The Perks Of Being A Medical Coding Professional
Medical coders are assigned in the billing office of medical practices and healthcare establishments and they help to complete, review, and process medical claims so that healthcare providers and hospitals to receive payment from insurance companies for services provided to patients. You can become a medical coding professional through various avenues. For example, you can enroll in certificate programs which are offered at technical colleges and medical trade schools.
These courses usually will take anywhere from one to two years. You can also find associate degree programs offered at community colleges and these generally take about 24 months before you can graduate from the program. Many employers today are more partial to hiring graduates with associate degrees, and even more companies require applicants to be certified. To have medical coding certification, you must pass the Certified Professional Coder Exam which is given by the American Academy of Professional Coders or AAPC.
There are many things to love about being a medical coding professional. For starters, this profession will continue to be in sought after for years to come. Based on the report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical coding professionals is pegged to improve by 21% from 2010 to 2020, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This trend is most likely because of the surge in demand for healthcare services as life expectancy continues to improve across all age groups, particularly among old people.. In spite of the extensive use of technology in medical coding, trained professionals will still be hired to input data, organize and manage billing and patient information, and check and rectify on any errors between the physician, the medical facility, and the insurance carrier.
Moreover, the working hours are fairly established and standard, usually 40 hours weekly from Mondays to Fridays. Many coding professionals aren't required to work at night or on weekends allowing them to get part-time work during their free time or days off. The working environment is also fairly comfortable. Salary is also good, with the median annual income approximately at $32,350 in May 2010, which is almost the same to what other healthcare occupations receive, only that medical coding professionals do not get as stressed.
Then again, the work of a medical coder can be a fairly routine job and there is very little interaction with patients, so if youre searching for work with variety and excitement, or look for social interaction, this may not be suitable for you. Nevertheless, medical coding can be an good stepping stone into a more rewarding, higher level career as a supervisor or manager. Then again, these positions are generally open to those who have completed associate degrees or higher. To know more about medical coding certification, visit this link.