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Extra coding education question - JAT

Posted: Aug 24, 2012

I completed an associate's degree last winter and got my RHIT credentials. I have applied for a couple local coding jobs, which I did not get. They both had a coding test I had to take and pass before they would interview me. I failed both of these tests miserably. It was embarrassing. One lady who was the HIM manager asked me if my program even taught me how to code! Yes, I have my RHIT, but I don't really know how to code! I know the basics, but obviously not enough to get a job. Are there any programs that can brush you up on your coding skills? I don't need an entire course, just a little guidance I guess. I'm back to doing transcription, which I hate, and I'm so frustrated and feel like I wasted two years of my life!

I'm so sorry that happened to you. - Not Surprised Though

[ In Reply To ..]
The problem is, most of those programs are really heavy on information and facts, but very light on anything that the student can actually do with anything they've learned.

Sometimes they make big promises or guarantee the students jobs when they finish, but those jobs don't quite turn out to be as great as they were presented. The situation changes. The jobs don't pan out at all or, if there is a job, it's a poor job with little to no chance for advancement.

The last couple of years the going trend is to get everyone excited about an RHIT or informatics, etc. They even had full scholarships paid for by the federal government, but they failed to tell the students that they would be pouring thousands of graduates out into the marketplace where there were few to no jobs they were qualified for.

Nevermind - got a job offer today!! - Yippy

[ In Reply To ..]
I interviewed for a position two weeks ago but never heard anything, until today! It's not a coding job. The official title is HIM Analyst. It's a salaried position, 42k a year, full benefits. Yay me!! They required either an RHIT or RHIA. So, I guess my RHIT is finally paying off.

Great! Congratulations! - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
That's excellent! It's a perfect job to start out with!

In that job, you will learn some of the things that go into managing the medical record. You'll be in position to learn more about coding as time goes on. If the facility finds that you do a good job, you will have an opportunity to move closer to and into coding eventually. With what you learn on the job, you may be able to sort out what you learned in school and learn what you need to pass coding certification exams.

In your first post, you said tht you needed to brush up on coding. The best way to do that might be to take a second coding course. This might sound counter-intuitive, but hear me out.

Some courses present coding from a very academic standpoint. It can be difficult for students to make the jump from classroom to job. Some courses teach inpatient and outpatient coding together, so it can be difficult for students to split them apart in order to grasp what they need to do in the job. That may be why you failed employment tests.

Another problem occurs when a course does not go far enough in teaching coding. It may stop at the academic overview stage and not go on to mastery level. The coding employment tests you took were designed to find mastery-level coders, and probably inpatient ones at that. Even with good training, finding that kind of inpatient coder is difficult--that's why employes use those tests.

You shouldn't feel bad about your coding skills. They might be there, but just not to the degree that you need them. It's certainly not your fault!

What can you do about it? Well, for now you should apply yourself to your job in order to learn it very well, do a fantastic job of it, and impress your employer. Stay far away from office politics and any disgruntlement that coworkers may have. (In most HIM departments, at that level, emplooyees WILL be disgruntled.) You want to be like a duck on the water, not getting the least bit wet while gobbling all the goodies you can find.

Once you are comfortable in your job, you might consider a coding bootcamp like the ones DecisionHealth offers. Another good option would be to take a coding course. Seriously, even if the course cost $4K, if it would position you for CCS certification in 6 month to a year, and if the inptient coding jobs at your facility pay at least 2K or 4K more than what you make now, you would recoup that expense within 1 or 2 years. It would also position you to start moving up into higher-level jobs related to coding and compliance.

Just be careful to take a course that is known to prepare you for the CCS exam. They all kind of do that, but some really go directly for it and succeed. You might want to try the CPC exam first. That should be easier for you and it will help you gain confidence.

Thank you so much for your post! - JAT

[ In Reply To ..]
You 100% correct saying that my course probably taught me just the basics of coding and didn't go into the mastery level. You gae me great advice, and I do want to eventually be a coder so I am going to look at the program you mentioned and see what I can find. I definetley want my CCS so taking additional coding courses is a must. Thanks again!

Congratulations!! - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
That is GREAT news!! It is so hard to get that first job in today's job market!! I have to tell you that I have a friend who landed a similar job, and the facility really liked her and they are paying for her to take further coding classes as well as they plan on paying her to get her RHIA! You have your foot in the door now, which is SOOO hard to accomplish now! Wishing you all the best!!

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