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A question about the Andrews coding classes. - sm

Posted: Apr 14, 2015

If you've been an MT for 20 years, will they let you skip or test out of some of the classes that pertain to things we already know, or do you have to take them all?

They do have some options available for testing out - and still being CCS qualified

[ In Reply To ..]
In order for a graduate to be qualified to sit for the CCS exam, they have to have had a course that covers anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic/procedural and CPT coding. So you would have to take the tests, even if you already knew the material and didn't need to study it. They will let you opt out of those books, which saves a little time and money. Most of us think it's a good idea to review all of that material even if we did think we already knew it. Quite a few of us with a medical background have found that we didn't know the A&P at the level required for ICD-10 and had to request the books after the fact.

Another Andrews question - OKMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'd like to ask a different question, one I haven't really seen asked here. I tried an on-line coding course, run by someone I have long admired and respected, but there wasn't enough material geared toward engaging my brain in actually learning the material. For instance, it has been more like here is the book, read these chapters, answer the little bitty quizzes in the book, take the test and move on. I would do better if they gave me a list of questions and specific things to learn from each chapter and make me really have to work to find the answers. Does that make any sense? Does the course material for Andrews do this? I am toying with the idea of enrolling in the Andrews course, which is what I should have done in the first place (!). Thanks in advance for any information or description of how it works!

Yes, your question makes sense. - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
I am afraid you won't like my answer, but please consider that it is well-intentioned. It is also the truth.

I don't know what course you took and my answer does not pertain to how Andrews teaches or doesn't teach.

My answer is based on the reality of education beyond high school. In elementary education, the burden of teaching lies on the teacher. It should shift more to the student in high school, but may not. There are even colleges that continue to teach in a style that puts the burden on the teacher.

That is what you are describing, a situation in which the teacher lays out all the information the student is to learn. "Look up these answers. That is what will be on the test." That method is used with students who are too young or not astute enough to read and identify information on their own. It is the method most often seen in adult ed and career colleges, and in community colleges that have high numbers of low achievers.

There is nothing wrong with it, but it does not help a student who needs to learn a job where the actual job REQUIRES the ability to extract and synthesize information. Coding, in other words.

An instructor cannot do the learning for you. You have to learn it, yourself.

Your textbooks already contain the information you need to know. YOU have to extract it and learn it.

It isn't your teacher's job to rewrite that information to save you the trouble.

You will have to extract that information on the job in coding, so coding training should teach that skill.

A good school SHOULD put the burden on you. Many schools do not because it requires too much work from the instructor. Yes, more work than the other way.

However Andrews teaches, it must work because their students are highly successful. My advice is to accept what they offer, rather than expecting them to cater to what you prefer. If you can't learn on your own, coding will not be a good choice for you.

Another thought--Andrews grad - MT2coderalso

[ In Reply To ..]
I think from re-reading the OPs post, maybe it was that there weren't enough questions or in-depth questions so even if she passed she wasn't sure she really grasped all she needed? Andrews is geared towards self-learning, but the instructors are available and can offer advice, additional practice questions if you did not do well and feel you need more, etc. There were instances where we were to look up all the info in AAPC and the CPC exam, and AHIMA and CCS for example, and answer specific questions, but in an outline format (I learned a lot from this!) Another paper I remember was outlining the differences between outpatient and inpatient coding. The beginning modules are much like what she described, reading the material then testing, but some of the questions demanded more thought. The last 2 modules were challenging and you really learn to pull everything together. I hope this helps,
Janet

My thoughts on your question - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Here are my thoughts on your question. If you choose a school that has successful graduates, they must be doing something right. Don't try to change their curriculum or tell them what they need to do differently. Go with the plan the way it's designed to be done or find a school that teaches the way you think it should be done, even if it isn't getting as good results.

Let me ask you a question about your previous course - Question about Your Question

[ In Reply To ..]
I have a very important question to ask you about the course you took previously. You probably know some other people who are taking it or have taken it. What kind of results are they getting? Have they passed both the CPC, CCS, and are they getting jobs? How many successful coders have they graduated? If they are putting successful graduates out there consistently then the problem may be with you, not with them. I suspect though that the results are not that good based on the way you asked your question. That may be why you are questioning the teaching methods. I may be wrong, of course.

If your previous course is getting good results you will know - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I guarantee you that if anyone has passed credentials exams, the school will let you know. If most of the grads are not successful in doing that, you will hear silence regarding credentials. If they are finding jobs, you'll hear about it too. If not, silence. Most schools that take less than a year are putting out a lot of silence these days about actual coding credentials and real coding jobs. Most schools that don't have credentialed coders instructing the course are also strangely silent about the success of their graduates. Courses that don't use real professional coding books are completely silent, because nobody is successful being trained solely on an encoding machine. Goes without saying.

You've got to know yourself --- - Soon2BMTtoCoder

[ In Reply To ..]
By that I mean, know what type of learner/student you are. I'm a current Andrews student and I think I didn't factor myself into the learning equation as much as I should have. I have determined that I am more of a visual learner and just reading the material assigned and then taking a test is not really for me. It really helps me to understand and retain the information when the material is broken down not only with text material and examples, but also with interactive visual teaching as well. The staff at Andrews are exceptional, patient, and probably like no other school - they will bend over backwards to help you. Even the current students and prior graduates are some of the most supportive and encouraging I have ever seen. I am just beginning to realize that maybe it was not the best choice/fit for me, but was the only way I could see myself being able to obtain both certifications.

I know people who said almost the same thing - See Message

[ In Reply To ..]
I think you'd be surprised if you tried it the other way with lecture classes. I've seen people who made that choice because they were visual learners. Every person I know who did it that way ended up hating coding. They really did like the classes and watching the instructor explain things. It wasn't the class that they hated. They just hated coding. I'm not sure what to make of that really.

They may just hate the independent nature that coding requires - Who knows

[ In Reply To ..]
It's probably just that coding itself doesn't appeal to them. It's a career that you have to learn and do independently. Attending a school with lecture-style classes may very much appeal to them, but not the practical exercises, tests, and all the reading and studying that goes along with it that you have to do independently. Even on the job, you work alone. Not everybody likes that. Different careers for different people.

I think I know what you mean - about learning style

[ In Reply To ..]
It is tough work and it may not be a style to your liking, but what you do is you find a way to make it work for you. You find your style IN IT somehow. I actually dictated some of my answers as I read my work so I could just type my answers as I listened to myself! (former MT of course). Just find a way that suits you within the way the material is presented. You can and you will! You have to accept the way it is done and find a way to make it work for you. Then you will learn and get to where you want to be.

You've got to know yourself - OKMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I too am a visual learner and always have been. I don't personally know anyone else taking these particular courses, but I do know it will not prepare me to take the CCS in the end. I did not get the answer to that question until just recently. Fortunately, I'm not locked in and can chalk it up to making a mistake and move on. I'm sure Andrews has dealt with many visual learners, so I'll just ask them about that aspect of it. I really wanted some input from current/former students from Andrews just to get a feel of how they handle things.

I have a degree in Education, so I can be somewhat overly critical, I freely admit this. It is important that I be prepared, however, to take the highest certification exam, otherwise, why bother? I appreciate the replies from everyone!

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