Top medical coder skills needed to get the job.

What are the top 3 traits or skills every medical coder must have to excel?

Can you suggest any tips or insights to develop your medical coder expertise?

Host said: What are the top 3 traits or skills every medical coder must have to excel?

Can you suggest any tips or insights to develop your medical coder expertise?

I would like to know some tips or insights..Thank you

Host said: What are the top 3 traits or skills every medical coder must have to excel?

Can you suggest any tips or insights to develop your medical coder expertise?

Read the ICD-9 Coding Guidelines. They are available in the front of the ICD-9 book, also available online. A good coder will know & understand this. If you can get a hold of AHA Coding Clinic - KUDOS. Ditto for CPT book & getting hands onto the CPT Coding Assistant.

3 traits? LEARN, don't quit learning, keep learning. You'll never know everything about medical coding.

You must have drive and determination. You must be willing to excel and learn as much of your profession or specialty you've chosen as humanly possible.

Host said: What are the top 3 traits or skills every medical coder must have to excel?

Can you suggest any tips or insights to develop your medical coder expertise?

1) Education. Having been a coder for more than 8 years, it has been my experience that coders who have only had a 3- to 6-month course do not do well on pre-employment coding tests. Furthermore, they do not readily possess the knowledge required to code in a hospital setting.

2) Attention to detail. Coders I have seen fail in the workplace fail to fully read charts, proofread the codes they have entered, and also tend to miss important coding rules in Coding Clinic.

3) Cross-training. Well-rounded (ie, employable) coders strive to master more than one coding specialty--inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, ED's, etc. The challenge is to find a facility that supports coders in this endeavor--many hospitals do not take the time and effort to cross-train, so it is often a struggle to do so.

4) Communicate with other coders. Obviously easiest in an on-site position (rather than remote)--talk to other coders. I don't know of a single coder I have worked with who did not consult with their coworkers on cases. It is a wonderful opportunity to bounce ideas off one another and for you or the other coder(s) to learn something new. Absolutely invaluable.

The bottom line, however, is simply to do the job. Repetition and exposure to an array of cases is paramount and cannot be learned in school or via a discussion board. I see many coders fresh out of school or with a year of experience hoping to land that elusive consulting or remote job--but what is required is time. What I knew at my 1-year mark as a coder is miniscule compared to what I knew at 5 years, etc.

I hope this helps.

Host said: What are the top 3 traits or skills every medical coder must have to excel?

Can you suggest any tips or insights to develop your medical coder expertise?

Knowledge, speed, accuracy. If you can afford it, attend coding seminars and bootcamps to further your coding skills.

Speed and accuracy come natural, have ~75% knowledge......but not job

Katheryn said: Speed and accuracy come natural, have ~75% knowledge......but not job

How many positions have you applied for, and what type of facilities were they?

Has anyone taken the CCA Exam through AHIMA? I have completed my online course through Gatlin Education Services and I am about to take the AHIMA certified CCA test. I was wondering if anyone had any tips about the test.... Thanks so much!

Too many, hospitals, private offices, insurance companies

Katheryn said: Too many, hospitals, private offices, insurance companies

Have you had anyone go over your resume? How do you feel you did on the coding tests by the employers?

Had my resume critique and redone several times. The employers never left me know the scores on the coding tests. Think I can still get something on the billing side without certification and all the hassle of CEUs.

Katheryn said: Had my resume critique and redone several times. The employers never left me know the scores on the coding tests. Think I can still get something on the billing side without certification and all the hassle of CEUs.

That's a shame, they should have. I wish you well.

Thanks, I'll recertify if needed.

Can anyone tell me what kind of skills are needed to do well in this. I am very interested but getting a little bit of a late start on this. I'm 41 years old, intelligent but feel weak in the area of Math. Any help would be great.

Dear Steph,

medical coding is nothing its so easy u need not strain your ears, eyes, etc, one has to check codes from ICD books or software and assign codes appropriately by crosschecking, you have to pass the certification i think u are from US, recently i have completed my CCA certification from AHIMA, now planning to join some good company but here in India we don't have good company or projects, they pay less also here, if u have any thought of helping in getting placed in US, pl do forward and do register on yahoo my mail is ks_mudaliar@yahoo.com sanjay kumar, do register on yahoo messenger. bye

Cali in Boise, Idaho said: Has anyone taken the CCA Exam through AHIMA? I have completed my online course through Gatlin Education Services and I am about to take the AHIMA certified CCA test. I was wondering if anyone had any tips about the test.... Thanks so much!

I have passed recently its so easy do contact on ks_mudaliar@yahoo.com do read guidlines and rest i will tell u important on next mail when is ur exam, date have u received ur ATT. many of them passed recently. Sanju

Well that explains a lot.

I AM STUDYING 4 THE CPC TEST ON SAT. Am stressing over what are the most important things to focus on. What will help the most on the test. Any one remember what it was like?

Interested in having a better understanding of the Procedure book.
Can anyone explain it to me. The Code Groups?

Lorraine W in Connersville, Indiana said: 1) Education. Having been a coder for more than 8 years, it has been my experience that coders who have only had a 3- to 6-month course do not do well on pre-employment coding tests. Furthermore, they do not readily possess the knowledge required to code in a hospital setting.

2) Attention to detail. Coders I have seen fail in the workplace fail to fully read charts, proofread the codes they have entered, and also tend to miss important coding rules in Coding Clinic.

3) Cross-training. Well-rounded (ie, employable) coders strive to master more than one coding specialty--inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic, ED's, etc. The challenge is to find a facility that supports coders in this endeavor--many hospitals do not take the time and effort to cross-train, so it is often a struggle to do so.

4) Communicate with other coders. Obviously easiest in an on-site position (rather than remote)--talk to other coders. I don't know of a single coder I have worked with who did not consult with their coworkers on cases. It is a wonderful opportunity to bounce ideas off one another and for you or the other coder(s) to learn something new. Absolutely invaluable.

The bottom line, however, is simply to do the job. Repetition and exposure to an array of cases is paramount and cannot be learned in school or via a discussion board. I see many coders fresh out of school or with a year of experience hoping to land that elusive consulting or remote job--but what is required is time. What I knew at my 1-year mark as a coder is miniscule compared to what I knew at 5 years, etc.

I hope this helps.

Lorraine, I just became certified this week. I am very interested in what you refer to as well rounded exposure to gain valuable experience. I am not sure where to begin in the job application process, what companies provide the most exposure?

I passed my AHIMA CCA Coding Exam today! I'm so excited. It was very tricky.

Now, I know that there are "haters" out there saying this credential don't amount to much. But, if I had listened to the "naysayers" I never would have landed my 1st Medical Coding Job with a CBCS Credential from NHA.

I'm open to opinions, but not when its negative and negating accomplishment in any sense. Sometimes you have to believe in something greater than people sharing their experiences on forums.

I say, go for it!

Cali in Boise, Idaho said: Has anyone taken the CCA Exam through AHIMA? I have completed my online course through Gatlin Education Services and I am about to take the AHIMA certified CCA test. I was wondering if anyone had any tips about the test.... Thanks so much!

Hey did you go through Central Michigan thru Gatlin?

sanjay in Hyderabad, India said: Dear Steph,

medical coding is nothing its so easy u need not strain your ears, eyes, etc, one has to check codes from ICD books or software and assign codes appropriately by crosschecking, you have to pass the certification i think u are from US, recently i have completed my CCA certification from AHIMA, now planning to join some good company but here in India we don't have good company or projects, they pay less also here, if u have any thought of helping in getting placed in US, pl do forward and do register on yahoo my mail is ks_mudaliar@yahoo.com sanjay kumar, do register on yahoo messenger. bye

hi sanjay,
by now u might have got the job....what r u doing? and how did u begin ur journey to coding? how was the exam? is it difficult to start....because i dont have any knowledge of coding.....did my bsc in botany.

sanjay in Hyderabad, India said: Dear Steph,

medical coding is nothing its so easy u need not strain your ears, eyes, etc, one has to check codes from ICD books or software and assign codes appropriately by crosschecking, you have to pass the certification i think u are from US, recently i have completed my CCA certification from AHIMA, now planning to join some good company but here in India we don't have good company or projects, they pay less also here, if u have any thought of helping in getting placed in US, pl do forward and do register on yahoo my mail is ks_mudaliar@yahoo.com sanjay kumar, do register on yahoo messenger. bye

I hate to be rude, but you are not giving a true picture and are very condescending. I believe your attitude is what is costing your jobs....

Host said: What are the top 3 traits or skills every medical coder must have to excel?

Can you suggest any tips or insights to develop your medical coder expertise?

listen whomever you are, sorry but there is a lot more to coding, to being a an exceptional coder I as well have completed my CCA-p and I am affiliated with a few exceptional organizations. I'm afraid you are being quite condesending of the profession sister.

Steph in Ormond Beach, Florida said: Can anyone tell me what kind of skills are needed to do well in this. I am very interested but getting a little bit of a late start on this. I'm 41 years old, intelligent but feel weak in the area of Math. Any help would be great.

who pays the most money for certified coders in indianapolis, anyone have a clue

Lorraine W in Connersville, Indiana said: 1) Education. Having been a coder for more than 8 years, it has been my experience that coders who have only had a 3- to 6-month course do not do well .

I am a CPC have an entry level billing exp. What position you think, i can apply at this point?

I am a CPC looking for an entry level, ( have entry level billing exp)what job i can apply so they don't kick me out in 3 mo?

Has anyone taken both the CPC exam from AAPC as well as the CCS exam from AHIMA? Are they comparable? I'm waiting for paperwork to go through for the AAPC exam and am considering the AHIMA exam just for the added credentials. Any thoughts?

Sharon in Winchester, Virginia said: Has anyone taken both the CPC exam from AAPC as well as the CCS exam from AHIMA? Are they comparable? I'm waiting for paperwork to go through for the AAPC exam and am considering the AHIMA exam just for the added credentials. Any thoughts?

The CCS is considered more of an inpatient/facility credential, where the CPC is more the physician/professional coding. They are both good credentials, but are meant for different settings. If you are wanting to work in a hospital, then the CCS is good credential for that.

However, I will just say, that even with that credential, if you do not have facility experience, you will probably have a hard time finding an inpatient coding job.

hi sushmita

I'm on the same boat. Did u get any details to start for CCA. I don't know where to start to coding?I did my m.sc and like to go for this. If u have any details let me know and my mail I'd selvaraj_jaya@yahoo.co.in