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

Just signed on to a great coding school today - start on Monday - anon

Posted: Mar 28, 2014

I'm one of those that had a high enough test score to get into MModal's program but didn't quite make it. I had already been looking at one of the Coding schools but wanted to give myself a week or so to think it over and not make a knee jerk move after being passed over by MModal. Today, I picked up the phone and signed on with the school I've had my eye on and I start on Monday! I'm actually reeeeally excited - and surprisingly I'm actually feeling blessed that I didn't get into the MModal program because my main goal for this year has been to cut my ties with this company once and for all. An acceptance into their program would've tied me to them for 2 whole years more and after 16 years with them, I'm super ready to move on. This way, I can get my certification and experience INDEPENDENT of MModal and work my way back into "normalcy" outside of the madness.

Before calling the school I did tons of research, and looked up job opportunities here in my little town and I was surprised how many there were. The 3 biggest hospitals, a Behavioral Treatment facility, a smaller clinic who all wanted 2 yrs experience, but there was a multi-specialty office that advertised for entry level so at least I know they're out there.

I think this is exactly the step I needed to get out of transcription, to learn something new and challenging, and contribute to healthcare in a whole new way. I feel super confident in the school I chose and I feel great about this path. So, here's to a whole new journey!

Good for you! All the best to you! nm - Laurie G.

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no msg

Congrats and good luck, anon. I am in the same - position as you and going

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through with the same plan. I was half signed up when the MM announcement came out and I held off and tested to see what would happen. There was a nagging feeling that I should just go ahead with the training on my own for the same reasons you mentioned.

I went ahead and completed my sign up and start in a few weeks. I was able to test out of A&P and the test was much more indepth than MModal's, so that was a good feeling.

I'm so glad you're going forward with it too! - anon

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It's such an exciting change, and I think it's best that we waited a bit after the MM testing to be totally sure about the decision. As I said above, I'm actually very grateful now, that I didn't get into the MModal coding program because it would've tied me to the company for 2 more lonnnng years and I honestly don't think I could've done it. This way, you and I can make a clean break to work for anyone we want to when we're certified and also open ourselves up to so many other avenues and opportunities. When I got my rejection notice about the test I was actually devastated about not getting into the program but I see now it was kind of a blessing. Hopefully you see it that way too.

Good luck on your new journey too - I'm glad we'll be going through it together! :)

If you don't mind me asking - Twinklefingers

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Could you say what coding school you signed up with? I'm also considering this option, but after looking at several web sites, I still don't have a clue who I would possibly go with. Thanks for the input, and good luck to all of you.

Thanks, everyone for the encouragement! :) - anon

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No, I don't mind saying ... I wasn't sure if we were allowed to mention names here. I decided on The Andrews School. I did tons of research on a handful of schools before making my decision, read all the student reviews and Linda Andrews' school by far seemed the closest to what I was looking for. The training is *super* intensive - their MAIN GOAL is to get their students employment and certification-ready, so they give lots of tips and advice to incoming students about study and success strategies, etc. It's a year-long program, the cost was reasonable and they offer flexible payment plans, and the conversations I've had with Linda and her staff on the phone totally sealed the deal for me. All around, it was a perfect match for what I was looking for.

To all of you who responded, thank you SO MUCH for the encouragement - it means a lot to me. I know this is going to be a tough journey but I'm totally up for it and excited for the challenge. :)

Good Luck! - Andrews grad

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Andrews was a perfect match for me as well. You're right about the *super* intensive training, but it is so worth it in the end. I passed the CPC while I was still in the program and passed the CCS soon after I graduated. Happy studying!

Great! CPC and CCS! Did you land a position yet? - Grad Too and Still Looking

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I have applied at several local hospitals as well as other coding companies with no offers. Graduated a couple months ago. Dont have the CCS yet.

Yes. I am working as an inpatient coder. - nm

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:)

My suggestion - Been doing this a long time

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I just spent a half hour writing a detailed explanation, but lost it. I'll summarize it, but first I'll say that you get what you pay for, there are no shortcuts, and if you don't make a good decision you are going to be back here in a couple months complaining that the cheaper, faster option that you thought was so great because it let you skip A&P, didn't have instructors to make demands on you, was online so you didn't have to buy books, or had fabulous videos, is frustrating because you just found out you can't qualify for an AHIMA exam, has no instructors and you can't figure out why the software keeps marking you wrong, is online screen after screen and you don't have books, or your books have no answers, or you just found out the vids only teach outpatient and you will have to take everything again to learn inpatient. Oh, and at the rate you are going, you'll end up paying so much for extensions that you would have saved money by choosing the expensive school to begin with. And you just found out you can't get a refund because they are (surprise!) registered in a foreign country.

The summary is this...you want what Andrews teaches, the way they teach it. That isn't saying you have to choose them. Look on their website and see the courses they teach, noting that they teach both inpatient and outpatient, with instructors who are working coders, using reputable, industry-standard textbooks, and graduates qualify for the CCS and CPC, and are having success finding remote coding jobs.

You also must be sure the school is licensed by a state government of the United States, that they are bound by that license to provide refunds under certain circumstances, and that they have been in operation long enough that graduate complaints to that state would have shown up.

It does not matter much if the school is a member of the BBB, or claims to be "accredited" by anybody, or if it has approval from AHIMA.

All of those reasons were exactly why I chose it! - anon

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Very nice post, and summarizes exactly why I chose the Andrews school. I didn't care about "accreditation" because I've read here too many times that what matters most isn't accreditation, but *certification* and you want to choose a school that can get you there. Not the fastest, not the cheapest, but the one that *teaches* and really makes sure you understand everything before moving on. That takes time, so I'm glad this program isn't rushed ... and it's worth every penny of the added cost to me because my goal isn't to make a mad dash through the material - it's to learn it well enough to pass the exam and to feel confident going out into the work place. I don't see how that can ever be accomplished in a 3-month program, or one that I pay half-price for - I'm going into this like it's an investment in my future.

Good, because it IS an investment in - your future.

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You made a good choice. You have the right motivation, too.

You are looking to learn the material so you can hit the ground running. Andrews has a long history of preparing students to do that, and they do it so well that employers often don't believe the new grad is a new grad.

"all of those reasons... - catherine

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Wow...you just made me feel a lot better. Those were all the reasons I chose Andrews too..well that...and LInda (the director/owner) has been in business since before there was dirt...that says a lot...and she talked to me on the phone like I was the only person she had to talk to today. Yep...I was convinced and my check is in the mail to get started this week too.

I absolutely love that ... - anon

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Totally agreed that Linda relates to her incoming students like they're friends, not students. She and her staff said soooo many times, ask questions. Lots of them. And when you think you don't have any more questions, ask even more ... just whatever you do, don't give up.

They really encourage communication from the new students and I love that, it makes you feel more part of a team, and not that you're going into this as a lone wolf.

I'm so glad you chose the Andrews School too! It looks like there are a few of us starting all at once - it will be nice to have the added support from each other!

You can be the "M&Ms Gang" if you are - all from M*Modal

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Good luck to you all. Not that you will need luck, exactly. If you apply yourself, you will do well.

Suggestion ... juggling a job and school is not easy. You need to schedule your study time as if it is a second job, then sit down and do it just as you would asecond job.

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