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

looking into coding and billing - tlb

Posted: Sep 30, 2011

I have been an MT for 20+ years and now looking into coding and billing...

Would you recommend it? I am considering this, but looking for some words of wisdom prior to making a decision. I see Career Step offers the program, but not familiar enough with Career Step to know if they are a reputable.

I have been told that coding is on its way out like transcription and not to waste my time, but only heard that from one person so far. Anything you can share with me would be great!

Thanks :)

Coding is a great career choice - In my opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
I think coding is going to do fine for a long time to come. There are never any guarantees, of course. Coding has to do with patient care and also with income, so employers are more careful about who does it.

They want coders with credentials, usually a CCS. They don't have enough of those. If you have a CPC, that's an extra bonus, a definite plus, but you really need the CCS, Certified Coding Specialist.

There's lots more information if you just read down for the next few pages. There are good discussions that will help you with your decision.

CareerStep - Reddhots

[ In Reply To ..]
As a graduate of Career Step and a former employee of Medquist, I can vouch for Career Step. It was my spring board into the wonderful world of "at home" transcribing. Graduation from there will open doors for you. Good luck.

Coding program - CCS

[ In Reply To ..]
The OP asked about CODING not MT. CS does not offer instructor support. That seems to be more mportant for success in coding. Their students report frustration trying to figure out answers to their multiple choice questions with no one from the school able to help. Their materials are typical of CS, home-made booklets written for online screens, kind of skimpy coverage that was ok for MT but not coding.

Not many coding grads here report passing the CPC. One did but no reports of CCS. The program says it teaches inpatient but it seems to be mixed in with outpatient making it hard to sort out.

While "graduation from there" may open doors in MT it isn't going to do that in coding. No school will do that in coding. The only thing that will open doors for you in coding is the combination of the CPC and CCS. You have to be able to do the work in coding, look like a coder, talk like a coder, and act like a coder.

Cheaper isn't better if the instruction comes from other students in online forums and if you have to find some one outside the program to tutor you.

You may see glowing recommendations from current students but not much from coding grads.

looking into coding and billing - tlb

[ In Reply To ..]
Is there another program offered that has online instructor help? I considered doing another program online too, so maybe I just need to steer away from Career Step. I thought they were supposed to be one of the better places to get training.

Very confusing...

Have you checked out the AAPC and AHIMA web sites? - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Why not read the posts below? - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Why don't you try reading the posts below? This question is asked about once a week here. The information is below for your benefit.

I don't know how anyone can say any online instructorless program is a good way to learn coding. That's why so many graduates of those programs can't get jobs and can't pass certification exams.

"Online" usually means you sit at your computer hour after hour, plugging away at screen after screen, then take exams screen after screen, then flounder around on your own trying to figure out what you did wrong. Does that appeal to you? It doesn't appeal to me.

How many screens do you think it takes to cover all the material in a textbook? A lot, yes. So they don't cover it because it would take too long.

The interesting thing about online "learning" is that researchers are finding that people don't prefer them. It's really hard to learn that way. Very little learning happens.

On top of that, why, oh why, would you take a coding course if it told you in advance that it did not prepare you for the CCS, but only for the CCA??? Or it it said you would need to work for 3 years in order to pass the CCS??? Isn't there something wrong with that picture??? Can you see why getting a job would be so difficult?

There is an easy way to sort out the duds. Make a list of all the schools below and ask them if they have instructors. If they say "no," or tell you that they have this great student forum where students answer student questions, say thank you and hang up. If you can't talk to anybody at all, well, there's another good reason to hang up.

looking into coding and billing - tlb

[ In Reply To ..]
Please do not be so quick to judge other people.â�¦this is a forum where anyone can come and ask questions - even after reading the posts below.

Quick to judge??? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You're the one who seems to be judging! The person who recommended reading the posts below was just pointing the person in the right direction. They wanted information and it has already been posted below, so they should see if what they need is there.

Career Step - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I took the Career Step coding course and think that there are better options if you want to learn to code and land a job. I found inconsistencies throughout the course (particularly outpatient coding. While they have instructors on staff, I found it difficult to get help and was confused throughout the program. My experience with coding (where I work) is that it is becoming more and more automated and new jobs are becoming harder to find. However, there are analyst jobs and jobs available doing other coding-related activities so it is not as limited as transcription. It's a good thing to pursue to advance your knowledge. However, as far as schools, I would suggest looking at others before going with CS. They are a reputable school, but I had problems with the way in which the material was presented. Good luck with your choice.

Long Course - me

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree. I started the course via a community college, which was at a great rate, but having to drag through all those chapters, especially time consuming areas such as bytes, bites, and computer hardware. I know computer knowledge is essential for coding, but that and other areas of the program were just too lengthy.

Of course, I work outside the home and wasn't able to spend 30 per week on the course. It took me 14 months to get through the terminology, some anatomy, and other long modules. I never even got to the coding section. I had to give it up or keep paying them $100.00 every 4 months to continue on. I'm sure it's a good course for some, but if you don't have much time, better look elsewhere. Just my opinion with my situation.

attending school for coding while working FT - Laney

[ In Reply To ..]
I have spent several mos reading this forum to help me in deciding what i'd like to study online: coding or MT. Either way, I haven't seen much feedback on anyone who has successfully managed to complete schooling within an acceptable time frame while working FT in another field outside the home. I'd be curious to see how others got past this obstacle. Thanks!

I did it - I

[ In Reply To ..]
True grit is how you get past the obstacle. You have to be determined. It is not an easy road. Time, time, time. It took me a year and 4 months. Every free moment after work and on weekends was spent on the course. At times it is very frustrating with melt downs and thoughts of quitting. I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to work, but had no choice there. It can be done. It won't be a breeze. If it is what you want, it will be worth it.

I did it - Linda

[ In Reply To ..]
Which program did you select to use? 1 year 4 months is pretty amazing considering you were working. Have you taken any of the certification exams yet? Thanks

They have to keep putting students in those ancillary courses - for several reasons

[ In Reply To ..]
The schools that teach many different courses have to keep those courses filled, or they will lose them. They have to put MT students and coding students in some of the courses that were created for the medical assistant program. They don't create terminology courses that are geared to coders (or MTs) but toss us in some that are already there, to make those courses more profitable. They go way more in depth in some areas that don't help us at all, to take up our time, because they don't have enough to offer in specific training for us. Our courses don't bring in enough money to be considered profit-makers. In other words, we get the leftovers from other programs. We are forced to spend time learning things we'll never use, because they don't have enough of the things that would be useful for us. When we get out, we haven't had enough of what we need, but we sure have had a lot of what we didn't and will never need.

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