HEALTH INFORMATION & COMMUNICATIONS
Medical Coder
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.
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
Average Annual Salary
$62,990 per year
What is the future of this career?
Employment of health information technologists and medical registrars is projected to grow 16 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 3,200 openings for health information technologists and medical registrars are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
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.
Where could I get the education/training?
- American Institute
- CT State Asnuntuck
- CT State Gateway
- CT State Housatonic
- CT State Middlesex
- CT State Naugatuck Valley
- CT State Northwestern
- CT State Three Rivers
- Goodwin University
- Valley Medical Institute
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.
More Information
American Health Information Management Association
35 W. Wacker, 16th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
312-233-1100
