, as illustrated in Figure 3, the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS may also foster improvements in chronic disease management, patient safety, quality measures, and the reduction of medical errors.126
Conclusion

As the push for healthcare reform persists, the increased desire for specificity in health information will continue as the country seeks to improve health outcomes and advance the overall quality of healthcare. Consequently, the conversion to ICD-10-CM/PCS is not only necessary but essential as the US healthcare industry moves toward an integrated health information network.127, 128 The migration to ICD-10-CM/PCS, although it may present challenges initially for providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations (e.g., system changes, training and education, productivity losses, and contract renegotiations), offers substantial benefits over time. These benefits include the improvement of public health surveillance data for treatment and research, the increased level of detail available for diagnosis of diseases, the development of treatment protocols that are culturally sensitive, the refinement of payment systems, and the improvement of fraud and abuse identification.129, 130 Nevertheless, the degree to which these benefits are realized will essentially depend on the level of commitment that providers, payers, and other healthcare organizations are willing to invest to ensure successful implementation. Accordingly, as covered entities plan and contemplate the type of investments (e.g., workforce training and education and system changes) necessary to achieve full implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS, they should examine the utilization of emerging technologies such as computer-assisted coding (CAC) systems to aid in the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS.131 The implementation of a CAC system may offer additional support as organizations review, validate, and utilize medical and surgical diagnostic and procedural codes based on documentation captured by clinicians.132 In addition, provider organizations should also consider the continuous development of workforce training and education for both inpatient and outpatient coding professionals. By offering continual training opportunities, organizations will be able to ease potential frustrations that coders may experience with learning a new coding system and encourage experienced coders to remain in the workforce.133 Nonetheless, despite the potential setbacks, the transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS will lead to improved data integrity and propel the US healthcare system into the 21st century.

Tekla B. Sanders, MBA, MHA, is the director of the Health Services Core at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Institute for Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region in Jackson, MS.
Felicia M. Bowens, MSM, is the director of evaluations and Health Information Technology Core project manager at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Institute for Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region in Jackson, MS.
William Pierce, RHIA, is a systems analyst at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Institute for Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region in Jackson, MS.
Bridgette Stasher-Booker, PhD, CSM, is project director for the Administrative Core at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Institute for Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region in Jackson, MS.
Erica Q. Thompson, MD, CDFS, is the director of the Health Education and Disease Intervention Core at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Institute for Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region in Jackson, MS.
Warren A. Jones, MD, FAAFP, is the executive director of the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Mississippi Institute for Improvement of Geographic Minority Health, principal investigator of the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Institute for Improvement of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the Delta Region, and principal investigator of the Mississippi STD/HIV Prevention Training Center in Jackson, MS.

http://perspectives.ahima.org/the-road-to-icd-10-cmpcs-implementation-forecasting-the-transition-for-providers-payers-and-other-healthcare-organizations/#.USUNsGddDq5

What you should know about Coding Programs

Any coding certificate program that bears the AHIMA approval seal is a good choice. Certificate programs that are not AHIMA approved may also offer good training, but it is impossible to tell until the program has submitted detailed results regarding program outcomes, qualifications of the faculty, and curriculum details to AHIMA for review and consideration.

Some certificate programs offer to train the student in a short period of time, and charge high fees for their instruction. It takes time to properly train an individual to become a professional coder. To help you evaluate whether a coding certificate program is a good value consider the following:

• Do they bear the AHIMA approval seal? If so, an independent peer review analysis has found them to be compliant in all standards, and that the curriculum meets the national model curriculum.
• If they are not AHIMA approved, compare the course offerings of the program against the national model curriculum (link here) what components are missing?
• Who teaches the classes? AHIMA requires all coding to be taught by currently credentialed AHIMA members holding either: RHIA, RHIT, CCS, or CCS-P credentials. Typically, faculty from approved programs carries more than one credential.
• What are the withdrawal and refund policies – can you get it in writing, and do they seem fair?
• What type of “hands-on” skills training is in the program – how many hours are dedicated to using online encoders? How many hours are dedicated to “authentic coding” where the student learns to code from actual medical records rather than out of coding workbooks?

There are many professional coders who are RHIT and RHIA credentialed. After the initial coding job is secured, a coder will find the path to career advancement may require an advanced college degree with credentials beyond CCS or CCS-P depending on the employer and the job opportunity.

http://www.hicareers.com/Toolbox/recognition.aspx

Exciting Health Care Careers You Can Switch To

By Danielle Blundell

Forget medical school and the time it takes to finish it. If you want to make a career switch to the health care industry, there are other ways to prepare that will save you time and money.

Health care needs entire fleets of support staff to keep medical facilities running smoothly, and many of these fields are only expected to grow over the years. In December 2012 alone, the health care industry added 45,000 jobs, reports the U.S. Department of Labor.

Where is all of this growth coming from? "People are living longer, which means the elderly need more caregivers," says Lynn Berger, a New York-based career counselor and coach. "Career changers should think broadly - an increase in doctors and residents means the administrative and support roles are growing, too."

If you're looking for a promising new career path, without the burden of medical school, consider one of these growing health care careers.

Career #1: Medical and Health Services Managers 

If you want to work in the medical industry, but are a little queasy about the idea of getting involved in actual patient treatment, a career as a medical and health services manager might be right for you.

Medical and health services managers are the ones in charge of coordinating treatment at health care facilities, says the U.S. Department of Labor. The job could involve everything from overseeing patient records and creating budgets to representing the facility at investor meetings, according to the Department of Labor.

Career Outlook: As baby boomers age, there will be an increased demand for health care and personnel to coordinate growing staffs and more facilities, notes the Department of Labor. Because of this, the Department projects that medical and health services management jobs will grow by 22 percent between 2010 and 2020.

How to Make the Switch: If you're interested in pursuing a career as a medical and health services manager, keep in mind that a bachelor's degree is typically needed. According to the Department, "Prospective medical and health services managers have a bachelor's degree in health administration." Master's degrees are also common for entering the field. Of course, requirements will vary by facility. If you're working as a nursing care facility administrator, you will need to be licensed.

Career #2: Dental Assistant 

Looking for a dynamic career where you could put your attention to detail and organizational skills to work? Perhaps you should consider working as a dental assistant.

To put it simply, dental assistants provide dentists with an extra pair of eyes and hands during procedures, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In this type of role, you might find yourself helping out by maintaining patients' files and taking on other administrative duties as they arise, such as scheduling appointments and working with patients on billing. It's no wonder that the Department of Labor reports that detail-oriented, methodical individuals typically excel in this field.

Career Outlook: And there will be plenty of room to excel, too. According to the Department, from 2010 to 2020, jobs in dental assisting will grow by a projected 31 percent.


How to Make the Switch: There are many roads for pursuing a career in dental assisting, but the one you take will likely depend on the state in which you live. According to the Department, some states require education in the form of a certificate/diploma or associate's degree, while others might allow you to acquire your education on the job. Some states might even require you to be certified by passing an exam from the Dental Assisting National Board.

Career #3: Registered Nurse 

If you're more interested in working with doctors on the front lines of health care, you might consider pursuing a career as a registered nurse.

Nurses carry out demanding work, including tending to ailing patients, recording symptoms, and administering medications and treatments, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They also could help with tests and analyses, and then provide emotional support to people with health conditions and their families and friends.

Career Outlook: The Department says that nursing should see a 26 percent growth in jobs between 2010 and 2020. There are a variety of factors contributing to the growth, including the aging population, more emphasis on preventative care, and longer than average life spans.

How to Make the Switch: Like dental assisting, there are a few academic options for aspiring nurses. According to the Department, you will probably need to follow one of three paths: an associate's in nursing, bachelor's in nursing, or a diploma from an accredited program. You will also need to be licensed.

Career #4: Medical Assistant 

Like the idea of helping people but not sold on the idea of committing years and years to medical school? Medical assisting may be a perfect compromise for your career.

Medical assistants ensure patients' visits go smoothly from start to finish, first taking medical histories down and then completing insurance forms at the end of treatment, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. These clerical tasks are offset with clinical ones, as many medical assistants also shadow doctors, help with exams, and keep tabs on medical equipment.

Career Outlook: According to the Department of Labor, as the number of practices increases, the need for assistants will also increase, ultimately resulting in a projected 31 percent job growth from 2010 to 2020.

How to Make the Switch: An associate's degree in medical assisting could start you on the path toward pursuing a career in the field, notes the Department. However, the Department also reports that formal education is not always required, as many assistants are trained on the job. Although you are not required to hold a certification, employers prefer to hire certified assistants.

Career #5: Pharmacy Technician 

Are you a strong multi-tasker with a sharp, detail-oriented mind? A career as a pharmacy technician might be one way to tap all of your talents.

Some pharmacy technicians work in hospitals and drug stores, mixing medications, counting tablets, and answering phones, notes the U.S. Department of Labor. Others find employment in retail pharmacies, transcribing information for medications, packaging and labeling them, and performing payment transactions.

Career Outlook: Things are looking up for jobs in this field, thanks in part to the growing number of elderly people. According to the Department of Labor, jobs will grow by 32 percent from 2010 to 2020.

How to Make the Switch: If you're interested in preparing for a career as a pharmacy technician, you'll want to check your state's requirements. According to the Department, while in some states, technicians are simply trained on the job, other states might require a certificate from a postsecondary institution. Other states and employers might want you to gain certification by passing an exam, so it's vital that you check on requirements for your area.

Career #6: Physical Therapist Assistant 
Active individuals looking for a job with an on-the-go, physical component could be well-suited for a career assisting a physical therapist.

Physical therapy assistants help patients cope with pain and limited motion following injuries, accidents, or surgery, says the U.S. Department of Labor. They often set up machinery and walk patients through exercises to regain motion.

Career Outlook: From 2010 to 2020, the Department estimates that employment of physical therapist assistants and aides will grow by a whopping 46 percent. One factor at play in the growth projected here: the baby boomers. According to the Department of Labor, as baby boomers continue to stay active throughout later stages of life, they will need therapy treatments in increasing numbers

How to Make the Switch: If you'd like to pursue this career, keep in mind that the Department says that most states require physical therapy assistants to hold an associate's degree from an accredited physical therapy program. Additionally, most states will require you to be licensed, which typically entails passing the National Physical Therapy Exam after graduating from an accredited program.

http://education.yahoo.net/articles/no_med_school_med_careers.htm?kid=1NYCV

What accreditation really means

Accreditation is a peer review process of assessment of degree-granting programs and institutions for academic quality in higher education.This allows that institution to provide:

• Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid.
• Ability to Transfer Credits: Accreditation provides a basis for transfer of college credits within the U.S.
• Ability to enroll in Graduate education: If your undergraduate degree was earned at an unaccredited institution you run the risk that the graduate school in which you would like to enroll will not accept your degree.

http://www.hicareers.com/Toolbox/recognition.aspx (ahima/ Health information careers)

So if you are looking for a Certificate program, accreditation is irrelevant.