CCA (ASA) case studies
CCA · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is AHIMA's entry-level coding credential. It is built for people who are new to the profession: students finishing a coding certificate or associate program, career changers arriving from clinical or administrative roles, and anyone who wants a verifiable baseline before pursuing a specialty credential. The CCA case studies are 5 cases and about 3,737 words.
1Sepsis, Organ Dysfunction, and the Query That Changes the DRG
A 72-year-old woman is admitted from home to a medical-surgical unit. The admission note reads: 'Sepsis, likely urinary source.
739 words, about 4 min2Depth of Debridement: The Anatomy Behind the Code Choice
Operative report, 58-year-old man with a necrotizing infection of the left thigh after a fall: 'The wound over the left lateral thigh measured 22 cm by 10 cm. All necrotic skin and subcutaneous tissue was sharply excised, and the underlying fascia was opened and debrided.
695 words, about 3 min3The Amendment Request the Physician Refuses
Twelve days after a clinic visit, a 45-year-old patient submits a written request to amend her record. The progress note reads: 'Patient reports drinking 6 beers daily.' She states she said 'two beers, a few times a week,' that the note is wrong, and asks that the sentence be deleted.
759 words, about 4 min4Template Cloning, Modifier 25, and the Office Manager's Instructions
At a four-physician family practice, a newly hired coder reviews 20 charts and finds three things. First, every note in the EHR contains a 12-system review of systems and a detailed examination; the physicians say they usually ask only about the presenting problem, that the template fills the rest automatically, and that they sign without reading those sections.
782 words, about 4 min5Wellness Visit Plus a Problem: Splitting the Encounter
A 70-year-old Medicare patient schedules her initial annual wellness visit (AWV). At the visit she also reports three weeks of right knee pain and swelling after a fall.
762 words, about 4 min