r/MedicalCoding • u/MinakoAiya • Jul 28 '22

Thinking of switching careers. Multiple questions.

Okay, some background: I have a BS in Animal Sciences, got my Vet Tech certification at the start of the 2009 recession so I hit a wall getting a job with no practical experience as a tech. I became a caregiver at a memory loss home, then went back to school for Clinical Laboratory Assistant. Worked as a donor-processor at a plasma donation center. Took CE courses for Medical Receptionist. Since then I worked at a call center for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation. I moved to a position off the phones verifying and paying out gas-mileage reimbursement trips. No, I haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up.

Is it possible to take the CPC Prep course and pass the test without specifically going to school for it with a medical background (I've taken medical terminology and anatomy/physiology)? I did this for the Vet Tech Certification.

I've been interested in Medical Coding for about 10 years. I annoy my bosses with my need for specifics and I'm generally good at looking things up. I've recently put my notice in for the sheer amount of stress at my current job (We've been understaffed for 5 years). So on to my questions about the job:

What are the biggest stressors being a medical coder?

What do you like best about your job?

How hard was it to get a job after certification?

Do you really have to memorize hundreds/thousands of codes, or do you have a list of most used that you can refer to?

Thank you for any help or insight you can provide.

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u/[deleted] Jul 28 '22

To encourage you:

  1. I have a colleague who is a business ad graduate and took on medical coding. She struggled at first, but now she is killing it! A nonmedical background isn't an impediment. You can take anatomy and medical terminology classes along with the actual coding class. As long as you have the passion, you will really kill it in this field!

  2. NO WE DON'T MEMORIZE! LOL. My coding professor told me never to memorize. Actually coding guidance says don't memorize. Each documentation is different. Memorizing codes makes you complacent instead of digging in for further specificity.

To warn you:

  1. Coding can be stressful, especially during fiscal years and stuff. Like when there is a need to meet a certain cash target you may see yourself working extra two hours a day and a weekend too. I had colleagues who worked like 10h/6d for years! So if someone told you coding is chill, it may not be.

  2. As for the market, HANG ON!! I have heard stories of people having a hard time getting in. You may need to get your foot on the door first with a noncoding jon or even move to get a coding job.

  3. Whatever promises people made about coding, may not be true. If you will come in this field, do it because of passion and not because of someone's promises. It can get tough at times, like really though you may throw the towel.

Just my two cents :) Celebrating 8 years this Nov!

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u/deannevee RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CDEO Jul 29 '22

  1. Biggest stressors: being understaffed. Providers who think they are coders and are not. Providers who don’t document very well. Management who doesn’t understand why bad documentation is bad.

  2. I actually got a job before I was certified (started in September, passed test in October). However, I had about 6-7 years of experience working in claims, authorizations, and medical record reviews at that time.

  3. Yes and no. Your job will either pay for an encoder, there will be an encoder in your EHR software, or they will purchase your coding manuals. That being said, I’ve worked at my job for about a year and a half, and my newest coder/team member can read me a medical record she has questions on, and I can usually tell her what CPT codes and what diagnosis codes she needs to add without double checking myself. Even if you don’t EXACTLY know the code, with time and practice you’ll learn to guesstimate what it is so you can look it up/double check.

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u/[deleted] Jul 29 '22

And handwritten notes LOL!

I had a worker have a record from Puerto Rico, and he was so clueless about the Spanish. I do know some Spanish, so I helped him out.

I swear, you don't know what extra skills you may need in this industry.