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

same situation, past coder - past coder

Posted: Aug 28, 2011

Hi,

I am in the same situation for being a past coder. I coded for about 10 years and then did transcription to raise my family. Now I would very much like to pursue the coding field and get certified. My schedule limits me from taking outside classes as I am working all different hours part time. Is there anything decent that would help me refresh my skills and update them on line in order to pass the certification exam down the road or is that totally out of the question.

Thanks everyone in advance for your advise.

The type coding you did would make a difference - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
If you were working as a certified coder, you could just do a little review, especially if you have kept up your certification. If you worked in a doctor's office or small clinic doing coding, you probably would have to start over. If you worked in Medical Record or the HIM Department, you probably were exposed to real coding, not just choosing from a couple of choices on a form already printed, for a couple of specialties. That's not coding. If you give a little more information, we might be able to give better suggestions.

type of coding - past coder

[ In Reply To ..]
I was working for an acute care hospital doing coding of all in patient records and all specialties. I was not certified though. I also did ER reports, etc. I know a lot has changed in 15 years but I did do it for about 10 years and was efficient at it. I am hoping I don't need a full course of subjects to pursue this. Thank you again for any advise as to what my options might be!!

type of coding - past coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Would it be beneficial for me to begin by joining AHIMA and getting advise from them? Just looking for a starting point and not sure where to begin.

Thank you!

My opinion - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
That's not a bad idea, keeping in mind that some of their courses are not very good. An acquaintance of mine gave me a long list of why the course she took with them didn't work. I don't remember all of it, but I remember a lot of discussion about how she got no help at all from instructors and wasn't really sure there were any. I've never taken one of their courses, but if I were thinking about taking one, I would read very carefully what the course was supposed to prepare one to do. Will you be prepared to take and pass the CCS exam, or CCA, which isn't very popular with employers, or what? Just know what the course is intended to do before you enroll and you will make a better decision. I think it's a great idea to talk with them and see what they say.

my opinion - past coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for that information. Unfortunately I am not really sure where else to go for advise as to course selection and what courses are intended to do.

The course description or web site and a phone call - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I would see what they say in the course description and then call them. See if they bring up the possibility or probability of passing certification exams after taking whatever class it is. If they don't mention it, it's probably because they know it doesn't prepare you well enough or they don't know or care. Then I would ask them, just to see if they might tell you that they just answer the phones and don't know the answers. That would be a bad sign to me.

You have to do something though, and there may just not be that many refresher courses out there. Wish I could be more helpful.

Advice - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You don't need to join just to get information. You don't even need to join to take the CCS exam.

Their website has everything right in public view, as does the AAPC.

There is a section on certification, with all the details about requirements (there aren't any for the CCS), a list of references, and a fairly detailed description of what is covered on the exam.

Getting AAPC Certified - Shade

[ In Reply To ..]
The AAPC offers an online course for certification training. Check their website.

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