A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
Career help - laramielady
Posted: Jul 13, 2012
I am a 47-year-old woman with a BS degree in management who has always wanted to work in the medical field. I began a training program for transcription but have since learned that field isn't promising at this point. I am analytical and have worked in accounting-type positions for many years, and I think I would enjoy coding.
From the perspective of someone with experience in the coding field, would you recommend coding as a career or would you suggest possibly RHIA? I would appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you!
coding is tough - sm
[ In Reply To ..]to break in to, especially with no medical background. There is a real catch-22, much the same as transcription. Most jobs require 2-3 years coding experience before they will even talk to you. But, getting those two years is hard. HOWEVER, with the advent of ICD-10, the playing field may be leveled as seasoned coders may choose to retire. If you are educated in ICD-9 and 10 at that time, there may be a need for "new" coders. That's what I'm counting on.
I wouldn't go into coding if I were you - sm
[ In Reply To ..]You have no healthcare background, and almost all the coding jobs require experience in coding. You would have a very difficult time finding a coding job. Maybe you could find one in a doctor's office or something, but the pay isn't good. With your background, I would go into healthcare management.
Of course you wouldn't - sm
[ In Reply To ..]If you have had bad personal experience, of course you wouldn't advise someone else to go that direction. I don't understand why you are pushing the healthcare management though, because common sense is, there are fewer healthcare management jobs to be had than coding jobs. It sounds if you may have been burned, you're angry, and you don't want anyone else to succeed where you have failed.
It seems like there's a person who comes on here every few weeks anti-coding, then goes a way a week or so and then comes back with more negativism about medical coding. It isn't credible.
Depends - On
[ In Reply To ..]Depends on what you want to do. Coding is a good career. Give it a try and if you love it, good. If you love it but want to go further in it, you can do that too. If not, you can go from there into management within the medical field, or any of the other areas that coding can lead to.
Thank you - laramielady
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you all for your help!
I recommend it, but not for everyone - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Coding is not like accounting. The numbers are part of a medical encoding system that is based on an organization of conditions or procedures. No mathematical operations are performed or can be performed on these numbers. You cannot add a tonsillectomy and a hernia repair to get a heart transplant.
Complex decision-making is required to code, with the exception of some office positions that might just involve copying numbers from a charge ticket to a bill. Those do not pay very well. Everything else requires a high degree of medical knowledge, not just med terms, the ability to combine and analyze information, identify what is missing, and comprehend complex and constantly changing Medicare regulation, federal law, insurer policies, etc.
You will also need to be certified in order to work. The pass rate on those exams is low.
If you want something less technically challenging in that you do not have to DO coding but just know about it, the RHIA would be fine. If your bachelor's is from an accredited school, not a diploma mill, there are certificate programs you can complete to qualify for the RHIA.
You have been asking the same question monthly, it seems. Shortly after, you seem to come back asking about some diploma mill program. I hope that is an oversight on your part, not an advertising ploy.
If you cannot remember posting the questions or the answers we provided, you would not do well in coding or as an RHIA. Not trying to be mean, but you asked for advice. If you have memory loss, nothing in healthcare would be an appropriate choice.
You might want to finish the transcription program first. What you are learning there is helpful no matter what you choose.
Confused - laramielady
[ In Reply To ..]I honestly do not understand why my question about a career in coding vs. RHIA would get this response.
Yes, I have asked about transcription in the past. I decided against that career and decided to ask about coding and RHIA. I chose to ask these questions here because I was hoping for honest answers from actual workers. I don't want to rely on answers from the school representatives that have a financial stake in my decision. I have no relationship with any school or program, nor did I ask for recommendations along those lines. I was merely asking for opinions on the actual career paths.
laramielady - ignore
[ In Reply To ..]Ignore the accusatory/crazy parts of that post. Feel free to ask more anytime. Whoever this person is, they have great knowledge, but also have a quirky knack of making the person asking the question feel like a criminal. This person thinks everyone has an ulterior motive. The parts about what coding is are true. Go explore what is in the HIM field. Check out what coding is. Go to AHIMA site and check out the HIM credentials. I went from transcription to coding at age 53. If you don't have medical background, you can still begin to learn it. Just begin and if you want it, you will find your way.
thank you - laramielady
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you for your suggestions and encouragement. I've done quite a bit of research and am looking forward to a career in the medical field. I am 47 and I really want to make the best decision that I can. I have read as much information as I can find and wanted to ask actual employees here their opinions because I have always believed that the workers are the experts in a field.
Again, I appreciate your help and encouragement.
How do you know SHE is the one posting the same questions??? - cantbelieveyourrudness
[ In Reply To ..]You are rude and accusatory. How do you know she keeps posting the same questions? There are lots of new people who frequent these boards in hopes to find answers. In this day and time we live in we are ALL looking to better ourselves and open up a career which we can grow and become successful. I just love people such as yourself who accuse people people just for the sake of being hateful and mean. What does it matter to you anyway? If she asked the same question, you don't have to answer. Why don't you leave that up to someone else who might want to help instead of being hateful and sarcastic about it. Why waste your time in answering if it burns you so bad that someone may or may not have asked the same question? Geesh
She does use the same name - Sm
[ In Reply To ..]I did notice that the question she asks here has been answered several times already on this board. Big discussion on the main board, too.
how about tumor registry/cancer registry? - RitaJ
[ In Reply To ..]since you have the accounting background and want more medical education? Seems to me that would involve number and data crunching, and also make you more money. Does anyone here agree/verify this?
good suggestion - laramielady
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you for the suggestion. I will definitely look into that!
Tumor registry is no more like accounting than coding - It is coding
[ In Reply To ..]No, I do not agree with that. Tumor registry is not "accounting with medical knowledge." It has no more to do with numbers than coding.
It is basically coding for the unique needs of tumor registries. You use the same code sets plus some additional ones. You enter patients into registries and track them. You produce reports periodically. You handle meetings of tumor boards, setting them up, taking minutes, etc.
You now need to attend an accredited program, so see the AHIMA website and the website of the national cancer registrars association.
Some coders prefer it because it is usually less stressful. It has more interpersonal interaction, especially with cancer patients. You have to ask them questions about their disease. It requires good interpersonal skills (better than coding) and the ability to speak with very ill people in a compassionate manner. It requires the ability to interact with oncologists and surgeons. Very high professionalism, in other words.
In terms of technical skills, the coding is about the same level of complexity as outpatient coding and less than inpatient. Knowledge of the medical record and basic sciences is about the same. You have to find information in the record, but do not have to understand quite as much. There are coders who do not do any reports or spreadsheets, but for those who do, it is on a par with tumor registry. The writing requirement is higher for tumor registrar.
Check the pay. It is in the coding ballpark, I believe, but it seems to max out sooner. Coders can go on to higher positions in compliance and auditing, supervision and management, but tumor registrars seem to stay were they are. There are far fewer jobs for them and I have never heard of an off-site one.
It might be something you would like. Or maybe not.
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