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Andrews coding: time to complete? - EscapeFromMT

Posted: Jun 30, 2013

One thing I haven't seen posted re: Andrews is a reasonable expectation of a timeframe for an experienced MT to complete their program. What has been everybody's experience thus far?

I realize we all have different home situations and some are pulled in more directions than others. I work full-time. Kids are no longer underfoot. Not caring for parents as they are deceased already. No yard to tend.

I've found myself cornered into an untenable situation and need to get out of this sinking ship sooner rather than later. (Yes, it even happens to those still working in-house.) Epic is only about 15% implemented and already we've found ourselves with huge targets on our backs.

Escape From MT

Time to complete - Another escapee

[ In Reply To ..]
Being an experienced MT will not help you complete the coding program any faster, that is just my opinion. I attended a different school but tried to spend 2-3 hours every day working on coding and finished my course in a year. I set goals or I never would have finished in time, I worked 40 hours a week. I'm not sure, but your instructors may have time frames in regard to when you need to have your assignments finished. I'm in a working environment where Epic changed things for coders as well as MTs. As an MT, I would have still had a job in the Epic system but my employer outsourced it all, which would have happened anyway. Under Epic, we're using a lot more computer assisted coding where codes are automatically assigned, but it's ambulatory care.

I have to ask you...are you doing coding because it is something you want to do, or because someone told you that knowing how to code and attending Andrews would guarantee you a job?

Depends on you - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it depends on you. They are set up with minimum increments of one week, but you can go faster.

Yes, your MT background will help. If you have seen non-MTs floundering in coding classes, you will understand why I said that. Reading ability is important, too, and most MTs are bright and read very well. Now, once you are studying coding, you might not believe it, but it is true.

Also, you need to realize something about coding courses. They are not equal. You might look at the AAPC course and think it is faster because it only lasts, say, 3-6 months compared to Andrews year. Or another that says you have 9 months to complete it. What you don't realize at this point is that the 3-month course contains only 1/4 of the material -- the bare minimum. The 9-month course contains less, too, maybe 3/4, maybe more, and what they don't tell you is that nobody ever finishes in 9 months and they make their money on extensions.

Andrews is longer because it teaches outpatient coding first. Then, later, they go back and do it all over for inpatient coding. Other schools teach a one size fits all hodgepodge to save time and overhead.

Here is something else. The AAPC course prepares you for the CPC exam in 3 or 6 months. Andrews teaches the same stuff in the same time, basically. You can take the CPC exam when you have done that work. You don't need to be finished with the whole course.

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