A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

I'm getting ready to enroll in a coding program, but wanted to get some opinions - on programs.

Posted: Mar 07, 2012

I'm looking at the AHIMA program, but they don't offer any kind of payment programs other than buying the clusters separately. I can't afford to buy all four clusters at once and don't think I can afford to do a cluster at a time plus purchase books. Plus books are included in the tuition.

Andrews wants $1000 down payment which I just can't do.

I looked at Career Step and they have a 12-month payment plan with about a $500 down payment that I could definitely swing, but I'm not sure if it is a good program.

Finally, I'm looking at my local community college program. With this program, I can pretty pay for everything with federal financial aid and grants. But I will have to physically drive into the city, 80 miles round trip, every day for classes. I work evenings, so attending classes during the day wouldn't interfere with work, but with gas prices the way they are, I just don't know.

So what does everyone suggest I do?

Read below. ALL is discussed already. (nm) - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
x

You are focusing on the wrong thing ... money. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, you need to read the posts already here. Someone asks that same question about every week. We have discussed it below. Lots of information.

The first mistake you are making is in assuming that the main thing is cost and that you cannot deal with a down payment. You think Andrews, which has no additional expenses whatsoever is unreasonable, yet you will happily incur loan debt and travel expenses of about 20/day x 3 days/week or 60/week or 240/month. At a minimum, not including food while at school.

You are working, but you think attending in-person classes an average of 14 hours a week plus about 4 to 5 hours of driving will be feasible AND still give you time to study and complete numerous busywork assignments of about 14 to 20 hours per week.

Are you sure the classes are in-person? Most, if not all, now use online delivery, but may require local students to be present in class AND do the online modules. Can you see the time adding up? Maybe you plan to drag it out for 2 or 3 years. If so, will you run afoul of the ICD 10 implementation date? That may affect your ability to get certified and get a job. You need to finish sooner raher than later.

Did you consider instructors? Two programs you mention have none. Zip. Nada. One may have them, but they might not be qualified or might be no more than online monitors. Does that bother you? It explains why some are cheap.

Did you really total up costs? If you think you did, I think you missed some. The cost of 3 of the programs, if you know what I know, works out to be much the same, even though 2 of them have no instructors. You would pay more attention to cost when buying groceries than you are to a career.

Did you consider quality? One program uses homemade materials widely known to be full of typos and errors and just generally unclear writing. You have to pay extra for copies or print them screen by screen. Online materials are produced by college book publishers and can be horrid. You usually have to print those yourself, too, and it is not cheap.

And then there is certification. Three programs only teach to the CCA. Can you get a job with that? The pass rate on that is very low. It was developed because students in those programs could not pass the regular credentialing exams and now they cannot pass the CCA with any better success. But, one of those programs is better because you can get loans? How do you plan on paying back those loans if you are unemployed?

I do not mean to insult you but to help you see things more realistically. It is difficult to figure out the true cost and benefit because the schools hide behind screens of hype and nonsense or academic blather.

I recommend that you prepare a chart to compare all 4 programs. Make sure you include books, extra materials, tuition, fees, fees for "extensions" and having to take courses over because you could not finish, having to hire tutors, fees to take tests a a testing center, student health insurance and parking, library fees, gas and car expenses, and even expenses for assignment costs like extra books, report covers, video rentals, microcasette recorders, binders, lab paper and equipment, and flashdrives. You might even have to fund a business suit and a professional photograph of yourself. (I know someone who did.) Be sure to include an estimate for lost income while you sit in class and drive in your car, and also for estimated lost income when your progress is delayed by cancelled classes or schedule conflicts or by computer glitches that kept you from registering until after the classesyou wanted had filled.

You may find that one school is not nearly as pricey as you think when all is said and done. The down payment may look much more reasonable.

Quality should be your first concern, not economy. There are several options. Just make sure you make an informed decision.

Amazing that you spent time writing that rather long - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
reply and actually had nothing informative to say.

Which programs have no instructors? Which programs offer only the CCA? Which programs use homemade materials?

I posted here precisely because this is a board where you are encouraged to do so. I also knew that others had probably considered the same schools I was considering and, silly me, I thought in the spirit of camaraderie, others would share their research. I would happily share mine if I had completed my research; however, I was actually using this particular board as part of my research.

Finally, I never said that Andrews was "unreasonable." I said I couldn't do a $1000 to $1500 down payment. This is because I am a single mom and have kids to feed and a household to run. So forking out $1000 all at once is just not something I can do. And to answer your next question, I have terrible credit thanks to my ex and so I have no credit cards. The only financial options available to me are federal financial aid and tuition reimbursement through my current employer.

And to clarify for you, as you seem to need much clarification or you will put words in my mouth, tuition reimbursement means I am reimbursed after I finish a semester. REIMBURSED - meaning I have to pay out of my pocket and then get reimbursed which brings me back to needing to feed and clothe those pesky kids of mine.

So since I found absolutely nothing of value on this site, I will make the phone calls and will take your advice and make a chart. And when I am through, I will make sure to come back to this board and be as completely vague as I can possibly be to the next person in my shoes, just as you were to me.

Next time, do us all a favor, and just go away, if all you can be a condescending blankety blank.

Thanks for all your "help."

Recommendation - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
An appropriate response would have been "Thank you for taking time to write such a lengthy answer. I can see that I have some research to do. The points you noted helped me see what to look for."

That post was written that way to help you see what questions to ask in your research. Every one of them has been answered below, some of them repeatedly. Some peple here responded by telling you to read below. That was what you might have done BEFORE asking your question.

You also do not need to call the schools. The information is on their websites or below, and it was pointed out that some schools aren't very forthcoming.

You sound like the kind of person who does not initiate research on her own. That suggests that you would not like coding very much. If you expect everything to be handed to you on platter, it is probably a good thing you can't see how to raise a down payment, because with your attitude your best chance of finishing a program would be in one that has no instructors.

Good coder = reader, researcher - skillz

[ In Reply To ..]
There will be MTs who are not cut out for this job. Different skill set.

Let me see if I can make this very clear for you. - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
I want to hear from people who are currently enrolled in one of these programs or who have completed one of those programs so that they can give an accurate and honest opinion as to whether they feel they got their money's worth.

I have already done all the research suggested. I have read all the posts before. I have talked to each school's representative. What I want to know is as a coding student or actual coder, are you or were you enrolled in one of those programs and if so what is your opinion.

Is that clear enough? I don't need my hand held or someone to patronize me. I want opinions from current or former students. GET IT?!?!

I did Andrews - CCS, CPC

[ In Reply To ..]
As you can see from my credentials, it was absolutely worth it. I've posted that below, but you might not have seen it. There is discussion on the payment plan and some suggestions on raising the down payment.

One thing I liked about it was the very professional way everyone there interacts. They have high standards for themselves and expect the same from students. Professional communication, polite interactions, and achievement at levels you will be expected to meet in the workplace.

They also do have a way to lower the downpayment - Another From Andrews

[ In Reply To ..]
Occasionally they have what they call 'gently-used' books available that have been returned when someone had to drop. If you're lucky and they have those available when you enroll, you can save a significant amount of that $1,000. You can also go on a waiting list for them I think. I'm not sure about that. It's worth trying if coming up with the downpayment is a reach. Good luck with your research and decision.

Personally I'm glad people are vague rather than all-out insulting - My opinion

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it's better to point out some things people need to watch for and let them do their homework themselves, without calling out by name courses or schools that are inferior or awful. We all need to do our own homework. If you do, with information in various places on this board, you may learn more than you thought you would. It's good practice during research.

One last thing, talking directly to the school will get - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
a person nowhere because the schools are trying to recruit you. What I wanted to find out here is if anyone has taken these programs I listed and what their experience was with the program. i.e. Did they feel they go their money's worth?

I can make a chart comparing all the schools, but all that gets me is a list of tution and books. It doesn't tell me anything specific about the actually program and learning curve.

Again, thanks for all your "help."

We told you to read below because ... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
People have already provided the opinions you are looking for. Some of those people have a very good view of the industry which you would not find elsewhere.

Thank you. I take a closer look at the posts below. - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
On first look, I did not see any former or current students, but I will look again.

See posts on 3/1 "I am a CS grad" - In this forum

[ In Reply To ..]
There are opinions from a few people. You won't see more than a few because unsuccessful students drop out or can't pass a cert exam, can't get a job and quit. Few will say anything negative about AHIMA programs unless they dropped out and you will only see that second hand. You can get a good idea of what is going on by googling "pass rate on CCS," and CCA or RHIT, all of which are very low and also considering that those programs say they prepare students for the CCA exam and they think 3 years of experience are required to learn enough to pass the CCS. If you were an employer looking for a CCS would you take a CCA or one of the 40% who could not pass even that? A couple people here has described online classes in those programs. You just have to look for them.

That post you did not like gave you a wealth of information. Not many people are willing to stick their neck out to provide that kind of info once much less repeatedly. You need to consider that they did you a huge service by posting that. You also need to READ BETWEEN THE LINES to pick up what they are telling you.

Ask yourself why nobody is around to say anything positive from a program and why someone would be reluctant to say anything negative. Some programs go after people who tell the truth about their scams. Some programs appear to have no happy graduates.

Agree with you, but some aren't really scams---just poor courses - On Why We Say And Dont Say

[ In Reply To ..]
There are reasons why people don't want to say things very clearly, like

School A is the best
School B is awful

Some of the really poor schools aren't scams. Take community colleges, for example. Often they are inadequate, but they aren't scams. They just don't teach enough. They are more like an introduction to coding. Unfortunately, graduates don't realize they are just getting an introduction or overview until they graduate and it's too late. They don't want to start all over from scratch in a comprehensive program, so enrolling in that incomplete or inadequate program hurt them rather than helped them, even though it wasn't a scam, just a poor course/program.

Usually it's a matter of a school being known for not having any instructors or books and doesn't know or care about the students vs. a school that has excellent instruction, books, qualified instructors, and cares about the students.

We hear complaints that one organization has a course that prepares students for the CCA (which employers don't really want because they are looking for CCS and sometimes CPC). The complaints are that you can't get help (or even get in contact with) an instructor.

Another course prepares students for the CPC, which is fine, but limits you since many jobs require the CCS also or instead of the CPC, but the main problem is, the instructors aren't qualified, or if they are, nobody can tell because they won't say.

That's why some of the information is vague.

Might be some scams out there - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Communty colleges aren't scams, but I think there are some which are or certainly appear to come close. Schools that advertise they prepare students for a nationally recognized credential, changing the word forms or spelling slightly (like "Certified Professional Coding" or "Certified Physician Coder" instead of "Certified Professional Coder"), make a big deal of being an approved member and giving it on site, and turn out to be giving an exam that is neither an AAPC nor an AHIMA exam do appear to have . . . made an error in spelling in the name of that credential. Sure, you can say that the credential they do offer IS a credential, but it isn't the credential prospective students think it is. After spending huge sums of money, those students will be qualified to take copayments and answer phones in doctors' offices. Sure, you can say they got a job and that was the whole point, but it is not the job that they thought they were learning.

You really should read the main board before embarking on this, Fellow Traveler - has a link with info, pasted part inside, sm

[ In Reply To ..]
"The opportunities within complex health care ecosystems are in things as mundane as billing. "There's a half a person per hospital bed on average that sits in the hospital doing coding and collections and trying to get paid," Kocher says.

Their solution? Drop the manual coding and create "a software system that learns as it codes and keeps getting better and better. And all of a sudden you can say to the hospital, Look, we'll charge you 50 or 70 percent of what you're paying now. You guys save 30 percent. But by the way, we can make great margins and make a terrific business because our costs are so much lower, because we've actually used technology rather than just people to attack the problem," Roberts gushes."

Coding will also be going by the wayside. I wouldn't waste my time and money on something that will eventually be replaced by a software program.

Then there is the 'rest of the story' as they say - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I witnessed it when they tried that previously. It was a nightmare for the hospitals who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars (for a small hospital) and more for larger ones -- millions of dollars! They lost it because they tried to automate coding. The coders did very well because they had to clean up the mess while it was happening and after the fact.

Sure they will try it again. They will try anything to save money. The problem is, they don't use common sense. It will end up costing them again and again and again.

Since things are even more complicated now than ever, it will take credentialed coders who do have common sense to help put Humpty-Dumpty back together again after some of the greedy medical administrators push him off the wall.

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