Herzing College

Herzing College [2008-06-17]
Herzing College is on the AHIMA approved list and that is the school that I go through for my education. Thay are great. You can apply for financial aid. Good luck.

Everett Community College [2008-04-29]
Has anyone heard or gone through Everett CC for their coding? I know they are with CareerStep. I will hopefully hear something from them soon about enrollment. I basically was referred by CareerStep to them because I needed the financial aid. I was just wondering if it is worth it to pursue this further or if I should look somewhere else. I have done some research on it, but I would like to hear some personal opinions about the place too. Thanks Meagan

I am just curious ... [2008-11-03]
about the size of the facility you work for and if that has some bearing on your answer. I work for a very large teaching hospital with 100s of clinic and a level 1 trauma center as well as a medical college facility, which also means we are using cutting edge technology and the newest of procedures and techniques as well as the most challenging diagnoses. People come from nationwide to some of the specialists at our facility. I work with a very large staff of coding professionals and you would hear very, very few members of our staff say it is straightforward. Perhaps if you work in a different setting or smaller facility it may be not as challenging as what we deal with. I truly do not mean to be snotty here and honestly am just wondering if that might play a role.

Why I like coding [2008-11-01]
[quote]I am not sure I like it, in fact I hate it some days. I canI love coding so far. I do see people saying that! If you love coding, why? I can't see it from here. [/quote] I like coding because it's very straightforward and clear. I enjoy reading medical documentation and figuring out what diagnoses should be coded. I also enjoy reading operative reports and figuring out what exactly they did so that I can code it. You say you can't find the answers sometimes. I know it sounds weird to say this, but the answers are all there. If you can't find them, you're probably not looking for them the right way. You might have the wrong concept of what to do or the wrong expectations. That's not meant to diminish your feelings or make you feel bad, but to point out that you might not have been shown how to do this correctly. What are you studying now and in what setting? What book? CPT? ICD-9-CM? Commercial course? Online college course? Trying to teach yourself? Do you have an instructor? Is the instructor a certified coder? What do they say about this? If this is a college course, my guess is that you're trying to make heads or tails of course materials and trying to get a computer program to accept your answers. It probably seems like a random guess process to you. If so, that could be your problem. It might not be YOU, but the fact that you can't figure out what to do because you aren't getting any reliable feedback from the computer or the instructor who can't code! If you're learning ICD-9 diagnosis coding right now, there is a certain process to use that will enable you to find the right code. It's not torturous, but it can involve cross-referencing. However, if you keep track of what you're looking at (write it all down) you can keep it straight. The more of it you do, the easier it becomes and the less you'll have to write down. You have to develop your skill with regards to this. It's exactly like learning to ride a bicycle.

Certification exams ... [2008-10-07]
To give you an estimate of how difficult it will be to learn inpatient coding and pass the CCS exam on your own, roughly 70% of graduates of college-based coding programs FAIL the CCS and/or CCS-P. The passing score is only about 64% of the questions. That doesn't include the large number of grads who never bother to sit for the exam because they do not believe they will pass it. It's difficult to learn inpatient coding (CCS) on your own. There is too much involved in it. You can learn to do simple office coding & billing, where you basically copy the codes a doctor has checked off on a charge ticket, though. A coding and billing text, like Fordney, would do for that. That would,in fact, be a good way to get enough perspective on the occupation to know what direction to go in. There is no guarantee that you'll pass the exam after a bootcamp, either. Some of them have students who need to attend 2 or 3 times before they can squeak by. Yes, the AAPC exam IS open book, but you should not think that enables you to look up the information you need. The book that is open is a code book. It's open so that you can look up the codes. It won't give you any handy hints, nor would you have time to look anything up even if they were there. AHIMA exams tend to focus on hospital coding and AAPC tend to focus on outpatient physician services. Take whichever suits what you want to code.

your percentage is a little bit off [2008-10-07]
Actually about 50% fail the test, not 70%. and that is of the total people who take it, not just those who have taken college-based coding programs. I do not believe there is any such breakdown. The simple office coding you talk about isn't actually coding if you are copying the codes the doctor wrote on the chargemaster and doesn't really require any book as anybody can copy codes! It is the billing aspects that would require the specialized knowledge in that setting. And yes, it is difficult to learn inpatient coding on your own but a motivated person can do it if they set their mind to it. I have a good friend who is a CCS who is completely self-taught. But not everyone wants to be an inpatient coder. Our hospital has ED coders, outpatient coders, and day surgery coders in addition to inpatient coders.

She's right, and I know because I'm [2008-10-04]
There are no requirements for any AHIMA coding credentials. In fact there are no accredited coding programs--AHIMA only approves them. Attending one is still not required. The above information is correct. I have both AHIMA and AAPC coding credentials, as well as an RHIA. The RHIT requires a 2-year degree from an HIM program accredited by AHIMA. The RHIA requires a 4-year degree from an HIM program accredited by AHIMA. A coder who wants to sit for the RHIT or RHIA exam has to take the HIM program, but may be able to test out of a number of courses, depending on the college. This confusion runs rampant in HIM departments. It's difficult to keep straight. There is a full explanation on the AHIMA website at www.ahima.org. The AAPC credential requirements are explained on www.aapc.com.

They are NOT the only two schools!!!! [2008-09-30]
If you believe Rasmussen and DeVry are the only 2 colleges with online coding courses where you are eligible for the RHIT exam, you were misled. You do not need an RHIT to code. At most colleges, all the courses that are required for a coding certificate are also part of the RHIT degree program. When you finish them, you get a coding certificate, but you can continue on to get an RHIT. All the courses you took will apply. They are not the only online programs, either. The AHIMA website lists lots of them. All RHIT programs, and consequently coding certificate programs, are exactly the same--AHIMA requires them to teach the same material. What they are is far, far MORE EXPENSIVE than a coding certificate or RHIT program at a community college. You got suckered into attending twice as long as you need to and paying big bucks to do it because you were misled into thinking they were the only programs available online. San Juan Collge in Farmington, New Mexico, has a good RHIT and coding certificate program around, and it's only $40 a credit hour if you're from out of state. There aren't any extra fees, either. You can do that whole RHIT for about $2560.

I am currently attending.... [2008-09-25]
Rasmussen College (online). I have quite a ways to go as I am working on a health information degree. I have been an MT for many years but need to move on. Rasmussen and Devry are the only 2 colleges with online courses for coding where you are actually eligibleto sit for the RHIT creditial exam once completed. I'm so excited!!!! Good luck to you!

Are there any at home coding jobs?? [2008-09-08]
Hi everyone! About 5 years ago I completed some courses through my local college for medical coding/billing and transcription. I liked the billing much better and did that for a busy family practice for 5 years. For the past 2 years I've been home with my kids. I would really like to work but with the rising price of gas it would not pay for me to get an outside job. I live out in the country and the closest doctors office or hospital is 35 miles away. Are there companies that offer a home based billing opportunity? Thanks! Amanda

Herzing College [2008-06-17]
Herzing College is on the AHIMA approved list and that is the school that I go through for my education. Thay are great. You can apply for financial aid. Good luck.

Coding School [2008-06-16]
I earn my Associates degree in medical billing and insurance coding all online at Herzing College. It is a great accredited college and I will be starting classes there again in July for my Bachelor�s degree in HIM. Check them out. Here is the link to some information. http://www.herzingonline.edu/programs/Health-Care-Management Good Luck in your future.

That book is worthless... Sm [2008-06-16]
I really hate having to break the news to you, but after you finish with this book, you will in no way be prepared to transcribe anywhere. I know this because I took a course from a techonology school and they utilized this book. After finishing the course, I went and tested for a local transcription company and total BOMBED the test. I was horribly embarrassed. So, I enrolled at Everett Community College and took the Career Step course through there. Nine months later after completing the course, I went back to the same transcription company and aced the test with 100%. I was offered a job that day. This was about 4 years ago, maybe they have changed some things in that book, but I know from my experience with it. It wasn I don I wish you the very best in your endeavors. Good luck to you!

Coding [2008-05-26]
Hello: YOu may want to look into yout community college for courses. I live in California and there is an omline course that you can take at Santa Barbara City College; and you live in the state of CA it is 20.00 per unit (classes are usually 3 units per semester); for out of state it is a bit higher - check it out..

Re: post from Maria [2008-05-10]
I see both part-time (and prn) and full-time jobs for coders; and good that you coding career courses - be aware! Good Luck

MT versus coding [2008-05-08]
Every now and then I see Transcriptionist jobs around this area but the pay is usually around 9 an hour, way too low. I too have had it with transcription and have applied to the community college here for the nursing program. Too much knowledge in my noggin to waste it. Good luck to you with the coding, I hope it works out for you.

Whoever gets an answer from someone about coding..(sm) [2008-05-07]
please let me know too. I am ready to leave MTing after 18 years.IIA tech school I checked into in my hometown said I would have to take the full course despite being an MT for 18 years and it would cost $4000. So if you find out any info on a good online accredited school, please let me know.I am desperate to get out of MTing.

Re: Medical Coding Career [2008-04-24]
I was in your same shoes a couple years ago. Newly single mom of three young kids - one with a disability - and nursing school was no longer possible. Thatt finishe yet, but I am already coding for a clinic. I started there as a receptionit and when they found out what I was in school for I kept getting asked to fill out forms needing codes. More and more later, I am now being transitioned into a billing/coding position, and am able to flex some of my position from home. Plus, since it is work related, my employer will pay for my books, certification exam fee. My advice for newcomers to the field is to get a job at least part time at a clinic, privte doctors office somewhere. That's where most coders I know, and myself, have gotten their foot in the door. And it is well worth it in the end.

Kaplan [2008-01-23]
Please be careful with this college. I went there and was told every term I owed nothing. After I graduated they wanted me to pay over 2000. They try to get money out of you.

Not an Andrews grad but... [2007-09-03]
I am enrolled in North Dakota State College of Science in theirHealth Information Technician program which is accredited by AHIMA. So far, I am learning a whole lot. I have been doing transcription for a little over 2 years and graduated from CareerStep, but didn I have heard, though, that Andrews is a good school, but I needed help with tuition and also wanted a degree. Good luck to you!

Andrews students [2007-07-26]
Hi, I'm not an Andrew's student but Ive known people who used their transcription course and it was pretty good. I'm attending Rasmussen College online, earning an associate's degree in Health Information Technology, which includes billing and coding. They're accredited and after taking the course you can be RHIT certified.

Coding Exam [2007-06-08]
If I may suggest, don't waste your time with the CCA, go for the CCS or higher level..You will get much more respect if you get the higher level certs vs. the entry level..My experience is like yours...Did very well in getting College Cert in Medical Coding...Monitored all hospitals in NY State for jobs to no avail...Checked the AHIMA website since I am a member..Kept on talking to Dept Head at college and he connected me with my only Coding position during Chemo coding..They only used me to catch up. They were a year behind in coding their Chemo charts..after a month i caught up, did some billing/Collections, and then they got a 12yr senior coder to do my job part time at night since the coding was reduced to only 2-3hrs a day once I caught up and was coding present Patient - Physician encounters

Good Question [2007-04-18]
Hi confused: I am currently a medical Transcriptionist and am looking to get into coding as well. I am getting ready to start an Associate degree program with North Dakota State College of Science Health Information Technician class in June. I choose this school because I can take it online and it was recommended by the AHIMA. I spent the last few months researching and finally narrowed it down to either DeVry or there. I had just finished some classes with University of Phoenix and decided I would rather go with NDSCS. Anyway, I wish you luck! Paulette

What is a good Coding program? [2006-09-18]
I would like to study from home/online. What are the best programs out there, that employers recognize/respect. I saw a program from Brighton College (which is home based) that was Medical Transcription and Coding, all in one. Is this legit? Or too good to be true? Any assistance with this would be great. Thanks!