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

Is AHIMAs coding course worth it? - WannaBCoder

Posted: Apr 25, 2010

I've been trying to find online courses for coding and I see AHIMA offers courses. Are these the same as offered by say, The Andrews School?

AHIMA - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm looking into the AHIMA course too. I'm definitely taking the prerequisite anatomy and physiology class. One thing to consider, if you need a student loan or grant you can't get financing because AHIMA is not considered to be an accredited school. It would also depend on what kind of training (hospital/clinic) you desire and what certification you want. AAPC offers a program geared more toward clinic coding with a different certification but then again they are not considered an accredited school for financial aid. I am also looking at enrolling in a university program (distance learning) because it is an accredited school. I can't comment on the Andrews School but I know their representatives post regularly on this board. Do your research and talk to the program directors/instructors if possible before putting down any money.

Read the fine print - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
A grant might sound good, but if you still cannot code at the end of a year to two-year program, you'll be in trouble. A lot of college courses produce graduates who cannot code well enough to work. Especially if they are online, they may use only software modules that involve little or no instructor contact and the instructors might be RHIAs, but not coders. You are basically on your own. Fail an exam and you're out. Squeak by with a 70% or 80% and you graduate with skills that don't meet employer expectations. Look at the failure rates for the CCA exam to see the level of preparation colleges achieve.

Read the fine print on the AHIMA website carefully to see what it says about instructors.

Andrews does not participate in loans or grant programs, but does offer a payment plan. Their course description is on their website; it is very similar to the AHIMA course. They provide instructor support and deliberately train to employer expectations, just as they do in MT.

Fine print - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Is there anyone out there who has done the Andrews school coding program and can recommend them? Are you a graduate of the program? So far, I've only heard from Linda Andrews and others who seem to have some stake in the company. Personally, I had never heard of the Andrews School before and I doubt if many employers have either.

To SM - an additional note - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
The college program I am considering (in addition to others) offers a CCS exam prep course at the end of the program, the instructors are indeed coders and I would have an advisor assigned to me through the university. Money doesn't grow on trees, unfortunately and I need to go where I can get help funding my education.

You've done your homework - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
That's fine, then. You've done your homework and read the fine print. You should be fine.

My college instructors (two different colleges) were not coders, and I live near a college where the instructors are not coders, and near another college where the instructor isn't a coder. Everything is graded by computer and the instructor just checks in to see that everyone writes their minimum 500 words for the weekly online discussion.

I just want to be sure you understand the need to investigate carefully. It would be unfortunate to go into debt and still be unable to get a job at the end. Now that online education is available, there are a lot of commercial college programs popping up to take advantage of grant money.

Homework - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm still working full-time as an MT and hoping to get trained for a new profession within the next year or two before my clinic converts to VR and starts dowsizing. My hope is to stay and work as an editor but no promises have been made to anyone. If there were a school in my town that had a HIM program I would attend classes on site. Commuting is not possible so I need to pursue distance learning.

School/financial aid - MT interested in coding

[ In Reply To ..]
I was wondering what college you are taking courses from? Did you pick one from the AHIMA-approved list on their site? Also, regarding financial aid, is that something you got through the college or is it something you apply for within your state?

Thanks for any info.

School/financial aid - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I e-mailed you privately, you might need to check your spam folder if it is not in your in-box.

Financial aid question as well. sm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
I filled out the FAFSA, and don't quality for federal aid or a Pell grant. Does anyone know what else is out there? The base the info on your last years taxes, not on your present situation it seems. I have taken a huge pay cut, but there is no where you can explain that on the forms. Any information about other financial assistance would be appreciated.

Financial aid - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Some states have worker retraining programs where you can receive money to train for qualifying occupations. Once you choose a school, contact their financial aid office to see if they have anything to offer. If you have a SkillSource/Work Source in your area, contact them, they are good about helping people obtain financial aid. SkillSource has free workshops that help people decide on new occupations and it is all free. If you go with a private coding program, maybe you can make special arrangements with them. Don't know if a student loan would work for you but that is also an option.

Thank you. Great information and very helpful! nm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Financial aid - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
It is too early in the morning, I should have read my message more closely before posting, lol!

financial aid - cj

[ In Reply To ..]
there is a separate form you file, like an amendment, if your situation has changed. we did it for one of our kids, and it made a huge difference.

Thank you, CJ. Would that be on the FAFSA website - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
Would I find that on the FAFSA website or would the school be the best to check for that info? Thanks a lot for that information!

financial aid - cj

[ In Reply To ..]
we got it from the financial aid officer at her school.

CJ, Thanks a ton. You are a great help! - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
I really appreciate your help. Hopefully I will be able to get something!

I didn't get an e-mail - Interested in coding

[ In Reply To ..]
Can you try again? Thanks. I'll be watching for it.

Coding . . .really? - Ex-MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Coding, really? Get real. . . medical coding is the on the verge of elimination and anarchy just as MT industry has been. I can tell you that graduates from a prominent university HAVE passed the exams with flying colors and still cannot find jobs in coding, HIT, or HIM. Why? Because the field is changing . . . to an offshore commodity. What makes you think that medical coding is so special from other "computer-related jobs" that it can't be offshored, really? ?? :-) A reality check on your part is definitely needed. And "Andrews" school . . .what kind of "school" is that? Is it not even regionally accredited or a real college or university. Think about where you are spending your money and why they are promoting the school and who is actually benefitting.

ahima - coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Check out each site's course. If you compare course outlines you will see Andrews offers the same elements. Andrews incorporates their A&P in with the coding so you are studying the A&P as you are going through the same body systems in the coding books instead of having it be a separate study first.

AHIMA - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the info. I did order the book from AHIMA but decided to enroll in another school that includes A & P in their curriculum (not Andrews).

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