CIC (National Alliance) case studies
CIC · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC®) credential is issued by AAPC and validates expertise in inpatient hospital facility coding. Earning it demonstrates proficiency in assigning ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and ICD-10-PCS procedure codes for hospital inpatient services while applying official coding guidelines and MS-DRG assignment rules. The CIC case studies are 5 cases and about 3,310 words.
1Sepsis, Severe Sepsis, and a 'Resolved' Discharge Summary
A 71-year-old man is admitted from the emergency department at 22:10 with two days of productive cough and fever. ED vitals: temperature 39.1 C, heart rate 118, blood pressure 84/48 mmHg, respirations 26, SpO2 90% on room air; lactate 4.1 mmol/L.
683 words, about 3 min2Ventilation Codes Across Two Episodes and the 96-Hour Threshold
A 62-year-old woman is admitted with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from influenza A pneumonia. She is intubated in the emergency department at 01:15 on hospital day 1 and remains ventilated until extubation at 09:40 on hospital day 5.
610 words, about 3 min3Probable Pneumonia, a Resolved AKI, and a Vacationing Attending
A 74-year-old man is admitted with three days of worsening dyspnea and thicker sputum. The H&P reads: 'Acute exacerbation of COPD; cannot rule out pneumonia - start ceftriaxone and prednisone.' Chest x-ray: 'patchy right basilar opacity, atelectasis versus early infiltrate.' Discharge summary: 'AECOPD, probable pneumonia; acute kidney injury, creatinine 2.1 on admission down to 1.0 with fluids; history of CHF, EF 35%, no acute findings; former smoker.' The coder assigned J18.9 as principal with J44.1, N17.9, and I50.9.
660 words, about 3 min4Two Candidate Principal Diagnoses in Different MDCs
A 68-year-old woman is admitted with three days of worsening dyspnea, orthopnea, and a 4 kg weight gain. BNP 1,850 pg/mL; chest x-ray shows pulmonary edema and bilateral effusions; echocardiogram shows EF 30%.
654 words, about 3 min5A Stage 3 Sacral Pressure Injury and the Present-on-Admission Flag
An 82-year-old woman is admitted at 22:40 after a fall at home with a right femoral neck fracture. The admission nursing skin assessment documents 'sacral area: 2 cm area of non-blanchable erythema, skin intact.' She undergoes hemiarthroplasty on day 2 and is ambulating with physical therapy by day 3.
703 words, about 4 min