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

When you make the move from MT to Coding - Problem Solved

Posted: Apr 11, 2015

I used to grumble, gripe, and worry about medical transcription. After I moved on to coding physically and psychologically, it's like a big heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. It's no longer a problem. I love coding! In fact, I wish I had started coding at the very beginning of my work life, but it's never too late to get started, as I finally learned. Sometimes you just have to take action to get the results you want.

MT to Coding - CB

[ In Reply To ..]
How did you go about making the change and are you coding with ICD 10 yet:

Difference in income and respect is like night and day - Former MT who loves Coding

[ In Reply To ..]
I know dozens of former MTs and nurses too, now coders, that would agree with me that the difference in how coders are respected vs. how MTs are treated is like night and day.

My advice is: Don't take shortcuts in training. If you do, you won't get very far.

Yes. Learn ICD-10 and then get certified in CPC and CCS as soon as you can.

Negatives: You have to study hard. Even the anatomy required in ICD-10 is more than I ever used as an MT. The tests from AAPC and AHIMA are not easy. That's why many current coders haven't passed them, but from what I've personally seen it's getting harder to get a job without certification, so any time those coders leave, they are more often being replaced by a credentialed coder. One friend of mine got a job with the understanding that she would have to pass the certification test within 6 months to keep her job. She is a good coder though, so she didn't have a problem with that.

Positives: The money is better than MT ever was, even when MTs were treated fairly. It's also less physically demanding. It's a growing field that respects hard work and credentials.

Good luck if you decide to do it.

Making the switch from MT to coding - How I got started coding

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First I was asked to do a little coding in a doctor's office in addition to transcription. That wasn't real coding. Then I took a short course that didn't use books. It had lots of errors and no instructors to explain why something was right or wrong. I gave up on that course.

Starting over again with training, I learned from books and qualified instructors. That made all the difference in the world.

Question - Just wondering

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Why isn't this thread on the coding board instead of the main board?

Maybe because it's about MTs making career decisions - nm

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nm

Interesting conundrum. - So

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if coding can never be mentioned on the MT board, even in the context of transitioning from MT, then it follows that MT could never be mentioned on the coding board, even in the context of transitioning from MT.

If that is, indeed, the case, where do you suggest people with questions about transitioning from MT to coding post their questions? Would there need to be a special board for those people? And at what point in the conversation about transitioning from MT to coding would it no longer be appropriate to use that board?

Conundrum - Question

[ In Reply To ..]
I have opened a can of worms by asking a simple, straightforward question. Usually the moderator moves threads like this so I was just wondering how it ended up here. Try not to spend too much time solving this. There's a board for new MTs, maybe there needs to be a board for students and new coders.

That was where the OP posted it. - See? It was moved.

[ In Reply To ..]
I expected it would be moved, but it sometimes takes a day or two. Now it has been moved. All is right with the world. Ã°ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½

How I did it - MT2Coder2

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I was taking a course when a job came up at my hospital. I applied for it even though I was not credentialed yet, and got it because the course I was taking seemed impressive to the HIM director. I got the CPC a few months later, and the CCS.

ICD-10 does not take effect until October 1, 2015, so no one is really working in it yet. However, I have been training coders and providers in it for several years. We are preparing for it and our coders are dual coding some of their cases to get into practice. We are doing some other things, too, like converting chargemasters and superbills, pharmacy, and any other area that uses those codes.

The course you took... - Mino

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Please, let me know which course you took that impressed the director when you applied for that first coding job. Pls email me if you don't want to post it.

Nobody should be afraid to post the name of their course or school - Please Do Post It

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There is no reason why the poster shouldn't post the name of the course or school. Any successful course or school will be attacked, but we're adults. We can see through that when it happens. I'd love to know the name of the course too.

OK, but you asked for it. - Running for the door ...

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Andrews.

No surprise. Tough course, hard work, good results - sm

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It's well known that it's a tough course. Nobody graduates from it without some hard work and serious motivation. Good for you!

running for door right behind you! - MT2coderalso

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Andrews, and I got hired before getting my certifications (but had to get it within 6 months). I told them what was covered in my school and took their test and aced it.

We have been attacked for talking about Andrews on this board, if you are wondering.

Results like that are why the course is highly recommended - No attack from here

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Results speak for themselves. Anyone who has been here long knows what you are talking about. People need to hear the success stories anyway, not just from one school but from the different schools. There are a lot of success stories like yours.

You still do not get it - Not afraid

[ In Reply To ..]
Successful courses and schools are not attacked, it was the fact that it was the same one over and over and over again. People came on and started doing their cheerleading for what seemed like no reason. That is why some people came down hard on the Andrews group. We all know by now that the only successful people are the ones who attend Andrews, so it just goes without saying.

See? There's the attack . . . - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
See? There's the attack. "Successful courses and schools are not attacked, it was the fact that it was the same one over an dover and over again. People came on and started doing their cheerleading for what seemed like no reason."

So, from that, it appears that what you're saying is that it isn't the SCHOOL that's the problem, nor its SUCCESSFULNESS, but the fact that SO MANY OF US went there.

"Successful courses and schools are not attacked" . . . just that one successful school. Hmm.

We've explained this before, ad infinitum, but to no avail. This person has a bug in their bonnet about Andrews for some reason. They flunked out, or they chose something else and then couldn't get a job, or they thought it cost too much, or whatever it was, but they have an issue with Andrews. And now that they have it, they derail every thread in which Andrews is mentioned.

The reason so many people here talk about Andrews is that SO MANY OF US HERE WENT THERE.

Why did so many of us go there? Well, because so many of us did MT there, too. And because so many of us know their good reputation from their MT program. We assumed they would also be good for coding.

Why aren't there a lot of people here from other schools? I have no idea, but there just aren't. The only ones are a few from Career Step who don't recommend it and some who took an AAPC course. Some got jobs and some didn't. There have also been some who said they were taking the AHIMA online course, or a college course, but we pretty much never heard from them again.

You hear a lot about Andrews because they are pretty much the only flippin' working coders here. And, yes, most of us are former MTs, so it makes sense.

As for the "cheerleading" starting up "for what seemed like no reason," that's just nonsense. There WAS a reason. Over and over and over again, the REASON was that people were ASKING for recommendations or personal experiences.

If it seems like it happens "over and over and over again," it is because PEOPLE ASK OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Get off my back about Andrews, "not afraid," and stop bullying me by saying things like "the only successful people are the ones who attend Andrews." For what it's worth, I would have been successful at this if chimpanzees had thrown a book at me from a tree. I'm successful today because I continue to learn on my own. However, I chose Andrews and am happy to recommend them because I think they have a good program.

And, yes, I am the one who makes more than 70K a year. That is what Andrews did for me. Grouse about that, why don't you?

curiousandhopeful - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
You said you are making $70k a year as a coder?? How long has it taken to get there? I am hoping to start Andrews this summer and after 14 years of being an MT, making currently minimum wage working 40 hours a week, stressed to the max, I am looking for a ray of hope....a job that I can be proud of again and enjoy and actually make a decent living at....

Not her, but coders starting out start at about $18 or so - Some a little more

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The OP will probably be back to answer your question, but I'll tell you everything I know about it. Maybe others will add to it.

It depends on what credentials you have, CPC and CCS or one and not the other, and how hard you work looking. The quotes I'm hearing are in a range from $18-$21 or so for the first year. Raises and promotions happen in medical coding, but it will still take time as with any career.

Salary surveys - Coder

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Both AHIMA and AAPC do annual salary surveys. There is a link to the AHIMA one a little way down this page. The AAPC survey is linked to this post.

Both are very accurate.

Issue with Andrews - Yes I do

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They obviuosly teach their students nothing about humility. We all got it months ago but you won't give it a rest. I hated coding. I didn't go to Andrews but there are several reasons why I didn't follow that career path. You remind me of sales people standing on street corners. One person gets the ball rolling and then the rest of you chime in. It's fine to mention it but when it is over and over and over and over something about it doesn't ring true especially when no one else ever comes forward and shares. Most people don't need to gloat about their successes. I'm sorry, but it makes me angry. By the way, no one makes 70k out of the gate, those are upper level management and auditor salaries. If anyone ever reaches that level, it will take years or advanced degrees and multiple certifications. The least you could do is tell people the truth.

OK, here is the truth - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
The truth is that the average annual salary of AAPC members is (rounded) 51k. It varies around the country, from a low of 48 around the Great Lakes, to 59 in the Pacific West and Northwest. The average for large facilities (54) was higher than large group practices, and small practices came in last, as you would expect. In facilities, inpatient coders (57) make the most. That will, of course, vary around the country, with west coast being higher, etc. (That is why we encourage getting inpatient coding training and the CCS.)

Look at the numbers ... 70k is not top of the line. Many coders make that much. Certain specialties, like interventional, have for several years paid in that range. Trainers and educators are making an average of 76, probably due to the ICD10 frenzy.

Yes, experience does pay more, as is the case in any field. New coders with less than a year of experience make around 35k.

The fact that salary goes up with experience and credentials is not a bad thing. You can, after all, GET those credentials. You can, in coding, WORK your way up.

No field pays top dollar right out of the gate, and that includes career-changers. That is a reality of life.

Still, the possibility of earning 35k, often with good benefits, after just a 4-month part-time course costing less than 2k is REMARKABLE.

To me, that is preferable to minimum wage at fast food places and Wal-Mart.

Click the link below for another version of the AAPC survey.

Right, "humility" was not part of the curriculum. - Letting Linda know ...

[ In Reply To ..]
Humility was not part of the curriculum, but that is not surprising considering that it isn't a 1950s-era convent.

"Confidence" and "competence" were on the menu, though.

This is a coding board where people come - and ask

[ In Reply To ..]
about coding. They ask where we learned to code. We would like to see people succeed and are excited to be able to share our success with people looking for these stories. I don't understand why someone would come to a coding board who "didn't follow that career path" and complain about coders talking about coding and their coding education. Does not make sense. Many of us came from transcription and we are in the Andrews camp.

it is particularly odd when that person admits - they "hated coding."

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If someone hates something, why would they come to a forum for it? That doesn't make sense to me, either. It just sounds like sour grapes.

local community college - Hopeful

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My first class was ICD-9/ICD-10, and 2nd was CPT coding. I took both at a local community college. They were night classes. God opened those doors for me since Transcription is fading.

What course was it that impressed your HIM director? - nm

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nm

Would like to see more about how everyone got their training - nm

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nm

trying coding - Hopeful

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An open door came for me with coding when there was a flyer posted about a class at a hospital I worked at. I took that and now in my 2nd class. Hoping I can get a job that pays good after it's over in 5 weeks.

I'm doing the same - Hopeful

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Hey, that's great you went into coding. My transcription job at the hospital was outsourced and I'm taking coding now. There is a coding job opening at my former hospital and hopeful I'll get it. I'm not credentialed except with an RHIT but maybe some day I will get CPC or CCS. Thanks for the encouragement. I hope I get the job. Most want experience and I've got to start somewhere

Credentials - Coder

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Good for you! If you have the RHIT, a hospital should consider that enough. With your refresher courses in coding, you actually should have enough to do well on the job.

Do you have an idea of what the hospital will want in terms of a coding credential?

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