A medical coder needs a bachelor's or master's degree to advance in the coding field.
If you’re detail-oriented, comfortable working with numbers and actually like working with large amounts of paperwork, consider a career in medical coding. A medical coder is someone who works with patients’ medical records and translates them into medical information. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the medical records industry are expected to increase 20 percent from 2008 to 2018.
Description
A medical coder is a medical records and health information technician who specializes in codifying patients’ medical information for reimbursement purposes. The coder typically works for health care professionals such as physicians in doctor’s offices, clinics, nursing homes or hospitals. He receives patients’ records, which includes the type of procedures that were completed and the doctor’s diagnoses. He uses various coding software applications-according to the type of insurance or health care-to translate information into medical information and assign codes that determine the payment amount health care professionals receive. The medical coder is a liaison between the health care provider he works for and the insurance companies. A coder doesn’t provide direct hands-on medical care to patients.
Education
The coder needs postsecondary education such as an associate’s degree in medical information technology to enter the medical coding field. Coursework typically includes classes in anatomy, medical terminology, clinical classification, coding systems and physiology. According to BLS, high school courses in health, biology, computer science and chemistry are helpful for admissions into a postsecondary health information technology program.
Qualifications
Various qualifications such as detailed clinical knowledge on information such as pharmacology, disease process and physiology are important to be successful in the medical coding field. Also, a medical coder must follow privacy policies and ethical principles, according to Degree Directory. Most importantly, a coder must understand the information and data contained in medical records.
Certifications
According to BLS, employers prefer hiring a certified medical coder. Organizations such as the Professional Association of Health care Coding Specialistsand the American Academy of Professional Coders offer certifications in medical coding. Requirements usually include passing an exam and coding experience.
Considerations
Typically, a medical coder works 40 hours per week in comfortable offices. According to BLS, some overtime may be required. Health care facilities such as nursing homes or hospitals that are open 24 hours every day may require a coder to work night and evening shifts. In 2008, the median salary for a medical information technician was $30,610 a year, according to BLS.
Tags: medical coder, medical information, medical coding, medical records, coding field
