I think you should go with the online course at AHIMA

B & C online [2008-08-04]
Career Step offers an online coding course. They offer their MT grads job placement assistance - they probablydo the same for coding students.

B&C online [2008-08-04]
Thanks... I think I will enroll.

I think you should go with the online course at AHIMA [2008-03-31]
AHIMA (http://www.ahima.org)is the accrediting agency for medical coding courses, i.e., if your course is not approved by AHIMA, your certificate is probably not worth the paper it is printed on. That doesn't mean that you won't be qualified or won't get work as a coder, but you may as well go with the AHIMA course if you haven't already started with Career Step. (I didn't see Career Step on the approved list.) You can also get certified online with the AHIMA course after you finish the course. As with any coding course, completion of the course does not mean you are certified. You have to take a test for that.

Careerstep online [2006-09-26]
I am looking into CareerStep online to take a medical Coding course. Has anyone taken the course from them? Thanks!

Apply, apply, apply [2008-08-17]
You have to work at getting a job. Apply, apply, apply for anything and everything, and TAKE the first job that is offered even if it pays nothing and you hate it. Take ANY job, even in a doctor's office answering phones if you have to. Work your way up from there. Look for a job doing anything in a medical record room of a large multispecialty clinic or a hospital--clerk, secretary, anything. Part of the problem may be that you describe your degree as transcription and coding. People either do one or the other. If you apply for both, employers will think you don't know what you want to do. It implies that you don't understand what the employer needs. Also be careful about saying you have a certification. You didn't indicate which one you have, but if it's not an AHDI RMT in transcription, an AAPC CPC-A (you can't have a CPC yet because you have no experience), or an AHIMA CCS or CCS-P, then you have no certification the employer is interested in. Billing and coding are very important to employers. They can't afford to train you, can't afford to lose money on bad coding, and can't afford to be investigated by federal agencies for fraud and abuse based on bad coding. You can enhance your skills while looking for a job by getting more books and studying on your own. Also consider volunteering at a hospital in the medical records department, or at a hospice, or at some other charitable healthcare organization. Volunteer experience can count.

B & C online [2008-08-04]
Career Step offers an online coding course. They offer their MT grads job placement assistance - they probablydo the same for coding students.

This is not true [2008-08-02]
Your advisor gave you bad information. First of all, the RHIT credential is not specifically for coding. It's for health information technology in general. You can and should sit for the RHIT credential immediately after you graduate. Passing that exam does not depend on experience in coding. You should be able to pass it with just what you learned in school. It is an ENTRY LEVEL exam. In fact, the longer you wait, the worse your score will be because you'll forget what you learned. The AHIMA coding exams, i.e., the CCS, CCS-P, are mastery level exams. AHIMA recommends that you have 2 years of experience before taking them, but it's only a recommendation. Their certification communicates only that you know the material. Students from some coding programs are able to pass them without experience. The American Association of Professional Coders, however, REQUIRES two years of experience before they will grant the full certification. You can TAKE the exam at any time before that, but you'll get a temporary certification which indicates that you do not have the experience. Their certification communicates to employers and clients that you not only know the material, but that you have significant experience, as well. If you are considering a career change, get the information you need directly from the source. Don't pass up an excellent career opportunity based on some nonsense spouted by someone at a school who has no more clue than a rabbit about what you intend to study. Don't take advice given by people, either. Find out the truth for yourself. Both certifying organizations' websites explain exactly what you need to do. www.ahima.org and www.aapc.com

B & C Schools [2008-07-30]
What are the best B Cschools online? I was thinking about US Career Inst. but got a bad comment on it. Any recomendations

I made this transition [2008-07-10]
I moved to a coding position after our hospital outsourced its transcription. I was able to start out with clinic coding, which was very basic based on my previous experience with anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. I have chosen to take the Coding Basics program offered by AHIMA through their distance education program. I enjoy coding, but I do miss typing occasionally!

Medical transcription & Other Healthcare Jobs [2008-06-17]
If you are already working, but the wages cannot satisfy you you are seeking for a home job which will fulfil that demand, medical transcription will be the perfect choice for you. It does not ask from you any highly expensive equipment or any high profile quality. If you hold interest in this matter this article will assist you provide enough information about medical transcription. Medical transcription has turned into a special vocation for many people for its flexible way of income. Here an individual gets enough liberty to perform any time according to his convenience with a deadline has turned into a resourceful avenue of income along with his primary profession. According to the various source of research, the trend to work as a Medical Transcriptionist is consecutively growing up day-by-day.If you are efficient as a Medical transcriptionist you have a lot of demand for work. All the important medical institutions like clinics, hospitals, physicians colleges etc. employ Medical transcriptionist. Working within the appropriate office environment, the job of Medical transcription is no less rewarding. A Medical transcriptionist, working from home, is expected to be equipped with only a computer with a modem, a fax, a phone, a printer, dictating equipment with the headset, etc.Generally, you are expected to have a decent skill on computer keyboard should be aware of the functions that the keys offer. You should keep it in the mind that all the organisations, hiring Medical transcriptionists are inclined for those people who are already polished with experience in the clinic, or hospital setting. Though it is not uncommon that a company asks for newly a fresher applicant but prior experience in this field will facilitate your work pressure. It is prudent for those employers who are employing Medical transcriptionists, expect a sound knowledge on anatomy, physiology and pharmacology terminology, as well as competent English. If you want to shine yourself as Medical transcriptionist you must go through a medical course which you can continue being physically present in an institution but the better option for you will to attain aonline course on that. Specially, if you are a worker already, online course will save your time. After the course is over you should work under the supervision of a medical practitioner in the first one or two years to gather experience.The remuneration of a medical transcriptionist may cheer you up with the earning of $40 per hour, depending on which country you are working. With the time you bag up experience, it will help to increase your income $1000 to $3000 per month. With Best Regards Maria

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.

What's the top coding schools? [2008-05-21]
I I was wondering which online schools were reputable.

For those wanting to kow about Coding [2008-05-10]
TO answer the burning question upfront, Ihascharts showing averages for coders based on city, state, etc... but II am in northern IL and the average arond here isaround $16/hr starting, and once you have at least 2yrs exp. you can expect a nice increase in that number as well as offers to do coding from home. I have been working in a multi-specialty clinic for a year now as a receptionist, were among other duties, I also code. I let it be know whenI began there that I was in school for coding and did not plan to stay forever unless they could incorporate me into exclusively a coding position (within resonable time.) Happily, I am now transitioning to that very position as soon as a replacement is found for me at thefront desk. I have always told othersa good way to get into coding is to find at least a part-time jobin a clinic or medical records dept somewhere, while in coding classes; let your future intentions be known, ask if you can help with any coding along the way (in some clinics it is the receptionists doing all the coding because of shortness of coders). Secondly, if you go to Ahima.org you can get a national list of approved coding programs according to type of certificate/degree level, online vs on-site,etc... If anyone has more questions feel free to email me as I don't come here too often.

Link fr charts showing nat'l coder pay stats [2008-05-10]
So sorry, when I posted my link did not follow! Her is the link for the coder pay stats as well as to the American Health Information Management Assoc. http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Medical_Records_Coder/Hourly_Rate http://www.ahima.org/

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.

entry-level coding tought to get into? [2008-04-23]
This is good news. However, the concerns I have is tons of postings I have found online of entry level coders trying to get a first job. It seems most places want several years experience and it's difficult to get if no one will give you a shot. I guess this is the same complaint many MTs had as well. However, 9 years ago when I became an MT I found a job right away. But I think entry-level MTs nowdays have a really difficult time too. I have considered coding. I was pre-nursing but as a single mom of 2 (one child with a disablity) and a mortgage I just cannot consider 2-year of full-time school for RN. Coding seemed a good alternative but I was wary due to the difficulty in landing a entry-level positon. Any thoughts?

I think you should go with the online course at AHIMA [2008-03-31]
AHIMA (http://www.ahima.org)is the accrediting agency for medical coding courses, i.e., if your course is not approved by AHIMA, your certificate is probably not worth the paper it is printed on. That doesn't mean that you won't be qualified or won't get work as a coder, but you may as well go with the AHIMA course if you haven't already started with Career Step. (I didn't see Career Step on the approved list.) You can also get certified online with the AHIMA course after you finish the course. As with any coding course, completion of the course does not mean you are certified. You have to take a test for that.

MT schools [2008-02-25]
Career Step is good. I took their coding course, and it was tough but very good. I graduated from M-Tec Inc. for transcription. I did the research, and nationally there are really only three online programs that are worth anything. If you graduate from one of them, you will have no problem finding a transcription job. Those three are Andrews, M-Tec, andCareer Step. M-Tec has a wonderful Career Opportunity Council that keep you hooked up with jobs that come up for the rest of your life. I am not sure if the other companies have this feature. Career Steps coding course is very good. I passed the CPC test on the first try. Hope to be working doing both coding and transcription from home. yogagirl

Question about MT required to do the coding at new job [2008-02-24]
Hi everyone, just a quick question to all the coders and billers out there...I just started a new job at a facility where one of the responsibilities of completing the EMR record for each patient...I am to also assign the coding (not too comfortable with this, as I have only very, very limited knowledge of coding after unfortunately paying for an online course, only to realize it really was not something I would enjoy, or be very good at?)...is this legal?.... I feel like the prior transcriptionists were at times making their best guess (which seems very dangerous and costly to the company, etc....)... if this is not something I should be doing...should I respectfully bring this up to my new supervisor (who has herself taken over the MT department, as it was run by another level as part of their nonprofit, government funded mental health facility. Thank you for all of your insight... I appreciate your time. Sincerely, Jen

Difficulty level getting a job after school? [2007-12-28]
Hi, I am becoming concerned that I will be wasting money if I take one of the online coding courses. I have read where it is extremely difficult, even more than for transcription, to get a job in coding after finishing a school. I have also read that they are in great needof medical coders. Does a person just having finished school have a chance of getting a job as a coder? From what I understand you cannot become certified until you have had on the job experience, so it seems like a big catch 22. Thanks for any advice you can offer!!

Coding versus transcription [2007-12-19]
I just quit my job of six years,transcribing for an acute care hospital afterthey increased our production rate. Ibasiccoding course and would like to know if anyone has doneboth transcription and coding. How do they compare? Are theresweatshop productionquotas in coding as with medical transcription?

Kaplan University [2007-12-19]
I am considering taking a coding course online. I have been doing MT work for 8 years at homeand am not making what I would like. Ithought maybe coding would be a good option to work in a hospital and hopefully make more money. Has anybody had any experience with Kaplan University?

Re: Coding [2007-12-03]
Point her to Andrews or AHIMA. She canone canM-TEC or Andrewsfor MT.

meditech vs career step [2007-11-13]
I have taken the Career Step course and was not very impressed with it. Took the course through a vocational school with no real instructor to answer questions. Career Step does offer class online....but would seriously look at closely before enrolling.

Coding schools [2007-10-10]
Will try this again..... has anyone taken the Andrews online coding program and if so, do you feel it prepared you to sit for exam(s)....Still wondering on information out there if anyone would be so kind as to share. See my post below!!! Pleeeaaaasssssee.....Yes I am begging

coding course [2007-10-09]
Hello, I too graduated from M-Tec and have been doing MT part time for going on three years. Last winter I enrolled in the Career Step on line coding course. It was very thorough, tough, and challenging. I like the fact that it was all online meaning you could work on it from any computer. I passed their test the end of May and sat for the CPC certification test on August 4 and passed. Whether a course is good or bad, in my humble opinion, is not the question. The question is will this or that school give me what I need to pass the certification test? Because in coding, certification is the name of the game. I plan on retiring from my current job next June and transition into coding. In the meantime, I am keeping on on my reading, CEU credits, and attending chapter meetings. I felt the Career Step course did meet my expectations. Career Step is taking taking steps now to become accreditied, but I agree that the school is not the important thing--it is do you have the experience and certification? Coding is much more difficult to break into compared with MT. One often times has to take a related job and then move into coding or do an unpaid externship to get the experiece piece. Happy to answer any and all further questions. Yogagirl

Meditec on-line program [2007-10-06]
Can anyone offer any information about the program offered by Meditec on-line for billing and coding. I have looked through a ton of programs and this program seems like it would be a little more thorough as far as the subjects and amount of reports to code, plus they seem to touch on the billing aspect, insurance, etc. I have been to the AHIMA board and looked at all the schools listed on their site; however, they do not endorse any particular school, as such, not really helping anyone makea decision as to any good school to go to. Also, in looking at their programs, they do not really seem to offer any more in the way of subjects that they touch on and, in fact, seem to offer a little less to me than the distance program called Meditec. This one seems to touch on some software programs out there as well which I think should be included in one Also, from what I am gathering, it does not seem as though the AHIMA cares where you get your education, just that you get a good enough one to pass their exam. I do wonder, however, at the same time if any employers look at where one gets their schooling or if they too are more interested in the credentials and that you have them, period. I did ask one employer if they looked at the schooling behind the credentials and she said that, no they did not really critique the schooling, they were more interested in the fact that they have the proper credentials and experience. While there seems to be a ton of schools offering these courses, there seems to be a lack of information from anyone person/organization as to what is the best course offered, leaving one to sort of guess and well hope they hit the right one. I also seem to find that, for the most part, the ones willing to comment are usually the ones who only have something negative to say about the business/field, programs,etc. Again, making it hard to make a good decision as to where to go. Then there are the companies all trying to push their program and telling you they are theONE to go to, only I know that they will all tell you that in order to sell their program. After all, that is THEIR business. And well, maybe they really do feel that their program is the best. Unfortunately, I know that there has to be some solid answers out there from someone, someone who has been there/done that successfully. Would you please share some info with me. If you don I am a successful working medical Transcriptionist right now and would like to venture into coding, billing, office management, and maybe HIM as well. I do not have unrealistic expectations of having to work from home, making a ton of money at this. Just want to further my education for the knowledge, and yes make a decent honest living at it. Yes, I know it is hard work getting there. I did a transcription course through M-Tec, was challenging, I have worked my 12 hour + daysat my first transcription job, been in tears thinking I was never going to get my line count. Seemed to get it finally by the end of the day somehow, and now I am making my line count and then some. I am doing fine at it and have been successful for 4 years so far doing it. I still like it.I am not a complainer on the MT Stars board bashing companies, because I feel for every company that I worked at that was not my favorite for one reason or another, I was stilllearning and geting some type ofexperience, no matter what. One has to take those chances and go through thosesort of lifeto learn as well. So I am sure that medical coding/billing is no exception to the rule and know what I am in for before I go into it. Just looking for some advice to go in the right direction on the schooling!! Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share.