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To
be a successful Medical Coder you should:
- Have a high degree of accuracy.
- Have a working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy,
and physiology.
- Have an ability for problem solving and analysis.
- Have the ability to work at one station for extended
periods of time.
- Work well under pressure and be able to observe deadlines.
- Have the ability to communicate orally and in writing.
- Pay close attention to detail.
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
A two year associate degree with a curriculum that includes
medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology is recommended.
Basic coding courses offered by vocational schools may
last up to 12 weeks. A home-study course is available
through the American Health Information Management Association.
It is a self-paced course and usually takes 24-36 months
to complete. Some on-the-job training is also offered.
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| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.
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| Where
can I get more information? American Health
Information Management Association
919 North Michigan Ave
Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60611-1483
(312) 787-2672 www.ahima.org |
| What
is the salary for this career? $32,800-$47,341
(Source: healthcarejobstore.com,
based on national average) |
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| What
will my job be like? Technicians who specialize
in coding are called health information coders, medical
record coders, coder/abstractors, or coding specialists.
A medical coder uses a classification system to assign
code numbers and letters to each symptom, diagnosis, disease,
procedure, and operation that appears in the patient's
chart. These codes are used for insurance reimbursement,
research, health planning analysis, and to make clinical
decisions. |
| Where
could I work? Medical coders usually work
in hospitals.
Other workplace settings:
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Insurance Companies
- Physicians' Offices
- Self-employed
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Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
- Briarwood College, Southington
- Capital Community College, Hartford
- Danbury Hospital School of Medical Records, Danbury
- Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury
- Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
- Quinebaug Valley Community College, Danielson
- St. Vincent's College, Bridgeport
- Tunxis Community College, Farmington
- University of Connecticut, Storrs
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