HRS Opens New Clinical Coding Academy in Israel with Career Step Courseware

BALTIMORE, July 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HRS, an expert clinical coding, audit services and ICD-10 implementation company is proud to announce the opening of a new clinical coding school in Jerusalem, Israel. Working in conjunction with the Israel Ministry of the Economy, the Joint Distribution Committee, and Temech. The HRS Coding Academy opened its doors July 1, 2013. Israel's Minister of the Economy, Naftali Bennett, and Jerusalem's Mayor, Nir Barkat, were in attendance.

HRS Coding Academy will utilize Career Step's online courseware supplemented by HRS classroom enrichment.  The announcement was made by Wendy Coplan-Gould, RHIA, President, HRS, and Mike Hodgson, VP of Healthcare and Corporate Partnerships at Career Step.  Career Step is a leading provider of online, career-focused education.

"HRS Coding Academy's inaugural class is comprised of 20 students, two U.S.-based ICD-10 trainers and Career Step's online coding curriculum," commented Coplan-Gould. Students were hand-selected from an initial pool of candidates using U.S.-based aptitude assessments, in-person interviews and Skype video conferencing.

"With a lingering 30 percent coder shortage in the U.S. and an anticipated 57 percent jump in demand for coders due to ICD-10, the opening of our academy is timely for healthcare providers and the women of Israel," states Jodi Coplan Rogozinski, HRS Director of Global Initiatives. Space and equipment for the HRS Coding Academy is provided by the Israel Ministry of the Economy, and financial support is provided by the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the world's leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization, and Temech, an Israeli non-governmental agency that supports career development for women within Israel's Jewish Orthodox community.

Students will be offered HRS coding positions following completion of the educational course with Career Step and passing of the coding certification exam. "The HRS Coding Academy creates opportunities for Jewish women to have a career and become part of a long-standing, professional family," concludes Coplan-Gould.

It was HRS's dedication to HIM and clinical coding that attracted Career Step. "During our rich history of outcomes-driven education, we have trained over 85,000 adult learners. Nearly 13,000 coders have enrolled in our online curriculum since 2004," states Mike Hodgson, VP of Healthcare and Corporate Partnerships for Career Step.  "Similar to HRS, we recognize the burgeoning need for qualified, educated clinical coders," he adds. HRS Academy is another vehicle to bring more coding talent into the workforce. "HRS is an exceptional business partner, and based on the quality of their work we expect many positive outcomes," Hodgson concludes.

About HRS
HRS, a health information management services and consulting company, has served the healthcare industry since 1979. The Baltimore-based business helps healthcare systems, hospitals and other providers elevate their coding and reimbursement through strategic consulting, ICD-10 implementation, audit services and coding support. To learn more about HRS, please visit www.hrscoding.com or call 800-329-0365.

About Career Step
Career Step, a premier healthcare education company providing career-focused education and corporate training, has trained over 85,000 students, has 160 partnerships with colleges and universities nationwide, and provides training for several of the most respected healthcare employers in the nation. Career Step is committed to improving lives and advancing the business goals of its clients and partners through its curriculum and services. The company's training programs are currently focused in healthcare, administration and technology.  More information can be found at www.careerstep.com or 1-800-246-7836.

SOURCE HRS