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

hoping to find a happy home here on this board :) - East MT

Posted: Mar 21, 2014

I guess I need to come up with a new name, huh ?

you will be way too busy studying to spend much time here - coding student

[ In Reply To ..]
Coding is beyond difficult. I hope your training is good with MM. I'm an MT there as well, studying coding through a different program. Good luck to you. I wish you all the best.

A better place for trading war stories. - Probably would be a non-anonymous site.

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't want to tout any particular site, but there are famous places on the internet where you can form groups nonanonymously.

A place where we could post advice, resources, and encouragement specific to the MM coder training might be useful. And like CT said, a place where we could be spared the attentions of the troll!

Welcome East MT! - Recent coding grad

[ In Reply To ..]
I am also an MT who transitioned to coding. I agree with coding student - learning coding is quite challenging but worth it. Study as much as you possibly can!

Have you been able to find a job? Coding jobs seem to be pretty - hard to come by in my area. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I've been a RHIT for 9 months and no coding job for me - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have applied to about 50 jobs with only 4 interviews. I was told after each interview that they went with someone who has experience. I can't seem to even get my foot in the door. I'm even applying for medical records jobs, but still no luck there either. After being an MT for 12 years, I would've thought that it would be easier for me to get an entry level coding job, doing just outpatient, but not true. I really am getting frustrated. I'm still an MT and will be losing my MT job as of May 1st. I thought this would be my way out but I just don't know anymore.

The key may be in getting a coding certification - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Unfortunately, so many RHITs can't code that managers are leery about hiring them without demonstrated successful experience.

Get the CPC and find an outpatient job. If you are restricting your search to hospitals, stop.

Once you have even a little experience, everyone will want you.

What kind of outpatient? - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Doctor's offices? Are you talking about billing? Do doctor's offices hire coders to just code? I would think you would need to do both to work outpatient. Am I wrong? The only reason I limit myself to hospitals is because outpatient billing pays less than what I'm doing now. Any advice appreciated. I read some posts from somebody on this board who is certified and doing billing and is trying to get out.

Billing and coding are two different animals. - mo

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm kind of confused about what you're really looking for.

I know what you mean - You do not

[ In Reply To ..]
want get stuck with the billing part if you go to a physician office (where they make you do everything). There are clinic sides to hospitals too. Many of the physician's offices are becoming part of the hospital and they need coders. The coders code the office visits and do not do the billing. You would have to research to find out how they work in your area or if there are any free-standing clinics that need coders, and really check out the job description.

Yes, that is incorrect. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
RHIT program focus almost entirely on hospitals. They also teach coding from a one-size-fits-all standpoint. By that, I mean that they don't separate inpatient and outpatient coding enough that students can see the difference clearly. This is why so many RHIT program grads cannot code well enough to work as a coder, cannot pass a coding certification exam, and cannot find a job. Many of them, in fact, never even attempt the RHIT exam or fail it when they do.

That focus is on only about 10 to 20% of the coding world -- hospitals. The rest is all outpatient. It exists in large and small physician practices, clinics affiliated with larger facilities, consulting groups, insurance companies, and other settings. Another aspect of it exists in facilities that perform outpatient testing and procedures.

Further, a knowledge of billing IS necessary for coders and HIM professionals. You don't have to do it, but you have to understand it. Otherwise, you cannot understand the effect your coding and other practices have upon revenue. Understanding just how hard it is to get insurers to pay is very necessary. It is critical to coding.

By looking only in hospitals, you have limited yourself to a small fraction of possible jobs.

Another problem comes to mind. If you didn't really understand this aspect of HIM, it might be coming across in interviews, and that might be raising a red flag with employers.

Your statement that you are limiting yourself to outpatient billing is based on a huge misconception. No, outpatient coding is NOT billing. Outpatient coders are NOT necessarily paid less. We have posted links to the AAPC salary surveys almost every month -- didn't you look at them? Outpatient coders are generally well-paid, with some in particularly challenging specialties making 70K or more.

You might just have to come to grips with the fact that an entry-level job is what you are prepared for, and be willing to do it in order to get on the HIM career ladder. No, it might not pay what you want, but you don't exactly have much choice. You don't have much to offer with only an RHIT and no experience.

Jobs aren't forever, so taking an office billing-coding job is not the end of the world. It is a temporary situation to gain experience. You can turn it into something bigger soon enough. And, frankly, it is a LEARNING EXPERIENCE that will benefit you.

I think you need to get the CPC and start looking for any outpatieng job you can get.

The CPC exam is offered by the local chapter if the AAPC. Join it and start attending their monthly meetings. Dress well, act interested and confident, and network for job opportunities. Pay attention to their job announcements.

Sorry for the confusion - I am not the RHIT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have a CPC-A and have worked in a doctor's office before and know I don't want to do billing, but if I thought it would be a good stepping stone to something better, I would do it. The disdain on this board and others show for billers gave me the impression it was a dead end job and not something a "real coder" would do. I can see I need to do more research into HIM and my real goal is to work in an inpatient capacity in HIM, not expecting to work as a coder right off the bat, maybe something related, but inpatient nonetheless. If working as a biller gets me there, I'll think about it. I have been more focused on getting any hospital job and bidding on any HIM job I could get. Maybe I need to readjust my expectations. Thanks for the insights.

You need experiwence to get rid of that A - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
It makes no difference if the experience is in a 1-man doctor's office or a medical center. It is experience to get rid of that Apprentice status and it is experience you can use toward a better job in a situation you prefer.

Your focus on needing to work "in inpatient" is misplaced. I don't know why you think it is the Holy Grail of coding. It does not necessarily pay better and there are far fewer jobs.

You aren't even CLOSE to being prepared for it with CPC training. Inpatient coding is completely different and far more difficult. None of that is covered in a CPC course -- not the coding, not the A&P or pathophysiology, not the rest of it. Every hospital you apply to thinks that. Those hospitals are staffed by AHIMA program graduates who think their preparation is what you need. They don't think AAPC meets that, but they'll often consider a CPC with experience that shows they can do the work. Because you didn't complete one of their programs, they also think you aaren't prepared to work in HIM, either.

Your best bet is a job doing physician office coding. You can get somewhere with it. Get the experience, then get a hospital job.

How dare you? - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
How dare you presume to know what I know, what my educational background is, what coding training I have had, my previous experience. You know for a fact I am not prepared to work in HIM? Wow, you know it all, huh? Who are you to tell me I can't? There are new coder posters on this board coding outpatient reports in the hospital setting, so it can be done.

Just going by what you said - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
You said you needed to do more research, so I provided some of the information you need, but can't get very easily. That's an insider's view. I don't agree with it, but it IS what you are facing.

Regardless of your background, you have to meet hospital HIM expectations to work in hospital HIM.

Those managers are RHIAs, at a minimum RHITs, who are medical professionals just like pharmacists, speech therapists, and physical therapists. They just deal with information, not medication or something else. They think anyone working in their field needs the same education and credentials their professional organization prescribes. They don't care what you were before. They very tightly restrict jobs in their field to credential-holding members of that organization. They support their own.

For that matter, if you are another type of medical professional, you are possibly even worse off because they are very resistant to incursions from that angle, particularly nurses. They do not want their field being taken over by "MD-HIM" and "nurse-HIM" the way others have been.

They also don't happen to think MT is particularly relevant, because even their phones can do it.

You can be as offended as you want, but I gave you useful information. If you have been unsuccessful in your job search, you might want to listen.

I was not offended by the information - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
I am happy to get all the information I can. I was upset by your presumptions about what you thought you knew about me from what I posted here. I understand I need more credentials and more training (RHIA). I'm saving my money to start WGU or University of Toledo. Thanks for responding.

Edit your post now? - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
That's not what it said before. Too harsh? No wonder so few coding students or coding grads come here. With that kind of discouragement, who needs that? I sure don't.

At least you changed it, thanks for that.

I added something because you misread it. - Just preventing confusion

[ In Reply To ..]
Really, no offense was intended. If you were standing in front of me, I would tell you the same thing. And if you were standing in front of me, you would listen.

Just an observation - observer

[ In Reply To ..]
A lot of coders and coding students don't come here anymore because of over-the-top reactions like yours to valid information.

We don't like the drama.

You really need to get your foot in the door - Another coding student

[ In Reply To ..]
If you are finding that you are being turned down in your area due to lack of experience, you need to get into a facility by any means that you can -- housekeeping, dietary services, transport . . . If you have your foot in the door, you can bid. I'm working as a coder while I am studying coding, just because I was in house when the offer became available.

There are half a dozen hospitals within a 30-mile radius of me, and NONE - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
have any coding positions open at all. I don't know if they outsource the coding or just aren't ever hiring.

Have you asked any of them? - student

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm sure they would tell you if you asked what their hiring procedure was. You know you are going to have to be really proactive with this, right? Coding is a very competitive market.

Where are you looking for the job - announcements?

[ In Reply To ..]
Coding jobs do not turn over rapidly. There are also not very many coders at a facility.

They are often announced in professional forums, like AHIMA and AAPC listings, local chapters, and professional publications, by referral from schools, etc.

Yes - Recent coding grad

[ In Reply To ..]
I am working doing inpatient coding.

Recent coding graduate - new coder

[ In Reply To ..]
I am a brand new coder who just finished my schooling and about 2 weeks after I graduated had an interview for doing outpatient coding as it is considered entry level. I was offered the job and 2 weeks before I started the job took and passed my RHIT. So there are managers out there who will hire new grads; probably not very many. Also the manager I work for puts her new grads on clinic but not inpatient.

I agree with the firsst coding student - coding student too

[ In Reply To ..]
The amount of information is absolutely overwhelming. I remember vaguely what it was like to have time to read something other than an ICD-10 study manual, or what it was like to sleep in on a weekend morning, instead of spending it studying. I thought MT was hard when I first started, but this is just something entirely different.

did you get in East? nm - Old School

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

yes :) - East MT

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Hoping coders are more friendly with newbies! - txmt2

[ In Reply To ..]
I too got accepted and am grateful for the opportunity to go through program and get two years of experience under my belt. I hope this board can give us assistance when we need it. Congrats to all mmodal coding candidates.

me too. and congrats txmt2! glad to see you on here! - East MT

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I hope so too - Coder too

[ In Reply To ..]
I am happy to see you here. I hope we coders can be of help where we can. My advice to you all is to not feel offended by some answers that have a lot of knowledge but seem snippy. Just take the information and do not take anything personally! Good Luck in your new adventure!

LOL. clearly you weren't over here reading - the coding worlds resonse to MM invasion

[ In Reply To ..]
You may want to set up your own little world somewhere.

MModal is a dirty, dirty word and your arrival does not bode well for the future of coding in general.

This is untrue. nm - ignore

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

I'm not sure what "coding world" you are describing - coding student

[ In Reply To ..]
We discussed outsourcing, how M*Modal has been hiring coders for years and how 60 coders are a drop in the bucket. Most of us here have jobs and are busy. I have an all day coding clinic tomorrow, in addition to working 40 hours this week. If you are looking for typical transcription drama, you have come to the wrong place.

Very true. Anyone who doubts this hasn't paid attention to Mmodal's history. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

untrue about the "coding world's response" - Whatever that even meant

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

That all likely translates to "The coding world - doesnt resent new coders, it resents -

[ In Reply To ..]
M*Modal, and the risk it and others like it will present to coding as a viable career. M*M wouldn't be touching coding if it didn't think it stood a good chance to exploit it the same way it has its American MTs and its overseas MTs.

Yeah, it was a little flourish on wording. Sorry - Stickless.

[ In Reply To ..]
I was on here a week ago and coders were flipping out over MModal's further incursion into coding and what it could mean for the future.

MModal is broadcasting an intent here to go into the coding business in a big way. That cannot possibly bode well for coding et al. Believe it or do not, that is no skin off my nose. Just don't say you weren't given forewarning.

Boy, I was in on that conversation - And there was no "flipping out"

[ In Reply To ..]
Not only do you put flourishes on words, you also embellish them as well. About once a month you, or someone like you, feels the need to come on here and "warn us" about how our jobs are going to be outsourced. So, duly noted. You are now relieved of your duty until next month. Good job.

ignore - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Disagree!! The response from the CODERS was - positive and encouraging

[ In Reply To ..]
The response from coders was positive and encouraging, and it will almost certainly remain so.

Any negativity came from noncoders. I can tell the difference.

Now that so many posts were transferred here from the M*M board, it may appear that the negativity in them came from here, but it did not. It was, unfortunately, transferred here with those posts. It is from noncoders, too.

To East MT - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you're on FB, there are some great groups for coders/coding students on there, too, that you might want to check out. Some of them have some great files, especially when you're preparing for the certification exams.

Thanks :) - East MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I really appreciate that!

You're welcome - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't know where you are in the east but I'm in the northeast and I'll be rooting for you all the way. I am a recent coding graduate and I passed the CPC and CCS, and so can you!

Very grateful! - txmt2

[ In Reply To ..]
Your words of wisdom is why we came to this board. We are taking a great leap of faith in ourselves and in our company. We do not care for the bickering and back stabbing on the other board and came here to much wiser people and the experts about this profession. Any help and words of encouragement are appreciated; the naysayers and doomsayers we are ignoring. Thank you for your honest and helpful advice.

From what I see everyone wishes you the best - from both boards

[ In Reply To ..]
They are upset with M*Modal and you have to see that that is understandable, especially since some were never notified about not being accepted. You can't take that personally. There also has been a "coder" being really over the top enthusiastic about M*Modal's training program, how incredible it will be, how you will be able to qualify for all certifications, and that is getting some push-back as well. This is a pilot program, meaning it is the first one, and it seems suspicious that someone who is not an M*Modal employee would know so much about a new program. So I think you are seeing some push back from that, as that is perhaps making some people uncomfortable and actually probably making things more difficult for you here. I don't necessarily think that the bickering and back stabbing is about YOU, so please don't take it personally.

Congrats! I hope all of you do post here. - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
This board needs some life!

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