A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
Having second thoughts on coding..... - rutabaga37
Posted: Aug 12, 2014
Up until 2 years ago, I was a medical transcription is for 6.5 years. I was only p/t & kept losing jobs so I had to find another p/t job to supplement my income. The second job paid well & seemed like it could actually go somewhere so I quit transcription. Well, the second employer then ended up with serious financial problems. There is now no real chance for me to get a f/t position here in the near future. I looked at my options & thought coding made sense, but now it seems like it may be almost impossible to find a job as a new coder. I just started school. I just see so much negative that I'm now worried I made the wrong choice. Any advice or thoughts on this are appreciated.
I know how you feel. - Still searching
[ In Reply To ..]I think some of it depends on where you live. I have been out of school since 2013. I have applied to a few jobs, but I am not certified yet, which I am going to be taking the CPC exam soon. But, it seems, as I have contacted several facilities, that even when I am certified, they still want on-the-job experience of at least 2 years. I won't give up that easily though. There still HAS to be someone who will at least let me test and see that I can handle the job. Go after what you want and I think a lot of it depends on how determined you are. We may have to start out in something else at the facility just to get our foot in the door and then go from there. If coding is what you want to do, then go for it. Don't let someone else's experience be your experience. I am sure trying not to. :)
Where are you going to school - ac
[ In Reply To ..]It makes a huge difference. Andrews is the best because they can help with a remote job and you can obtain your CCS right out of school. Youre not going to find entry level much on job boards, the school and networking are how you'll do it. Try to hire on with a MTSO now that does both coding and MT, like Precyse or MModal, then maybe transfer to coding when your done with school.
School - rutabaga37
[ In Reply To ..]I'm going to Codesmart University. It's a newer school endorsed by the State University of New York so I figured it must be a legit school.
Never heard of the "ACQA" before. - sm
[ In Reply To ..]The organization they say you will be eligible to certify with appears to have not paid their server bill for 3 months, lol. Perhaps they flew away in the night ...
I had not heard of the ACQA before, and I doubt if employers have, either.
Just so you know, you will need to pass an AAPC or AHIMA certification exam when you finish. Preferably both.
Are you learning only ICD-10???
Something to understand - about employers
[ In Reply To ..]Employers are unlikely to tell you that they might hire anyon without certification or experience. They won't because you could use that against them later.
They need to have a valid reason to decline applicants whom they do not feel they can hire. They would prefer certs and experience. Requiring it enables them to decline uncertified, inexperienced applicants for a valid reason. The minute they admit that they would hire you without either, and you apply and are not hired, you can then claim discrimination because you met the qualifications.
Also, if you complete a course, you should be able to certify immediately. Employers know that. They also absolutely need for you to be certified, not to prove to them that you can do the job, but to prove to CMS that they made an effort to assure that their employees were qualified. If someone does not certify, employers assume that they tried and failed or that they knew they would not pass or just feared taking the test.
All 3 scenarios are very bad because they are associated with problems on the job. In a field that is so dependent upon accuracy, issues with test-taking are bad signs.
Hence, if you approach a facility saying you graduated 8 to 19 months prior yet are still uncertified, they are almost certainly going to roll out the experience requirement.
Experience isn't as much related to "getting experience" as it is to getting another employer to assume the risk of a first-time hire, especially if it appears there might be competency issues.
I am not trying to be critical. I don't know your reasons for delaying. But, if I were you, I would not discuss this with employers at all. Don't go raising red flags.
very good post - n/m
[ In Reply To ..]x
We just hired an inexperienced coder. - Coder
[ In Reply To ..]We just hired an inexperienced coder. Every coder working today was once an inexperienced coder.
No matter what field you go into, you will have to overcome the "no experience" thing, believe it or not.
The above poster was correct . . .. you have to be determined, work on your appearance and presentation if need be, and do whatever you can to GET some experience, even if it is volunteering or working in a small office for a while. You will also probably need to work on-site for a while.
If you are attending a good school, you should not have anything to worry about. There will be a push to hire more coders next spring and summer, so get on the stick! Finish your course as soon as you can and take your certification exam(s).
It can be very helpful to have a job in or around coding so that your employer wants to promote you to coder. My advice is to start looking for a job like that NOW. Don't wait until you finish school and "are ready."
Coding DOES make sense. It made sense for me and the 40+ coders where I work. Where would we be if we listened to the negative blabber on this board??
You need to make your own decisions, not soak up those of anonymous online entities. Some of these people have been here for the last several years, moaning and whining, trying to suck everyone else into their unhappy sphere. They don't want you to succeed because they couldn't. As much as we might feel sorry for them, we don't have to be like them.
If you're going to be a sheep, follow the flock that has some accomplishments and positivity, not the chronic malcontent.
Thank You! - rutabaga37
[ In Reply To ..]Both of these replies are exactly what I needed to hear. I was thinking it might be better to get into a job in the medical field now rather than later. I really enjoyed transcription and truly miss it. I know I'll enjoy coding once I become more familiar and confident with my skills. Persistence is always key. I very much appreciate the positive feedback! I now know where my focus needs to be : )
Go for it! - Coder
[ In Reply To ..]If you liked MT, I doubt if the typing was the attraction. I'll bet you liked it because what you heard was interesting and you could learn from it.
Coding is nice because you get to hear (read, actually) the same stuff, learn even more, and you won't have to type it all or ruin your hearing.
Yes, you will enjoy coding more once it "clicks" for you. It's kind of annoying at first, but it gets better. It really isn't all that difficult once you get the hang of it. Once you start working, it will take about 2 years to get secure in your knowledge, then you'll be fine.
Be aware that coding on the job is not the tedious student thing at all. It'll become second nature.
You know how when you learned to type you spent all that time doing asdfg;lkjh and aqaz aqaz ;p;/ ;p;/? How many times have you done that since? Not a lot. Why? Because you only did that to learn to type. Actual keyboarding on the job is completely different. Your fingers know what to do. Just as your fingers know what to do now, your brain will put all the coding together and you'll be just as good at it as you are with the keyboard.
There are always jobs for good coders. Focus on learning as much as you possibly can. Aim for being the best coder any employer has ever seen.
MT to - Coding
[ In Reply To ..]I actually transitioned from transcription to coding. I was hired as a new grad, newly certified coder when my transcription position went by the way of outsourcing. I code clinic notes which are considered entry level. I agree with the other poster that it does get easier over time. In fact, I have not even been a coder for a year and a lot of it has become second nature. You see the same diagnoses used over and over again and thus get used to the same codes. Of course with ICD-10 coming that will be something new to learn though. I really like the challenges that come with coding and the different opportunities coding offers. Good luck!
Second thoughts - RCG
[ In Reply To ..]Regarding your second thoughts about coding, in my opinion, this is normal. As an MT who transitioned to coding, I just want to let you know that I wanted to give up SO many times, but I didn't. After over 25 years as an MT, I went back to school about two years ago and it certainly wasn't easy.
Fast forward to today - I am now a coding school graduate, I passed both the CPC and CCS on my first attempts, and I have been working as a coder for about six months. I am not posting to "brag" about this, just to let you know that if I can do it, so can you! Wishing you the very best of luck!
Just read.. - ac
[ In Reply To ..]Amphion has an MT to coder program and well waive the 3 year exp. Look for programs like that or apply at Amphion.
Amphion - MTMS
[ In Reply To ..]Do you have to work for them to get in on this?
It appears so - ac
[ In Reply To ..]I would email them to find out. I just saw it on their website.
second thoughts - Cindy
[ In Reply To ..]You're the only one who can make a decision about your future. With all due respect, however, this board is very negative. Many people are getting coding jobs. If it is something you want to do, go for it!
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