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I've been thinking a lot about coding

Posted By: (sm) on 2007-05-27
In Reply to: No you are not! I'm a single mom and I'm trying to make a house payment, pay utilities.... SM - Tinks

but I'm curious about the future of coding, mainly on the basis of outsourcing for not only MTs, but also so many other professions. I honestly think I would love coding, but worry that anything I can do at home (whether I do it or not) could also be done overseas, and I worry about getting a job (from what I've read, it seems as difficult as MT to get into), so just have been very reluctant to make the change.

I really would love to see a followup from you about how you make out, and wish you much luck with both the exam and your coding career!


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I've thought about coding. My DH does medical coding and I think with an MT's medical termino

background and anatomy and physiology knowledge, a transition into coding wouldn't be hard at all.  From what I can tell by looking through my husband's books, an MT would have to learn insurance regulations and legalities.  We've basically got all the medical background down or we should be if we're worth our salt as an MT.


I even contacted AHIMA and found that the qualifications for taking the CCS or CCP coding exams are completion of the a coding program, RHIT program, or RHIA or related work experience.  Transcription is part of HIM, albeit the red-headed stepchild of the HIM department, but a part nonetheless and so satisfies the qualification of having work experience.


The test is tough though.  My husband didn't pass it his first time out and I think I read something like only 20% or so pass it the first time.  So it would probably be best to take some sort of formal coding class, in my opinion.


I'm studying coding too. I've been looking at different courses plus I bought SM

Step by Step Medical Coding by Carol J. Buck along with the workbook that goes along with it.  So while I'm trying to decide on a school, I can be studying on my own.  According to the AHIMA website though with my years of experience as an MT, I am eligible to take the certification exam without having to complete a formal coding course.  Transcription is considered part of the HIM department and thus if you have worked in any position in HIM, you are qualified to take the test.


So, I may find that studying on my own will benefit me better than paying money for a course I'm not sure about.  I also have the benefit of tuition reimbursement with my employer and I may take advantage of that if I find a program I like.


So, I'm with you!  Let me know what school you decide on or what avenue you decide to take.  Might help me make the decision in the long run!


I've been thinking about you all day

I know you must be really conflicted but I really wouldn't be confrontive towards her (your mileage may vary).  If you get confrontive, you just validate the continuation of the issue and help to keep it going.  It is HER issue to be friends with that person, not yours.  You say your marriage is the strongest that it has ever been.   If that is so, then I hope you can share your feelings of betrayal with your husband.  See, if you confront her, you are going to be pushing for HIM or HER to take sides and maybe he needs your strength to find his feet and be able to pull towards you instead of towards her.  I have always thought that in laws (and own family, actually) should only know a limited amount about your personsal relationship with your spose for this very reason.  They feel they need to fix it and with all her "advice" it sounds like she was maybe trying to fix your faults and blame you for making your husband want to stray.


Take away her power over your relationship.  Work it out with your husband.  It wasn't until I got to the point where I really did not care AT ALL what my MIL thought about me that she started respecting me and treating me better (still didn't stop her from gossiping behind my back!); however, when she tried to give advice, I would cut her off at the knees and refuse to be a part in it.  When she tried to manipulate, I suddenly found things to end the conversation, leave, get off the phone, ask if she needed help with cleaning her bathroom with my nose curled up, whatever it took to send the message I had no interest in giving her any power over me.  Sometimes she wouldn't talk to me for 2 or 3 months at a time, and those were blessed months  


Walk off that anger, clean out the bathrooms and talk WITH your spouse.


I've been thinking about you too, please let us know how you are.

I've been thinking about this..
How about if they start asking patients when they are admitted to the hospital if they consent to their medical information being sent to another country???? Surely the patients should be made aware of this fact and make that decision, no?
I've been thinking of doing that myself - sm
I would think you would need the wireless software for your keyboard and mouse installed on both computers, then also the adaptor/transmitter on both CPUs. I am just about to buy a new CPU myself and do this, figured I have to go to a regular keyboard and mouse though, which is fine though I will miss the freedom of no wires.
I've been thinking about this lately

There is a big difference between old-timers and newbies.


Those of us who have been doing this for a while got into the field because the work interested us and matched our natural skill (grammar nerds and liked to type and naturally curious and would research stuff in big medical books just because we were intrigued) set well.


It seems like the newbs get into this TO WORK FROM HOME.  Doesn't matter what the work is, they just want to work from home.  I hear newbs say things like, "I don't like English," or "I'm not good at punctuation." (!!)  This is the job, people!!


I actually knew a woman who was going back to school to be an MT.  She was deaf (literally--had bilateral hearing aids), had a back injury that made it so she wouldn't be able to sit for long periods, and couldn't string together a sentence on paper if her life depended on it.  What are these people thinking??!!  Mercifully, she dropped out after receiving marks in the 30s and 40s on her first several tests.


 


 


 


 


 


Yeah, I've been thinking about that lately.
We just had a new Starbucks open up here, but it's 10 miles away from my house.  No way am I going to drive that far.  They only pay their managers $8 an hour.  As it is, both times I've been in there, they've messed up my order and the drink wasn't even hot.  Yuck.  Lukewarm mocha latte.
I've been thinking of getting my own accts but
I'm worried about not being able to find coverage when I want to take a vacation.

How do you handle this with all the accounts that you have or do you have to take your work with you?
I've been seriously thinking about it. I actually like my company this year.
However, I have no money because work is slow and my kids and bills come first. I've been thinking about baking cookies and candies to mail. The people I would like to give the gift to work at home anyway, so sending it to corporate HQ wouldn't accomplish gifting those I want to thank. I can't afford to send individual gifts to each of them. Plus, a little part of me considers buying things for your supervisor to be brown-nosing.
you raised a point I've been thinking about
With the use of Expanders becoming the norm now - at least from our end of things - I can't help but wonder if eventually that could really backfire on us.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if a lot of docs, hospitals, etc. really don't have a clue that a lot of the line counts they're being charged for really weren't transcribed -- and when/if they do find out, I wonder how many will have the same reaction as your doctor.

I know expanders are necessary to meet line count quotas, but where are we going to be if the clients decide they only want to pay for actual keystrokes.
I've been thinking about a job change recently

I've only been in this biz for about 13 years, but now that my last one is off to school, I'm also thinking about a career change.  I live in a very rural area as well, so I understand completely what you mean about people thinking $8 an hour is a good wage. 


One thing I'd like to suggest is looking into a state job.  We have 2 state prisons in my area (about a 20-minute commute) and both hire medical transcriptionists as well as medical records personnel.  These jobs generally start out at about $12 to $15 an hour plus state benefits, which in my state are the best bennies anywhere.  The jobs that require coding certification pay even more.  I would highly recommend that you look on the internet for state civil service jobs in your state.  You'd be surprised at the opportunities in the medical field. 


I'm considering this option myself but want to wait until next fall, after I have the summer to spend with my kids (and so I don't start out "in the hole" because of babysitting expenses) and to have time to look into getting my coding cert.  I graduated from a business school with an Associate's in medical secretarial and did a lot of coding prior to working from home.  I used to do billing for a very large rehab facility, so I don't think it will be too hard to brush up on my skills.


Anyway, good luck and let me know if this (a state job) pans out for you.  Most people have no idea these kinds of jobs are even out there (I didn't).


I should have specified, hospital inpatient coding and doc office coding are very different.
They follow different coding rules and an entirely different set of codes. I learned both while earning my B.S. in H.I.M., and both are challenging, though inpatient more so simply because there are more codes.
Honestly, you could get a job in a med rec dept without ANY certificate; some computer experience and your experience as an MT would get you in the door. It might just be doing chart assembly/completion, filing, etc., but there are certainly jobs in MR that don't require specific schooling. Then being in the dept you can really learn more about all the functions and pick the one you REALLY want to spend time, money, and effort on for additional schooling.
Anyone know if coding would pay as well as MT? Is coding being outsourced too?
xx
Speaking of Kenny Chesney, is anyone thinking what I am thinking? see message
When I hear the words, "annulment" and "fraud" in the same sentence, I can only think of one thing.  Anybody else thinking the same thing?
I use EXText with my current job and I've used at a couple of other jobs I've had. I've ne

used DocQscribe, but I have used Meditech, Cerner, Vianeta, the Precyse platform (I can't remember the name), Dolbey, and  Lanier platform I think was called Cequence (?). 


Out of all the different platforms I have typed on, I have liked EXText the best.  In my opinion, it's very user friendly, easy to learn, and I really like ESP which is the built in abbreviation expander.  Plus it is very easy to create your own normals which I love.  My fingers literally never leave the keyboard because there are macro keys for everything.  You can use your mouse if you prefer or learn the function macros.  I love it.  I think I'm more productive on EXText than with any other platform.


Coding
Try the Billers/Coders board. Much more info there.
Coding
nm
Coding sm

I have been thinking for quite a while about getting into coding.  Are there any MTs here who are also coders?  Are there any reputable "on-line" coding schools?  I really would like to do this.  27 years is enough.  If anybody knows about this, feel free to e-mail me.


 


Thanks


Coding

I used to work in a Doctor's office and do coding, electronic insurance billing, statements.  I loved it, but I had to quit because of my kids.  If my kids were older, I would still be doing it now.  I fell into coding when I was a Medical Assistant and it lasted 16 years.  Maybe I will get into it again when the kids get older. 


As far as any online schools that good, I don't know.  But what I can tell you is from my experience, working from an office or hospital is the best place to be for coding!!


MT to coding

I will try to be brief (please don't think me curt but there is much more I could say that I just don't have time to go into).


First to be a professional coder, you will need to be nationally certified.  There are 2 national organizations that provide proctored certification.  The first was AAPC and has an excellent program for both office-based and hospital-based coding certifications.  You can do the home program or find a company who provides classroom instruction and testing.  Either route will cost you about $1500 and about 3-4 months investment.  The other national is AHIMA.  You would need to look at their website to find the details for them, as I did not utilize them.  They cater more to people who are already in the field and need certification.


Because AHIMA's umbrella covers more than just coding, hospitals tend to give more credibility to their credentialling, but since AAPC set the standard and has the largest number of members, they have to be doing something right.  Both companies require prior coding experience, personal recommendations and membership in their organization.  If you have no previous experience, they have apprenticeship programs.  The CEUs to maintain your certification is about 20 per year with each organization.


Your investment in resources to perform your job is greater than in MT.  You will probably need a lap top and several programs to perform your job if it is not provided by an employer.  You can be a consultant if you can't get a job as a coder.  You could get additional certification and become an instructor and teach.


The next issue is home versus on-site work.  Some MT companies are beginning to combined MT and coding into their at-home programs; however, if you have no experience and no liability insurance and no support network, you could find yourself out of a job if you cannot produce quantity and quality quickly.  Finding a on-site coding position is difficult without experience unless you get lucky and find an office to give you a chance.  Many, many times your best bet to find a job is by networking through your local national's chapter or showing exceptional talent in the classroom setting and getting a referral from the instructor.


Coding is different from MT in that you are held liable by the federal government if you make a mistake.  Yes, the doctor is ultimately responsible, but the wording in the law states that the person who submits the bill is as guilty as the provider.  There are monetary and jail time penalties - and how much of each depends on how well you can prove it was accidental because the government assumes the fraud was intentional unless proven otherwise.  Better have insurance.  Because of this law, that is why you are seeing a greater need for certified coders...hospitals in particular do not want to expose themselves to the liability of the Office of Inspector General with unqualified personnel.


I got a coding auditor position on the outpatient side of a hospital.  I went to the clinics and performed audits of the previous quarter for every doctor at each clinic.  I scored everything, compiled reports, provided education to the doctors who failed the audits, provided monthly ongoing education and a coding hotline for daily unusual circumstances.  I was paid about $20/hr which was the low end of the spectrum for a hospital employee.  Physician offices tend to pay $12-15.  When I relocated to a different part of the country, I could not immediately find a coding position, so I went back into MT.  It took another year before I found a management company where I could code, but by then I needed to return back across the country due to family issues...and I let my certification lapse and continued with MT.


coding

what is the best way to get into coding?  I have thought about an online course. 


Coding and VR
It occurs to me that since coding is the up and coming field in which to go, why isn't that already automated? Since VR is coming at us at warp speed and entails much more than coding, why is that coding is not the first to be peopleless? Any ideas?
coding

I have experience in medical billing for 12 years and transcription for four years and I am also going back to school to pursue coding and take the national exam to get my CPC.  Coding is the new future as this transcription business is falling apart everyday.  It is so hard to make a decent wage.  These National companies are indeed a sweat shop taking advantage of the DR’s and paying us a pathetic price.  I make 12 cents a line working for a local physician, but I have lost 4 doctors already due to outsourcing.  I am running fast back to school because I think in the next couple years there will be VR everywhere.  What a shame to such a good profession.  This is just because someone was a little bit too greedy.


Good luck with coding. 


 


Coding

I am taking a continuing education class through my college for 8 months with medical terminology, which I really do not need as I have enough of that, but I am sure it will not hurt, and anatomy and physiology plus the coding.  I have also heard of the Carol J. Buck books and I am also going to purchase them once they come out in the first of January.  I heard these are good books.  I am one of those persons that needs someone to teach me and do better than trying to read out of the book and doing it on my own, but the Carol Buck book would not hurt as an addition.  This is the way to go for me as I have been burned too many times in this transcription industry in the last four years.  It is a shame it is like this way.  There is too much negativity.


Coding
That is not true in my area. We have a college here (actually where I went to school for transcription - I was in the last class before they started the coding class in 1992) and every student is placed at several different hospitals for an internship - you are then offered a position at one of the places where you have interned if you are good and show potential. If not for this type of program and the interaction that the college and the medical centers has - I would have struggled like many to get an MT position - but I just took up as an employee where I had left off as a student after graduation. I know many people who have gone through this program and they all went to work in coding immediately after graduation. I only have 2 semesters necessary for coding, so I am thinking it would probably be worth it. Sorry that this is not the situation in every area.
Coding

I've actually thought about coding as well.  I was an ART/RHIT so I've done a bit of it and liked it, but I liked transcription better.  That was then; this is now.  If HHS would ever stop messing about, the US would start using ICD-10 like the rest of the civilized world.  This is very different from the current ICD-9-CM, so even experienced coders will have to take classes.  Some of my coder friends say they would consider retirement at that time.  Perhaps it would be our opportunity to make a switch. 


Airline job, huh?  I hope he means Southwest because the old major carriers aren't doing well.  I do wonder about Sir Richard Branson's new Virgin America, though.  Of course, maybe you'd get free/reduced fare miles and the paid vacation time to spend them on as part of the benefit package.  Got anywhere you'd like to go?  Taking son along is optional. (she smiles)


Coding
I actually left coding to come to MT three years ago. I had my CCS and worked for a medium-sized hospital. I found the job to be extraordinarily high pressure and unpleasant. I finally cracked under the pressure, to be frank, and found a job being an MT. This is so much better, IMO. I realize there are problems in the MT field, but I don't anything could ever make me go back to coding.
What about coding?
I have thought about coding as an adjunct to MT. The magazine Advance for HIM always has a ton of coder jobs. However, I wonder if it will be going the way of MT eventually, overseas and less pay. I also wonder though if it is 10 years behind MT and so might be available longer??

Andrews School used to teach coding on line. I don't know if they still do.

Anway, it just seems like coding wouldn't be a far reach from the knowledge we already have.

Any thoughts on this one?
Coding
I've been thinking about studying coding as well. Would be interested to know of a good online course.
Coding

Coding is similar to MT.  It can be sent out to a service (Medquist does coding, too) which means it can be sent overseas.  There are computer programs for coding whose developers think will eventually be able to be used by clerks with no training in coding at all.  There are interesting benchmarks for productivity in coding:  Number of charts per day, inches of chart per day, money amount cleared from AR.  There's a lot of pressure in this line of work, too. Still, it might be around longer than MT, and from an administrative standpoint, it is a money-maker since how soon and how much the provider is paid depends on the speed and accuracy of the coding.  You do have to watch out for bosses who want you to illegally *upcode* to increase reimbursement. 


To get hired and move up, you really need to have one of AHIMA's many coding credentials behind your name, and their tests are tough!  I wouldn't mess with on-line classes.  Look for a junior college or college that has an RHIT/RHIA program.  They may have a coding certificate as well.  If the US ever gets around to adopting ICD-10, it may be a good opportunity to get into coding because this version is quite different from the current ICD-9-CM.  Even established coders are going to have to learn a lot of  new stuff. 


MT vs. coding vs. RN
I am looking to change careers. I've recently been laid off in data entry and internet research (expected) with a chance for re-hire in 2008, but I'm not counting on it. I'm looking for a flexible, transportable, decent paying job. I have been considering nursing for about a year but have it on a back burner as we are currently living 1/2 the year in Mexico and 1/2 the year in the US. We LOVE living on the road and really don't want to change that, HOWEVER; if it comes to taking care of my family (4 children 13-6), we will do whatever it takes.

In order to maintain our lifestyle (about $35K/year), recognizing that I appreciate and recognize good grammar, enjoy a challenging job, and require a job that allows me to work at home, I've been looking very seriously into the MT field. If I pursued this option, it would be with a certificate from either Andrews or M-Tec.

Reading the various MT boards (here, MTChat, M-Tec's board and the WAHM transcription board), however, I am quite concerned about the future of MT, both in pay and job opportunity. And then, at the same time, I am heartened by the enthusiasm expressed by IC's and happy MT's. There doesn't seem to be a clear-cut side on which to stand; the detractors seem to be just as common as the enthusiasts.

Further adding to my quandary is the trickle of nurses moving from RN positions to MT. I would enjoy the solitude of being an MT and am highly self-motivated. I believe I would enjoy oncology, L&D or peds as an RN but I'm not certain I would have the temperment to deal with patients stealing attention for frivolous issues from those with serious needs. I also wonder about the gore; not necessarily the blood but the pus. I am also concerned about bringing disease and sickness home to my family.

So, my current plan is to train with M-Tec or Andrews for a year, obtain my certificate, work as an IC and keep an eye on the nursing field. If possible, I might be able to continue to MT while in nursing school should it prove possible. I am also considering the fields of Radiation Technician and Surgical Tech. The reason I would prefer nursing to RadTec or Surg Tec is due to the travel available for traveling nurses (although I understand MedSurg would require at least 2 years of experience before I would be able to travel nurse).

Any thoughts? I definitely don't want to spend a year obtaining education and training that will simply be offshored.
Coding
I was in the same situation but for different reasons. When my wrists were just getting too painful, I thought coding would be a good transition. I work at a large level 1 trauma center which is a teaching facility. I went to school for a year and spent A LOT of time studying. I finished my program in one year. It entailed 33 credits total. I also was in the "middle aged' bracket and was a little tentative about returning to school. I was hired as a new grad at a level 1 trauma center facility shortly after I graduated and had one year to earn my credential. There are 2 different credentials you can earn. CC-A which is a certified coding associate and is designed for new coders with little experience. CC-S certified coding specialist is for people with several years of experience, and taking that test is probably the worst experience of my life! Very, very difficult. The work is challenging but never boring, but I think part of that challenge is because of the facility I work in. I am always learning something new. there is a significant requirement to earn CEs in order to maintain that credential so we do a lot of inservicing, but I learn new things every day in this work. It is also quite stressful as we are always under the gun to meet TAT goals and also have $$ goals (we need to have our accts receivable at a particular level every day and must be coding within XX number of days from service/ discharge). I would not suggest learning by any method other than on campus as you will have many questions and will need face-to-face contact. We have 27 coders in our dept and 99% will tell you they love it. The pay is good (for me it is better than transcription, but that is subjective of course) and the benefits are good. The demand is great, but it is not easy to break in to the field and get a job without experience. Most facilities are going to remote coding so you can work from home. I have a laptop computer (company provided) and can work from any location so I spend time in midwest in summer and southwest in winter, a really nice perk!
coding pay
Does coding pay strictly by the hour or how does that work?
coding
As far as I know, it is always hourly. There is a great deal of disparity in the amount of time it can take to code something. if your patient had an appy and left, that's easy. If your patient has CAD, has a CABG, suffered in CVA during surgery, was vent dependent for a while, etc., etc., that's going to take much, much longer. Thus, hourly is the way to pay.
coding
We all mistakes. It is a fact of life. Some, of course, more serious than others. Our standard at our facility is 95% accuracy. We have quarterly internal QA. If we do not meet that standard, we are put on 100% QA or retraining until we do meet that standard. I have only known this to happen to one person. Then we have a separate quarterly external QA, where our work is sent to an outside agency for auditing. Same scenario but more intense. We also use an NCoder program, which is a computerized coding program, that will help you find your codes and has some capability to show you "edits" or coding conflicts or errors. Then everything goes through state edits and we do get things back from them for correction. As you can see, this is a rigorous process with a lot of check and balance going on. We do a lot of "conferencing" among ourselves if we are stumped.
I do think we are treated with a great deal of respect. We are valued at our facility. We receive certain bonuses and are our management is quite free with the praise, etc. It is not easy to replace a qualified coder so we do get a lot of perks. Our flexible scheduling, even on site, allows to work any time from midnight to midnight to complete our shits and we can break it up any way we like. We have generous PTO options and can change days any time. our equipment and references are all provided for us, and our credentialing and credential maintenance are paid for us. I took the program at a community college, and i think it cost about $700 total, but that was a few years back. We get our CEs through our facility or seminars. AHIMA has multiple CE opportunities and learning opportunities. In the 6 years I have been with this facility I have not had to pay for anything as far as additional education. We need 20 CEs to maintain a CCA and 30 for CCS. Hope that helps.
coding - not my cup of tea
I took coding courses along with MT courses in college and did some coding for a cardiology office once I was done. It wasn't for me. I'll say this, though - just as some people look at MT and think all there is to it is typing what the doctor says, some people think all there is to coding is looking up a code to put to a diagnosis. There's a lot more brain power involved than that. What is the primary diagnosis? What is the diagnosis of greatest reimbursement? Does the past medical history get coded? What parts? Do you use the code that combines two diagnoses or do you code them separately? And on and on. It wasn't my cup of tea.
coding

I was an inpatient coder.  I liked it, but I'm sure it's changed a low now. Back when I did it we had to read through the charts and try to decipher the physician's handwriting when no reports were available and it ruined my vision.  We also had the stress of the hospital chain I worked for trying to get us to code up to a more expensive diagnosis, whether the patient had it or not.


My husband went to school for it a couple of years ago and aced the course, but nobody would hire him because he had no experience actually doing it, so the course was an absolute waste of money.  Most placed want credentials too.  Unless you are willing to donate your time for free at a local hospital to get some experience, it's hard to break into now for new people.


Is coding going to EMR?
I have been considering taking a coding class too, or maybe taking a course for computer networking at my local college.
Coding
Is not really done a home yet anyway from what I have heard. You need to do it in an office or hospital. That may change.
Coding

There is a definite advantage to being an MT and switching to coding.  I found a course through an adult education course (excellent course and virtually free except for the books) and it was great.  It is difficult and very technical, more than just assigning numbers to diagnoses but I liked it.  The thing is, at least from where I am (So Cal), I would have had to take a huge cut in pay to take an entry level position, work into coding, apprentice, and then once certified, then the potential for earnings is there.  Also, I think you really need to have a lot of experience before you can do it from home.  I can't take any kind of step backwards in pay or I'd be pursuing it.  Who knows, maybe I still will.  I just want to alert everyone to check their adult education programs, ROP, and local colleges first before paying a lot for this education.  Good luck!


Coding

I don't know if the course is good or bad but personally I would not recommend that anyone take any of the training for medical "work-at-home" jobs.  I expect that shortly all coding will be done electronically and it should be easier to implement than VR.  I think people are going to have to get used to paying a babysitter and commuting to a workplace if they expect a paycheck.  There are jobs that will allow at least some flexibility, even some that are family friendly.


Coding
One of the local hospitals where I am located just contracted with a coding/analyzing service in India. It's looking like coding will be next to be lost to offshoring or electronic means.
Coding will be automated too.
My previous employer was working on a project with an EMR where an MT/editor/coder could work in templates that would create a medical record and automatically assign a diagnosis and procedure code as the record was processed.
You do not necessarily need to take coding....
courses, although they would be helpful.  I have been a Cancer Registrar as well as a Coder and am now doing transcription at home.  I have an RHIT (certification after two-year degree in Health Information) from AHIMA.  I actually have a hospital pursuing me to take a Cancer Registry position and am trying to decide what to do.  You do not have to have a degree to be a Cancer Registrar, although it does seem that most places aren't as willing to train as they used to be, but some do.  It does help to have a background in Coding, but again it is not necessary.  AHIMA (American Health Information Association) just started an online Cancer Registry self-study program that will most certainly get you going in the right direction.  Also, Santa Barbara Community College in CA has an online degree and certificate program for Cancer Registry as well.  I hear it is an excellent program. You will take the necessary basic courses like pathophysiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology, oh and computer basics before beginning the core courses.  I would definitely look into that.  Also, study the NCRA website (National Cancer Registry Association).  You will find tons of information on the profession there, as well as credentialing information.  (www.ncra-usa.org).  Cancer Registry is an extremely rewarding profession in my opinion, although the salaries have not caught up to the complexity of the position.  Registrars may start as low as 30k in some areas, with an average being in the high 30-mid 40k.  Of course, managers and program coordinator will make more.  I don't know where the other poster got 100k from, but that is totally off the map for working in hospitals.  Now maybe doing consulting after getting many years under your belt, but still that is a stretch...maybe 70-80k.  I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have to the best of my ability.  Blessings!
Medical coding

Use the link below that I wrote a few months ago.  It is a very honest review of today's coding needs and environment.  Good luck!


 


http://forum.mtstars.com/company/v/1/13589.html


Best coding course is Andrews (sm),
same as for MT. AHIMA offers an online course, but Linda at Andrews says be careful because it's time limited; if you don't finish a section in time, you have to pay again. I would go with Andrews because then I'd know I'd get work right after completion. My husband is also studying coding; he's retraining from MT. He's combining it w/a degree in accounting. I only know of 2 online coding companies listed on the forum pedal to the metal (you'll have to Google it) and Amphion, a huge MT/coding company. Many companies right now are hiring coders to fly to the comapny and either audit or do the backlog. Check with "Redpen" (Peggy LaChance) at Andrews School for the best info as she is a working coder and instructor. Good luck.
coding at home
I did this for many years for nursing homes. They have to bill Dmerc and Medicare/insurance and many do not want the full time person sitting there when they can pay by the piece or a percent of income.
coding board

Admnistrator, What happened to the coding board?


In the long run...definitely Coding

The growth opportunities are so much more than with transcription and the need for coders is tremendous.  Please don't be put off by people saying that it is so hard to get into.  While you may incur some stumbling blocks depending upon where you live, they are very easy to get over if you volunteer during your clinical process.  That is usually all it takes.  I'm not understanding why individuals seem to want to dissuade career seekers with such negative advice, such as you will never get a job or you will be sued if you make a mistake because you are liable.  Hogwash!!!  The only time you may be individually pursued is if you are an INDEPENDENT, working for yourself and no other company, hospital, or physician's office.  Otherwise, there are compliance programs in place in organizations that make the facility the reponsible party, although it's possible you could lose your job.  But all facilities should have good Quality Assurance programs in place, and therefore the quality of your work is being constantly evaluated, as it is with transcription.  This places the reponsibility for correct coding with the facility.


If you are seeking training on an independent study basis, AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) and the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) both offer great programs.  AHIMA's program is $2000 not including books.  They award the CCS (hospital-based) and CCS-P (physican-based) credentials.  The AAPC program costs are based on the type of certification you are seeking...$1105 for the CPC (physician-based) and $1540 for CPC-H (hospital-based).  As a previous poster stated, you DO NOT at this time have to have previous experience, personal references, or membership in order to obtain AHIMA certification.  Although, credentialing requirements are swiftly changing in health information (so don't delay if you are considering this field).  You do have to have at least 2 years experience and membership to obtain the CPC or CPC-H.  However, if you take their program, they will waive one year and award you a CPC-A (apprentice) until you finish your first year.  Then after verification they will automatically award you the full CPC or CPC-H.


I, personally, am taking the CPC program at the AAPC.  I have been transcribing for 8 years and am ready to change for good.  I do, however, have previous experience as a coder.  I was a coder with a major insurance/healthcare provider on the east coast.  I was employed right out of school with no experience ($17/hr, 6 years ago).  I am currently a member of AHIMA and have been for 6 years.  I graduated with an A.A.S. in Health Information and am an RHIT.  I am mainly taking a course to brush up, get a coding-specific credential, and jump right in.  The job opportunities and pay are outrageous here in my area.  I truly believe they can be the same for any new coder in this area, as I have seen many of my colleagues and previous classmates do extremely well, all coming from different backgrounds, some with no experience and some with much experience.


I see many people asking about coding so I thought I would just try and help a little and give accurate, upbeat, and truthful information to the best of my ability.  However, I can't type this all again so I hope it goes along way


Please excuse any typos as I am too tired to edit.  I work four 10-hour days and today is one of them!


Hope this helps!


 


Medical Coding
Hi, I've been an MT for 9-1/2 years working at home and am in need of a change.  Am looking for a good coding class that won't send me to the poor house and that you can actually FIND A JOB when certified.  Is that possible?  Does anyone know some good schools and how much experience you must have before you can work at home doing coding?  Thanks to anyone who replies.