BrittanyM

My certifications are: Certified Professional Coder-Apprentice, CPC-A and Certified Professional Coder-Hospital-Apprentice, CPC-H-A. I was certified through AAPC. You can also go through AHIMA. But AAPC is who ATA is affiliated with, so that's who I was certified through. The job market, from my experience, has been good. With school we had to do a 10 week externship. I did mine at one of the local hospitals but unfortunately they did not have any positions available when I finished. So, after I finished I was job hunting. I applied at a few hospitals, most of which told me I didn't have enough experience. But, doctors offices will hire you as a new graduate. I was fortunate enough that while searching online for job postings about a month after I finished my externship, the same hospital was hiring. So, I sent in my resume and the manager that I did my externship with was the one who recieved it. SO; I lucked out there. I worked there for 9 months and just realized that I really want to be with the patients, not behind the scenes. Not that it's a bad job, it really was an awesome job, but it just wasn't right for me. So I left because my class schedule and work schedule conflicted. But from what I've heard from the girls who are still coding the job market is still there. A couple of them have left and found new jobs closer to their homes, making more money. So there's jobs out there. I would do some online searches and see if anything comes up. Most of the people that I went to school with who are having a hard time finding jobs, it's more so because they want the career services dept. at school to do all of the leg work and aren't looking for anything. Career services will be a HUGE help to you. If you choose ATA, know that they are always watching. They watch to see who gets to class early, who is always late. When it comes time for externships they go around to your teachers and get their input on you. The staff is very close knit there, so the impression you make on one of them REALLY makes a difference. That's how I landed the externship I got. I came to school early, got good grades and avoided the classroom drama. And in the end it paid off. As far as working from home, everything that I was told at school is that you have to have had some experience, at least a year, before you can work from home. Unless you could find a billing agency, but I never had any luck finding one. One of my teachers just mentioned it once or twice. Where I worked, it was never even brought up unless you were in a manager/supervisor position. But, when I left, my supervisor and manager stressed to me to maintain my certifications. Apparently there's quite a benefit to being a coder and an RN. But I'm still looking into information on that for the Louisville area. Sorry that was so long, I hope that helped. If you want any more information just let me know. I really enjoyed coding a lot, I really did. I just missed the people interaction. I'll give you my e-mail if you'd like to talk more about it. Good luck! :)

I am in Louisville also. I went to ATA. It was a fantastic program. The teachers were amazingly helpful, and the class sizes were small. The only thing is it's a little pricey. I was straight out of high school and didn't do any research on schools. I just jumped right in. But, I know one of the girls I worked with went to JCC and she had just as good of an experience there for half the price. So I would definitely check out those two. If you have any more questions just let me know! :)

I was a coder before I went in to nursing school. (I'm only in my first quarter) and everything I was told, you have to have a couple years of experience before they'll let you code from home. That's what I was told from my teachers and when I started working for a local hospital it wasn't even an option unless you were a supervisor/manager. But I live in Kentucky and it may be different where you live. I'd see if the school you're planning on going to for it can give you any input. Good luck to you!

I'm a CPC, and I'm going back to school for nursing. I was working for a local group doing their coding. The rule we were given (and our docs were given) is that if anything is brought up during the yearly visit it is billed seperately. BUT, from what I was told, Medicare (and many insurance companies are following) is no longer covering a "sick" visit and a physical in the same day. SO; my coding manager explained to the docs that it is up to them to decide. If a pt comes in for a physical and brings up another issue, they can do a "sick" visit and ask the patient to come back the following week for the physical. Most of our docs disagreed because they hated asking a pt to come back when it can be handled in one visit, but the last I've heard (I left to go back to school) they are supposed to be asking the pt to come back for a second visit. But, unfortunately, that is the correct way to bill it.