Finding Success As A Medical Coder Is All About Proficiency

The word "proficiency" is most often defined as working quickly, accurately and productively. In other words, doing a lot of great work in a minimum amount of time. If you can build more wheelbarrows (that pass quality control) than the workers next to you, you are more proficient than they are. Proficiency also means "moving forward" and it's this definition that applies best to medical coders.

A coder's job is to assign the proper codes quickly, accurately and with little conjecture. However, if too little time is spent searching for the proper codes, mistakes can be made and that means extra time and effort at the billing stage to deal with compliance issues and denials (and the resulting letters and emails). An experienced coder knows when to depend on their knowledge and experience to code quickly and when to do a little extra research on their end to make sure claims are paid in a timely fashion.

So how does a medical coder become as proficient as possible?

Proficiency demands a great deal of focus. You won't see too many medical coders with headphones on, smart phones nearby or other distractions. There is too much going on and the need for accuracy is paramount. You'll find them focused on their computer monitor, flipping through coding manuals or checking an online resource. If they look like they're in their own little world, they are!

Great decision making speeds up the process. Some people have a hard time making decisions and medical coding may not be for them. A proficient coder knows when to let the codes they choose "go through" and when to take the time to dig a little deeper to make sure the proper codes are applied. The "I'll use this code and see if it goes through" approach rarely works.

Having great resources that are easily accessed is another way to improve proficiency. For any coder, questions pop up all the time and the answers are sometimes hard to find. However, there are a number of online resources where, with a little practice and familiarity, questions can be answered quickly and accurately. Some coders make great use of industry coding manuals in their work, others leave them on the shelf - they are large, cumbersome and take up a lot of room. Experienced coders usually have a personal notebook or two they've created and rely on to make sure they keep the work flowing. In most cases, the software the employer provides includes a number of ways to help the coder work quickly and accurately.

Proficient medical coders rely on each other to get better. There is no better way to learn than from your peers and great coders help each other stay at the top of their game. They also share tips on how to work a little faster without sacrificing accuracy and turn to each other for questions they can't answer on their own.

Remember, success relies on proficiency and medical coders with a high level of proficiency are quickly hired, have great job security and have more career opportunities.

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