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L S (Lynn Schoeler) Coding and Education - No Name

Posted: Nov 14, 2010

I know, I have posted a lot here in the last few weeks... but I need to get started. I have decided to focus on the outpatient coding.

I have thought of enrolling in Andrews, but I have been an MT for over 10 years now and I do not need the anatomy classes, etc.

I have always worked on the clinic side during my MT career. I feel in my coding career I would like to do the same, preferably for an orthopedic office. I feel that training on just this side (and having the option to go back and learn the inpatient coding at a later time) is the way to go for me. That is just my personal feeling. I know myself and I know what I want!

Therefore I am comparing different courses for which I can just do the outpatient coding course. I have it narrowed down to the AAPC's course, LS (Lynn Schoeler), or Career Step.

I have read some reviews on both the AAPC course and the Career Step course, but I have not seen anything on the LS course..... She has a great website, very informative, even has sample classes posted so you can see what an actual class is like through her program.... If I were to make a decision w/o any outside influence, regarding school reviews, reputations, etc.. I would enroll into Lynn Schoeler's program. I just wanted to give one last shout out and see if there is anyone out there in cyber land who has even heard of this school..... or if there is anyone who has actually attended!!!

Thanks so much!

Anatomy - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
You may not think you need to learn (or re-learn) anatomy but when you begin coding you will find that you do, that is why all the legitimate on line schools include it in their programs. I've been an MT a lot longer than you have and found that there was a lot I did not know. You mentioned wanting to learn only outpatient coding. Why limit yourself so much, especially only to one specialty area like ortho? There would be more job opportunities for you if you focused on more than one area. The code sets for inpatient and outpatient coding do overlap although the rules that you need to know would be different for inpatient coding. You sound pretty sure that Lynn's school is the one for you. I've never heard of it but good luck.

I have considered that a refresher course in anatomy might serve me well. You are right. - No Name

[ In Reply To ..]
I have thought about how I would be limiting myself as far as inpatient/outpatient, but I guess I feel confident that I really want to work in a clinic setting rather than a hospital and I feel I could return to school to learn inpatient at a later date.

I have been researching schools for a month now. I need to change career paths.. I need to make a decision on a school and start going with this. ARGH...There are just so many choices.

I spent months researching coding schools... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
and I never heard or saw any information about Lynn Schoeler's program. Have you talked to her on the phone about her program and what percentage of her students get certified? I ultimately ended up going to my local college for coding certificate because I wanted to pursue my bachelor's degree.
Good luck

LS - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I just looked at her web site. She offers a CPC outpatient coding course and it does include 8 weeks of terminology and anatomy. The other courses offered look like individual prep classes rather than full programs.

Another note about Lynn - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
She requires you to pay your AAPC dues and exam fee directly to her when enrolling for the course, I'd think twice about any school that made me do that. Good luck.

That sounds weird - Just sayin

[ In Reply To ..]
I wouldn't do that.

hogwash - SecondTimeCoder

[ In Reply To ..]
All certified instructors administering the AAPC course collect the money for the course up front or within the first couple of classes. That is becaue they have to pay licensing and course fees directly to AAPC and they aren't going to finance you. Think about the people who drop out and burn the instructor. Thinking twice about a school that makes you do that? Pffisshh!

To second time coder - NM - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
I know schools collect money up front for the class. What I was questioning was collecting the AAPC membership dues and CPC certification exam fees up front. Anyway, thanks for setting the record straight, I guess I have a lot to learn.

those fees are not instructor required - SecondTimeCoder

[ In Reply To ..]
they are required by AAPC. The membership fee goes with your application at the start of the course. The organization sets you up as a member so that you qualify to sit for the certification exam. The certifcation exam is proctored and requires prepayment to ensure you will be there to take it. No one else can take your exam, so there is no refund on this.

Again, I still think there is a lack of understanding when I say look at what the organization requires. It has been a while since I looked at the home study course, but I believe it is set up the say way...you need to pay the membership fee and exam fee in advance. Perhaps there is a lot of mistrust of the way MTSOs operate, but a national organization preparing coders for liveable wages will not associate with unscrupulous instructors who collect but do not submit student fees.

I believe you are mistaken. I know people who have taken that exam - They paid and took it. Period.

[ In Reply To ..]
There was no requirement that they be 'set up' by some organization. They just paid the money and took the test.

well then how can you be AAPC certified w/o - SecondTimeCoder

[ In Reply To ..]
being a member of the org? When you take/pass the test, your name/certification number goes into the AAPC database so that a potential employer can document the legitimacy of your certification. The "they" you refer to were not getting AAPC certification without becoming a member of the organization. Please do go to www.aapc.com to learn more.

You don't have to join through a school, and I wouldn't - See message

[ In Reply To ..]
You don't have to have a school to register you as a member. That's ridiculous! If you want to be a member, join. If you want to be certified through AAPC, pay your money when you are ready and take the exam. Don't expect the school to make those decisions and collect your money from you. Do it when you are ready. Take responsibility for yourself. Don't hand it over to your school to make the decision about if you are going to join and when you are going to test.

Lots of students decide not to take the test so do they lose that money? - I would not do it that way

[ In Reply To ..]
So students are forced to join and pay for the certification exam whether they want to or not. I don't think I like that very much.

then you will never be nationally certified/your choice - NM - SecondTimeCoder

[ In Reply To ..]

In my school people graduate, take the test, and get certified when they want - A better way to do it

[ In Reply To ..]
In my opinion a student is way ahead to make the decision for themselves, on their own schedule. That's the way I've seen it done. However, if someone prefers to have the school make those decisions, that's okay too. It keeps you from having to write out a separate check and some people may find it easier because they can't spend that money for something else in the meantime. Either way works.

test and course - jm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you take a coding course and they offer you an option to buy the exam at the same time, it should be a choice. AAPC does this. They have 3 options for the CPC. Go to their site and click on training, CPC. One choice includes paying for the exam at the same time. This is an OPTION. You don't have to be a member to take the course or buy the exam. If you become credentialed by them by passing the exam, you will be required to be a member. No course or instructor would require that you buy the exam when you sign up for the course.

I can't understand why someone would want to - SecondTimeCoder

[ In Reply To ..]
would to take the course, but not take the certification exam at the end. What would be the purpose of spending the time, energy and money w/o expecting to accomplish anything? Even if you could justify it as saying you will take it later, you may or may not be as clear about the information covered by waiting to take the exam. I think you are less likely to take it later than sooner. Personally, if I were a sole instructor w/o the benefit of being a formal school with a ton of students, I would so no to anyone who approached me with the idea of doing it in this fashion. I wouldn't want to waste my time on someone who wasn't committed to the expectation of becoming certified. Were I to be an employer and received a resume from someone who took the course, but never took the exam, I would throw away that resume.

Not every student finishes but they would keep the student's $ for testing anyway - Even if they dropped or failed

[ In Reply To ..]
So they get to keep the money for the test the student never takes, either because they drop out or maybe fail the course. That seems unfair to me.

test - jm

[ In Reply To ..]
I am not saying people should not take the test. Yes, that is the purpose of getting educated - so you can pass the test and become a certified coder. I am only saying the student chooses when they buy it and when they take the exam. They do not HAVE to buy it at the beginning of their course.

Don't be fooled into letting a school take your money for joining or testing a professional org - You can do that yourself when you are ready

[ In Reply To ..]
Why would you give the school your money to join a professional organization when you can join it yourself when you are ready, if you decide to do it? Also, why pay them for a certification test when you can pay for it yourself at the time you are ready to test? Keep that control for yourself. Don't give it away. There's no need.

Yes, but she does have option to not take the med term/anatomy. SM - No Name

[ In Reply To ..]
It looks like an interesting course right? I just know that coding is very difficult!!! Requires a lot of details.. lots of knowledge. etc. Because of this, I want to get the best education I can to give me the best start possible. I thought if I focused just on the outpatient then I could gain as much knowledge within that. I thought maybe individualizing the two..where I learn the outpatient, take the certification exam, get a job doing the outpatient coding, and just focus completely on the outpatient... would be the best way for me to go. Then later, if needed or desired, I could do the same for the inpatient side.

However, maybe I am better off just learning it all at once and also getting the refresher course in anatomy, etc.

I have been ready to enroll in Andrews. Before I actually did, I wanted to explore, one more time, my other options. During which time I have thought the above, just doing the outpatient program, might be the way to go.... But what do I know? lol.

Whether you need anatomy or not. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You might not need more anatomy. I think it would depend on what you've already had.

If she already knows A&P she would breeze through those tests really fast - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Needing anatomy - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
That's really subjective; coders need to know anatomy more than MTs in my opinion. Some diseases and syndromes have similar names but may affect different body systems, some anatomical names are similar but are different body structures entirely, it helps to have that background for no other reason than knowing what to reference in the coding books. Financial decisions rest on proper coding, we can never know all there is to know, anyone enrolling in a program with that approach will be surprised. If your course offers it, the review will be helpful, you can progress through it quickly and spend more time on the coding portion of the class, that is just my opinon.

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