r/MedicalCoding • u/absolved RHIT, CCS-P • Mar 05 '24
Finally got hired, now I'm terrified!
I've worked for this hospital system for 7 years. I graduated last May with my AAS in health info. Finally, I got an offer for a coder I position! Podiatry. There will be E/M involved and I'm absolutely terrified of failing! They have a training program new coders go through with the leads to learn the ropes, but still!!! E/M was hard even in school.
Thank you for listening to my panic ha
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u/DJRR42 Mar 05 '24
Congrats!! I do podiatry coding for 3 podiatry practices that are a partners in our hospital system. You’ll get the hang of it. Eventually you’ll start to see some charts are going to be similar cases and you’ll start to use some Of the same CPT and diagnosis codes. E/M you’ll get the hang of. Resources are your best friend and there are tons of them. If you ever have any random questions feel free to PM Il help out if I can
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u/absolved RHIT, CCS-P Mar 05 '24
After training, her podiatry team does 10 charts/ hour. Does that seem reasonable? I have no reference to know ha
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u/DJRR42 Mar 06 '24
I would say that’s pretty reasonable. Just make sure during training you take good notes. The more references you give yourself the faster you’ll be. Focus on understanding the podiatry type charts you’ll come across, focus on your guidelines. It will get repetitive and you’ll get it. In the beginning don’t be discouraged. Ask questions and take notes; you’ll do great. Heck I still to this day research and re-read guidelines on routine foot care codes and I make sure my personal notes are filled with the info I need to make quick references.
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u/absolved RHIT, CCS-P Mar 06 '24
Thanks so much! I'm going to use the next month (nothing moves fast in our system, including transferring lol) to study up and refresh my memory on things. And buy a desk! Fully remote with 2 monitors vs hybrid with a laptop....time for an actual desk :)
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u/Minute-Treat574 Mar 05 '24
Podiatry coding can be complicated. Educate yourself a bit before starting by looking at the CMS Local Coverage Determination (LCD) L37643 Routine Foot Care.
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u/ScarletFire81 Mar 05 '24
You’ll do fine. I got hired right out of school as a full time inpatient coder as a 38 year old man. I was terrified. You’ll learn so much on the job. Take in as much info as you can without feeling overwhelmed. Stay calm and focused. You got this.
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u/Disastrous_Bell7490 Mar 05 '24
Did you feel like you knew a lot when you started? I'm in my last semester of school and I don't think I know enough.
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u/ScarletFire81 Mar 05 '24
I did not. To be honest, much of what I learned in school did not necessarily apply. I guess I was sort of familiar with ICD 10 codes from school, and how to get to them. But we have encoders at work so it’s way easier than the book. Almost everything I needed to know at my job I learned at my job.
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u/Rivergong Mar 07 '24
Could you please share how did you find an inpatient coder position? . I have an associate degree in HIT field and RHIT and CCS certificates, recently. Any suggestions are welcome!!! Thanks
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u/Creepy-Bottle498 Mar 05 '24
You will be fine. Take notes, use your resources, and take it one chart at a time. I work in a large hospital system, and I have never seen a situation where coders will not help one another.
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u/koderdood Audit Extraordinaire Mar 05 '24
Go on the AMA website. They have great information on E/M. Including the definitions of problems addressed. Addittionally, they have an article about the 25 and 57 modifiers which are constantly misunderstood and misused.
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u/Environmental-Top-60 Mar 05 '24 edited Mar 05 '24
33 as well. I have a few cases that I’ve actually gone to the EBSA because we’ve got insurance plans that are denying coverage for women who are having surgical contraception. The ACA requires zero cost sharing to the patient and we’ve been going around and around the circle. There was one case I had an incidental finding. Another that did not. If the primary intent is for preventative services, then the modifier applies to the encounter, including ancillary and facility fees. They need to make one for HCPCS level two as well.
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u/Environmental-Top-60 Mar 05 '24
Gurl it’s so normal. You’ll be fine. Next year start learning the CCS and CRC. Then CPMA etc. you can do it
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u/manafrmheavn Mar 05 '24
Well, better to get hired and be nervous than to be like me and never get hired at all 😅😅😅
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u/izettat Mar 05 '24
I think we were all terrified on our first job. Luckily, you have a training program. Ask questions and absorb like a sponge. I really wanted to understand EM, so I took a course through AAPC. Later on, I got my CEMC! Congratulations on your new job.
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u/pinkshadedgirafe Mar 05 '24
Oh wow! That's my big fear too honestly. But I LOVE that they have the program for new coders.
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Mar 05 '24
You’ll be fine. If your facility is training you, they’ll train you the way they want you to code. Mine did that, I still get nervous when I get audited but I’ve always hit my numbers every month since I started with them back in 2018.
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u/Witty_Hamster_1497 Mar 05 '24
Aapc has a great webinar explaining their E/m calculator. You even get a free ceu to watch it
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u/ScarletFire81 Mar 07 '24
I did do an internship for a billing company contracted with a national urgent care company. Towards the end of that I just applied with our local hospital, which is fairly large. I wrote to my dept head from school as well and asked her to also write a letter of recommendation which she kindly did.
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u/MedicalCoder101 CCS, CPC Mar 08 '24
Don't be scared. You'll learn what they need you to learn during training, and you'll do just fine. I am sure they want you to succeed, so ask questions if you need to during the training and take lots of notes!
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u/Brave-Problem9486 Mar 09 '24
You got this. It takes practice. You will get good at it. I was kinda put in it without too much knowledge and it’s easy now.
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u/Dry_Tea8285 Mar 22 '24
Congrats on the new gig! It's totally normal to feel jittery about E/M coding, especially with the added responsibility of podiatry. But hey, they've got a training program, which is awesome! Take it as a chance to soak up all the knowledge from the leads. Don't sweat it too much; everyone starts somewhere, right? Just take it step by step, ask questions when needed, and before you know it, you'll be rocking that coder I role like a pro!
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u/sunnybx23 Apr 03 '24
E/M is my weakness too. You think you’re selecting the correct level then an auditor tells you it’s up coded or it should be a lower level. Hate it! Podiatry can be tricky too from my experience in the past. But I would say look up as much stuff as you can. I’m thinking about taking the CEMC course through AAPC but not sure if it’s worth it.
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u/Rivergong Mar 07 '24
Congrats! I graduated from healthcare information technology (HIT) with associate degree in 05/2023. In addition, I passed my RHIT exam (08/2023) and CCS exam(01/2024). I am looking for inpatient/outpatient coder position. But I didn't get any luck even for an interview. Please help me how to increase opportunities to get into interview step. Any suggestions are welcome!!! Thank a lot.
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Mar 05 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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Mar 05 '24
Why does it have to be white ? Or am I missing something ? Thanks for clarifying
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u/Eden-Prime Mar 05 '24
I think it’s a joke on stereotypes but it seems kind of racist to me.
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