Good description of "coding" . . . - Very Complete

Found this at www usajobs gov.   It is a very good description of what coding is.  You can see how challenging the duties are. 

The salary ranges are good, too.   It's a VA position, where coders are GS 6/7/8.  Upward promotion requires a year as a 6, a year as a 7, then you're an 8 if you learn what you should at each level.   They also have positions at the 9/11 and higher levels associated with or supervising coding.  A performance board assigns the grade, so an experienced coder might start at a 7 or an 8, not necessarily the bottom.

If you are interested, it closes on 10/3/2012.  Application is entirely online, so you could do it in time.  The job number is NY-12-AJM-750917.  It is at a particularly nice VA and it might be possible to work from home soon.  Nobody ever leaves jobs like this, except when they are promoted, so pounce on it while you can!   The pay might make it worth relocating to this very nice area of the country--right on the water next to the Gulf Beaches in St. Petersburg.  This facility is a many-times-over award-winner.  Really nice.

The Medical Records Technician (Coder) is responsible for performing a quality review of patient care documents and assigning codes specific for the type of care provided. Assigns codes to documented patient care encounters (inpatient and outpatient) covering the full range of health care services provided by the healthcare system. Patient encounters are often complicated and complex requiring extensive coding expertise. Applies advanced knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy & physiology, disease processes, treatment modalities, diagnostic tests, medications, procedures as well as the principles and practices of health services and the organizational structure to ensure proper code selection. Selects and assigns codes from the current version of several coding systems to include the International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and HCPCS. Adheres to accepted coding practices, guidelines and conventions when choosing the most appropriate diagnosis, operation, procedure, ancillary, or Evaluation and Management code to ensure ethical, accurate, and complete coding. Also applies codes based on guidelines specific to certain diagnoses, procedures, and other criteria (in inpatient and outpatient settings) used to classify patients under the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) program that categorizes all VA patients into specific classes representing their clinical conditions and resource needs. Monitors ever-changing regulatory and policy requirements affecting coded information for the full spectrum of services provided by the healthcare system. Timely compliance with coding changes is crucial to the accuracy of the facility database as well as all cost recovery programs.

Medical Record Technician Coding Positions, GS-6 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

     1.  Ability to apply knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy/pathophysiology, and disease processes to fully understand the content of a patient record; 

     2.  Ability to navigate efficiently through the paper and electronic medical record to find needed information;

      3.  Skill in interpreting and adapting health information guidelines that are not completely applicable to the work or have gaps in specificity and ability to use judgment in completing assignments with incomplete or inadequate guidelines;

GS-7 

Medical Record Technician Coding Positions, GS-7  Medical coding assignments at this grade level represent the advanced developmental level leading to the full performance level.  It is expected that the medical coder will do more than validate code assignments made by clinical staff, but will have the skill to make independent judgment in selection of codes based on medical documentation and personal coding knowledge and skill.  Reviewing codes selected by physicians/ health care providers or reviewing entries on an encounter form or superbill is not considered comprehensive coding and, without the demonstration of additional skills, is not acceptable to achieve this level.  Since coding rules are specific to individual classification systems, knowledge of coding systems other than the one utilized in the position for which the individual is being boarded does not automatically meet the requirements of the position.  Generally, to receive credit for experience, the coder should have performed the type of coding specified as a significant portion of duties on a regular and recurring basis, and provide evidence of the core competencies identified.

Medical Record Technician (Medical Coder) Positions, GS-8.  This is considered to be the full performance level for this assignment.  Certification at this grade level is highly desired.  In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. You will be evaluated against the following selective factors. Please include the following KSA’s in your resume: 

1. Ability to analyze the medical record to identify all pertinent diagnoses and procedures for coding, and to evaluate the adequacy of the documentation.  This includes the ability to read and understand the content of the medical record, the terminology, the significance of the comments, and the disease process/pathophysiology of the patient.

2. Skill in reviewing medical record documentation and assigning current versions of the classification systems required in the current position, such as ICD and CPT.

3. Knowledge of the full scope of coding and abstracting including inpatient discharges, surgical cases, diagnostic studies and procedures, outpatient encounters, and inpatient professional fees for a highly diversified range of specialties and subspecialties, such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, cardiology, gastroenterology, plastic surgery, spinal cord injury,  blind rehabilitation, anesthesia, acute and long term psychiatry including addiction treatment, hospice, ambulatory surgery, and other types of care.