Medical Coding is one of the best performing outsourcing process within in the Healthcare outsourcing business. Medical Coding process is growing significantly for over a decade.
CAREER OVERVIEW- What is Medical Coding all about?
In simple terms, Medical coding is the translation of medical reports into a short code used within the healthcare industry. This helps summarise otherwise cumbersome medical reports into efficient, data-friendly codes. These code sets help coders document the condition of a patient and describe the medical procedure performed on that patient in response to their condition.It is an important process in medical billing and plays a vital role in overall reimbursement cycle.
WHY IS MEDICAL CODING IMPORTANT?
Medical billing and coding employees are essential and crucial for success of healthcare facilities and providers. They rely on the expertise of medical coding and billing individuals to assist in billing of services provided to their patients and processing of claims. The diagnoses and procedure codes are taken from medical record documentation, such as transcription of physician’s notes, laboratory and radiologic results, etc. Medical coding professionals help ensure the codes are applied correctly during the medical billing process, which includes abstracting the information from documentation, assigning the appropriate codes, and creating a claim to be paid by insurance carriers.
IS MEDICAL CODING THE SAME AS MEDICAL BILLING?
The answer is No. Medical coding and medical billing are two separate processes. The main task of a medical coder is to review clinical statements and assign standard codes. Medical billers, on the other hand, process and follow up on claims sent to health insurance companies for reimbursement of services rendered by a healthcare provider. The medical coder and medical biller may be the same person or may work with each other to ensure invoices are paid properly. To help promote a smooth coding and billing process, the coder checks the patient’s medical record (i.e., the transcription of the doctor’s notes, ordered laboratory tests, requested imaging studies, and other sources) to verify the work that was done. Both works together to avoid insurance payment denials.
WHAT MEDICAL CODERS DO?
Medical coders play a vital role in the connection between health care providers, patients and insurance companies. As a coder, you’ll need to read patient charts to determine medical history, including diagnoses and treatments given. Based on these charts, you’ll use a set of established medical codes in order to transcribe patient history into a type of “shorthand” that will be used by both health care providers and insurance companies.
From clinics to hospitals to physicians’ offices, medical coders use medical codes to document patient diagnosis and treatments. Specifically, their duties include:
- Reading and analyzing patient records
- Determining the correct codes for patient records
- Using codes to bill insurance providers
- Interacting with physicians and assistants to ensure accuracy
- Keeping track of patient data over multiple visits
- Managing detailed, specifically-coded information
- Maintaining patient confidentiality and information security
Your career as a medical coder will require you to maintain excellent concentration and focus, no matter what environment you are in. On a day-to-day basis, you will be dealing with all types of patient charts, which you will need to code correctly and then send for billing to insurance companies. Possible places you might work as a medical coder include:
- Hospitals
- Physicians’ offices
- Nursing care facilities
- Home health care services
The medical coding profession is also popular for those looking for self-employment. In this capacity, you may be consulting on-site at medical facilities or working remotely. Medical coders typically work remotely and partner with a health care facility that sends the information needed to code patient records and bill insurance companies.
SKILLS REQUIRED – However, medical coding is a competitive field, and to succeed, one must possess a number of critical skills. Everyone considering career in medical coding courses should possess, the following skills and abilities.
- Attention to Detail
It is crucial that you never make a mistake in your coding or when submitting billing information. Even a minor error can lead to serious problems for patients or insurance companies. You must be able to keep a sharp mind and never lose your concentration while working to ensure that every detail, down to the tiniest piece of coding, is correct.
- Discretion
In a medical coding position, you will be constantly handling sensitive patient information, and you have the responsibility for making sure that these details remain confidential. If you share the information with anyone, even a co-worker, you may be subject to a lawsuit. For this reason, it is necessary to be discreet, including when requesting support from medical staff or other coders.
- Computer Skills
Most of your work as a medical coder will involve using a computer. You should be comfortable using basic word processing and spreadsheet software as well as electronic health records and medical and coding software. You will be an asset to any health care service if you are able to learn quickly how to use new technology.
- Organisational Skills
You may have to handle a large number of cases at the same time. Organisational skills will enable you to work efficiently, stay on track with tight deadlines, and send records to the correct places. This is particularly important for freelancers working at several medical centers.
- Basic Understanding of Physiology
To convert information into the correct codes, you need to learn medical terminology. This means possessing a basic idea of human anatomy, physiology, and common diseases. You will also need to understand the concept and purpose of simple procedures. A degree in life science gives one a upper-hand.
- Writing Skills
Finally, you should be able to clearly express yourself in words, eliminating the risk of confusion in your reports. This means forming grammatically correct sentences, free from typos and spelling mistakes.
HOW TO BECOME A MEDICAL CODER? WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PURSUE A CAREER IN THIS FIELD?
Medical coding as a profession requires a lot of accuracy which comes with practice. A sound knowledge of the human anatomy and Physiology is very essential for performing the task of medical coding. Now, here comes a very important question: who can do medical coding or is there any eligibility criteria for the profession of Medical coding?
In most of the cases bachelor’s degree in the life science stream is a must. For example: A bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Botany, Zoology, Physiotherapy, B.Pharma, Occupational Therapy etc. Students with backgrounds other than science can also pursue a career in medical coding by taking courses and training from recognized institute or academics. As this profession involves organising and maintaining medical information converting them into predefined codes, this job is well-designed as women are believed to be good at managing and organising things.
Those who have passed the certification courses in medical coding are eligible to apply to the post. Certification after graduation is much desirable for the said post. Adequate exposure in the area is also an essential eligibility to become a medical coder.
- Pursue graduation from a recognized educational institution.
- Obtain Certificate course in Medical coding or join any firm that offer training cum placement facility in the same
- Obtain relevant experience in the area.
In India, most of the firms prefer graduation as the necessary qualification for the post of Medical Coder. Certificate courses in medical coding will help one to get an entry in to the job. Along with this, candidate should possess proven experience in the area of medical coding. Bachelor degree in Medical Information Technology is the qualification required by international firms for the same post. Anyway, graduates with adequate skill and experience will also be considered for the same. It’s also advisable to go for regular training than on-line training for professional trainings like medical coding.
SCOPE:
Healthcare industry is a fast growing industry; so as the career opportunities in the industry. The demand for Medical Coders is increasing all over the world day by day. With the growth of private insurance sector in India, sooner or later the healthcare industry of our country might also be based on the insurance and we might also need to do medical coding in different areas of healthcare. The physician offices, the hospitals and the insurance companies may demand more and more Medical Coders in future also. Presently the need for coders is high in outsourcing companies in India.
India is a developing country and has been trying to focus on improving the healthcare segment and raise it to international standards. The fact is that there are numerous hospitals and medical facilities found across the country that has been providing top class services at affordable rates. Another aspect is that not only domestic patients, but also those from the surrounding regions and other continents have been coming down to the country for availing better treatments and facilities that would be required by them. This is why; the scope of candidates to pursue a career in the medical industry has been growing immensely of which one is medical coding.
There are two factors that again make the demand for Coders high. Due to the immediate implementation of ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision) and EHR (Electronic Health Record), the Healthcare Industry is aggressively looking for trained, efficient, knowledge-able and certified coders.
So there is a tremendous chance of career growth in the Medical coding streams. Many healthcare companies are operating in India and abroad which are providing healthcare services. Every year, they hire thousands of trained coders from the medical, pharma and other life sciences backgrounds for the Medical coding functions. In terms of compensation medical coding industries are very good. Companies are providing a very handsome package and proper growth in this industry.
