The Baby Boomer generation is living much longer than their predecessors, fueling massive growth in health care jobs, including medical coders. When working remotely, you have the opportunity to open up your market to interstate clients. It is difficult at times for students to know if they are learning and retaining the information in a medical coding class, as it can be a lot of information. Next, you’ll need to start training. This is a huge bonus, especially for those who have other commitments during normal workday hours. The codes you write can be analyzed to determine how effectively an ailment is treated, even on an international scale. Medical coding and billing skills are something that can be used in any healthcare facility anywhere in the country. Because you can work whenever it suits you, it means you can run errands when you need to, and complete medical transcribing around these other tasks. They should understand if you tell them you’re working, but this may take some time to get used to. If you’ve seen someone buried under stacks of medical files as you take care of your copay in the doctor’s office, chances are you’re looking at a medical biller or coder. AUTHOR: SyberScribe, . Cons of a Career as a Healthcare Medical Coder. Here are some pros and cons to jumping into the current field of medical coding. Yep. The main task of Medical coders is to apply codes to different healthcare services and procedures and then send them to the insurance companies for payment. When this happens, to keep on top of your workload you may need to send your children to daycare. Below are some of the key common disadvantages which have been shared for medical coding; 1. So what does this new medical coding world look like for new or future professionals? If the idea of not seeing the outdoors for a few hours or sitting still during the day sounds like your idea of a nightmare, this role is not likely to suit your needs. If you’re constantly struggling to get jobs done, such as taking the kids to school in the mornings and picking them up again afterwards, you love the flexibility this job role offers. However, like any job you choose to pursue, it’s best to weigh up the pros and cons when trying to decide whether it’s really the career for you. Medical Coding Certificates. Not only does the ICD-10 classification system have more codes, but each is longer and more descriptive. (As an example, check out this post on. Cost: Offshore coding is ostensibly still less expensive, but the pricing gap is much narrower now due to the fast ICD-10 recovery in productivity by domestic coders. This is especially true if you are a fresh graduate with a certificate or degree in medical coding looking for your first job. You’ll also need to invest upwards of $40,000 in EMR /EHR (Electronic Medical Records / Electronic Health Records) and medical billing software. Get the training you need to navigate those codes by completing a quality, Yes, the new system increases the uniqueness of the codes, but this also improves patient care on a small and large scale. SyberScribe provides a secure, tailored, low-cost outsourced medical transcription service. Advantages of being a computer programmer If you have no access to daycare or child-minding facilities, this may be a problem if you need isolation to finish your work. Overtime, weekend and nighttime hours may be mandatory (over one-third of coders worked more than 40 hours each week)**. For privacy reasons you cannot tell your friends about the details of your work, however you will find transcribing to be a very interesting job. You'll earn a competitive salary. This video will explain some of the qualities of this coding software, and will show you how coding electronically will save you time and raise your coding efficiency. What makes this field hard is the fact that there are three primary coding systems that are all different. Rhode Island beats the national average by 9.0%, and Hawaii furthers that trend with another $5,770 (12.9%) above the $44,772. Medical coding may not be that simple, but it is not impossible. Medical billing & coding specialists play a crucial role in the healthcare industry. I found this article to be insight ful and helpful. It may be hard to tell them you can’t do their errands or drop everything for lunch or coffee breaks during the day. Medical Coding is a growing industry that offers a lot of potential for employers and job seekers alike. These are some of the most common advantages and disadvantages of being on a program such as Medicaid. So what does this new medical coding world look like for new or future professionals? Being accurate about your coding is very important. 2.14: Electronic vs. Paper Coding. By learning a complex system and being more specific, you increase the standards across the entire industry. This not just gives you enough time to balance out your responsibilities on a daily basis, but you can also enhance your productivity in the long run. What an exciting opportunity to learn new things and evolve the medical coding profession! Job Prep: What Position Am I Qualified For. Just like any other field, medical coding also has certain disadvantages. Being a medical transcriptionist gives you the freedom to set your own work schedule. You will learn two major coding systems in your medical billing and coding training program: The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). This role will involve a lot of sitting at a computer or desk and typing for extended periods of time. Learning three foreign languages may also seem daunting, but it is not entirely impossible. LET’S RECAP THE MIXED-BAG OF ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF OFFSHORE CODING. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average, Experienced ICD-10 coders have an improved career trajectory with lots of options, and flexibility. Even as a contractor, you could see yourself earning a decent wage; you need high accuracy skills and have to be able to type fast, and are well compensated for these abilities. Using a CAC tool, different categories of medical reports or chart types can be routed to particular work queues so that coding professionals can get into a rhythm, allowing them to code all the reports or charts of one specialty, physician or location (or any other attribute the tool is … Nobody likes to end on a sour note, so we’ll kick things off with the downsides. Employers value employees who carry credentials related to their job function. By addressing these concerns, you could very well likely be on your way to pursuing a new and rewarding job as a medical transcriber. First of all, fresh medical coders usually have difficulty in breaking into this industry, since most of the firms have specific experience requirements. Several different kinds of physician offices employ their own coders and billers. Medical transcribing pays quite well. Don’t like working in a noisy office space? Certification shows a standard of proficiency has been met within the skillset, giving employer’s confidence in their expertise. If you want to work in the medical field, but cannot work … I am in the medical transcription field since 1999. That way, you know that you are getting quality training in line with the latest industry standards and best practices. Medical transcription is quite varied, and will be a positive job choice for many. Yes, you can work from home, choose your hours and have ultimate flexibility, but you still need to work! By learning a complex system and being more specific, you increase the standards across the entire industry. Being able to work from home comes with many perks, such as flexible hours and being comfortable while at work. If you are considering a career in medical coding, the following provides seven benefits to consider. Learn more about CareerStep’s Professional Medical Coding and Billing program to kickstart your career today! No worries! Passing the certification will let you know you have learned and retained all the information you need to work successfully … Required fields are marked *. President of Healthcare Consulting Services TrustHCS, Torrey Barnhouse, told CNBC that experienced coders easily rise up the ranks and often pick up consulting positions. For example, compare ICD-9 Code 821.11: “Open fracture of shaft of femur,” with ICD-10 Code S72.351C: “Displaced comminuted fracture of shaft of right femur, initial encounter for open fracture type IIIA, IIIB, or IIIC.”. This is especially convenient for those living in rural areas or towns where employment levels are rather low. You may find parts of the job aren’t to your liking, but that the pros definitely outweigh these. You could even be your own boss by hiring out your services as a consultant. No worries! Medical coders can work in a diverse range of environments including: medical clinics, doctors surgeries, hospitals and insurance companies. A crucial role. Get the training you need to navigate those codes by completing a quality ICD-10 training program. You may have different items to transcribe each day, which will give you variety in your work and keep you interested for many years to come. President of Healthcare Consulting Services TrustHCS, Torrey Barnhouse, told, that experienced coders easily rise up the ranks, CareerStep’s Professional Medical Coding and Billing program, Women in the Hemodialysis Technician Field, Dear Coding Support: Calming the Final Exam Panic, Why Reliable Employment Matters Now More Than Ever.