A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Online Programs and Internship Hours? - MT2Coder

Posted: Feb 27, 2011

One more question from me!

HIM programs for an associate's degree usually require an internship which, of course, gives you experience in a hospital setting that will be valuable and possibly lead to a job. Do any of the online certificate programs do this? Did you have the opportunity while in school to do an internship that your school helped you set up?

I am looking at Andrews and Career Step. Initially only Andrews but in reviewing more I have realized I can probably get a lot more financial assistance at Career Step. Of course if Career Step prepares me for being only being a widget packer or a place holder in the unemployment line that doesn't matter much, so I will have to research them a bit more.

Online Programs Internships - Privacygal

[ In Reply To ..]
When researching be sure that whereever you choose is accredited by AHIMA. If you are going to work in an HIM Department; you need to be certified as either a RHIT, CCS, CSP, etc. I am not sure what you are looking to do but if you go through a local community college that has an HIM Program; most likely they are accredited by AHIMA. You can also go to www.ahima.org for more information. With 25 years experience an taking in students from all school settings I have seen my share of students who spent thousands of dollars only to fine that the school they attended has no accreditation. Sad...just recently a student who is attending Colorado Tech but lives in NY found out that they are non-accredited; this woman is 60 and starting over; has spent $20,000 already and if she comes out of graduation with high honors; I couldn't hire her because she does not fall under AHIMA guidelines. Good Luck!

Confused - MT2Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for your input. If I got with an online program for a certificate only it will be Andrews or Career Step. If I go with a degree program it will be Weber State University, which is approved by AHIMA.

Always hard to make a rational decision when you want it right this minute! :-)

Confused - Privacygal

[ In Reply To ..]
Great! I'd go with Weber. If you can work independently go with Andrews. I can do both but prefer a structured classroom setting; where you can network with other students; if that is offered online go for it. Whatever your choice I wish you well. Cindy

Thanks! - MT2Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you! I am actually a graduate of the Andrews MT program so I am prepared for the independent work. I've worked as an MT for a few years now so sadly I'm used to using social networking for my networking and office socializing. I'm going to take my college transcripts to Weber and see what they have to say and go from there. I appreciate your time!

Clarification - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
The above post presents some conflicting and potentially misleading information.

AHIMA does not require that employees in HIM departments be certified by them or by anyone else. If you have a link to any such "guidelines," please present it here so that we can be informed. Be specific, please. Just saying to look on ahima.org isn't enough.

It also unnecessary for a coding student to attend an AHIMA-accredited program in order to take the CCS or CCS-P. Neither exam has any prerequisite for education at all. You can be self-taught and sit for that exam.

This would not make sense, in any event, because AHIMA itself does not "accredit" its own coding programs. They "approve" them, but do not accredit.

You may be confused by the requirement that RHIT and RHIT students attend an AHIMA-accredited program. That IS a requirement to sit for the RHIA and RHIT exams, but it is NOT for coding.

While you and your organization might prefer AHIMA grads, that does not mean everyone does. My organization looks for ability as demonstrated by a credential -- any credential.

Organizations that do discriminate in this fashion are few and far between when you look on a nationwide basis.

So that no one is confused, privacy credentials in HIM are somewhat different from coding credentials. It may be that the OP is thinking about that and getting them confused.

Thanks - MT2Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
I appreciate your input. I was aware of everything you're saying but didn't want to argue with the other poster. :-) There is a big difference in what is required for sitting for the RHIT and coding credentials and I assumed that had gotten confused. I spoke with a local HMO today to ask a few questions and they confirmed what you're saying as well. If you have the CCS, no one cares where you went to school. To sit for the RHIT, however, you have to have been to an AHIMA approved school. Very big difference.

The answer you got from your local HMO is what I would have answered as well - If you have your CCS you are ahead of the game

[ In Reply To ..]
If you have that CCS, any eployer with a brain knows that you have demonstrated that you have a high level of coding skills and you have the documentation to prove it.

Yes - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
That's correct. The coding credential is actually the higher credential FOR CODING.

The RHIT is a generalist credential in health information management, but is only entry level in them. The CCS is a mastery level credential specifically in coding. It therefore holds more weight.

I like that! - Sounds good to me

[ In Reply To ..]
I find it comforting that there is a solid credential that means something. I wish everything in life were that uncomplicated.

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