|
|
#7284 - 09/08/04 03:40 PM
What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
eightieschild
Junior Member
Registered: 11/12/02
Posts: 49
|
What are the best online medical coding schools that will prepare you well for getting a job?
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7285 - 09/08/04 04:31 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Linda Andrews CMT
Moderator-Andrews School
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 4949
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK US
|
I believe The Andrews School is, but I'm supposed to think that because it's my school. 
Write to me if you would like more information. Others are welcome to answer your question about their preferences in as biased and blatantly honest way as I did.
The reason is the results. Our graduates are taking and passing the certification exams when that just usually does not happen for new graduates. It's a tough course. We have excellent instructors, the best of materials, and the students work very hard.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7286 - 09/08/04 05:14 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 913
Loc: Virtual Oklahoma!
|
Quote:
The reason is the results. Our graduates are taking and passing the certification exams when that just usually does not happen for new graduates. It's a tough course. We have excellent instructors, the best of materials, and the students work very hard.
It's a very THOROUGH course. Not all courses cover the same material. I spend a lot of time looking at them, and I'm often shocked to see how little some of them really offer.
You can offer a "coding course" that only covers the minimum basics of physician office coding and some med terms, enough to enable someone to just barely copy codes off a charge ticket onto a claim form. Students from those kinds of programs often find that they have to take another course before they can even think about taking a certification exam, and they usually need two to three years on the job in order to learn what their course didn't teach them.
Or, you can offer a course that provides complete coverage of coding for physician offices AND hospital inpatient coding (they're not the same), with in-depth coverage of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, and so forth--all the things usually considered to be necessary for full-fledged coding--and do so requiring the student to interact with experienced, certified, and highly qualified instructors who will impart the correct coding thinking process, the right expectations, and everything else that enables a coder to succeed on the job and even advance to higher level coding positions. Students from those sorts of programs are qualified to take bigger and better jobs, and they should be able to pass a certification exam with what they learned in their course.
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7287 - 09/08/04 08:39 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
MTizfun
Member
Registered: 03/15/02
Posts: 969
Loc: Missouri
|
Linda, how do we write you? I tried sending you a message, but saw that you do not receive private messages.
_________________________
No matter how I feel, I am blessed! Waking up each morning and being able to put both feet on the floor makes me doubly-blessed already!!!!!!! We need to learn to count our blessings and be thankful.
Each day is definitely a gift of God!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7288 - 09/09/04 07:32 AM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Linda Andrews CMT
Moderator-Andrews School
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 4949
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK US
|
linda@andrewsschool.com is the best way or
405-721-3555 if you prefer. I'm very important. I answer my own phone!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7289 - 09/09/04 07:01 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 913
Loc: Virtual Oklahoma!
|
I neglected to mention that there are several good programs out there. Just be sure to investigate thoroughly.
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7290 - 09/09/04 07:06 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
MTMind
Junior Member
Registered: 07/22/04
Posts: 56
|
I know that MTACC is in the process of starting a coding program and I have signed up and plan to take it just as soon as it is all ready to go. It seems to be a very complex course. It is going to be hard, but I am going to give it my best.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7291 - 09/10/04 07:46 AM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Linda Andrews CMT
Moderator-Andrews School
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 4949
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK US
|
I do have to brag about our graduates just a little bit.
In the years that we have now had our program in place, every graduate has been successful. I hope that always continues to be the case. We're certainly going to do our part. If any of them ever needs to come back for advice or help, we continue to be here and available for them, as always.
The graduates have each reported to me that they are working.
Those who have chosen to take the certification exams, and that is most of our graduates, have reported back to me that they have passed. Some have several certifications the first year following graduation.
They told me about watching others who were not our graduates leave the certification testing room without even finishing. The test was that hard. Not ONE of our graduates has had to do that. I hope that always continues to be the case. I believe it will. Our course just covers the material that needs to be covered. It's so thorough that employers are telling me they are delighted at the level of expertise our graduates are exhibiting on the job. I'm not surprised, but I sure love to hear that.
I could not be more proud of my graduates. They are the best!!!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7292 - 09/10/04 02:48 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
eightieschild
Junior Member
Registered: 11/12/02
Posts: 49
|
Where is the testing held for the certification exams such as RHIT, CPC, CCS, RHIA?
Edited by eightieschild (09/10/04 02:49 PM)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7293 - 09/10/04 03:50 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Linda Andrews CMT
Moderator-Andrews School
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 4949
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK US
|
You can take the CCA, CCS, and CCS-P tests through AHIMA throughout the country. The test information is on the ahima.org web site.
I believe you have to have at least two years and maybe three years of experience to be eligible to take the CPC test through AAPC. If I'm wrong, Peggy will correct me. Test sites are usually spread across the country.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7294 - 09/20/04 01:29 AM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 913
Loc: Virtual Oklahoma!
|
Quote:
I believe you have to have at least two years and maybe three years of experience to be eligible to take the CPC test through AAPC. If I'm wrong, Peggy will correct me. Test sites are usually spread across the country.
The AAPC requires 2 years of full-time physician services coding before they will grant the full CPC designation. They will waive up to a year of that for some types of coursework.
In any case, they'll let you TEST anytime. If you pass the test, they'll give you a certification as a CPC-A (Apprentice). Then, when you've accumulated the full two years, they'll upgrade it to the CPC.
They do this to assure the public that the coder you hire or contract with is not only able to pass a test, but is also experienced in the specific kind of coding for that test.
The AHIMA tests have no experience or education requirements, so they're often first choices for new coders.
Before you sign up for a coding course, check the AHIMA and CPC websites for what their requirements are and what they cover on their exams. You do not want to take a course which does not cover what is on those exams. Go through the material bit by bit and make certain the course covers it at least once and preferably more than once. You need to be able to work proficiently in coding in order to pass those exams--not just have seen the stuff once as it flashed across a computer screen. You have to be able to use it in a professional capacity.
As a general rule, the shorter the course time, the less likely you are to be able to pass a certification exam and the longer it will take you to get a job actually in coding. Employers know what coding courses need to cover, and if they do not see it, they will not hire you.
A week ago, someone called me to ask if our course taught both inpatient and outpatient coding, which it most definitely does (separately, too!). Their response was "Oh, thank goodness! So many courses now just teach outpatient! We're getting applicants who have no idea about THE OTHER HALF of coding! We can't use that kind of coder!"
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7295 - 03/21/05 10:24 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
MTMore
Member
Registered: 11/22/04
Posts: 151
Loc: SW Oklahoma
|
I attended SUNY's Alfred State College for my coding education. All of the classes were online and many were taught by Michelle Green, who has authored several of the more popular HIM textbooks.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7296 - 03/22/05 02:48 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
Linda Andrews CMT
Moderator-Andrews School
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 4949
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK US
|
Gina, we're glad to have you! I hope you come back often and participate here.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#7297 - 03/22/05 06:23 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
|
MTMore
Member
Registered: 11/22/04
Posts: 151
Loc: SW Oklahoma
|
Thanks, Linda!
I'm no longer working as a coder. I quit my job last week to concentrate on MT training. I really like this community, so I plan to check in often. 
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#90332 - 02/04/08 02:50 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding schools?
[Re: MTMore]
|
davidbreth
New Member
Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 1
|
Anyone who knew Nancy (screen name: MTizfun).
She is my mother. She lost her battle to cancer Friday evening @ 9:34PM.
I am one of her son's Dave. She would want all of you to know this. Transcription was a SINCERE PASSION to her!.
Dave
david@davidbreth.com
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#90351 - 02/04/08 06:43 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding school
[Re: davidbreth]
|
Linda Andrews CMT
Moderator-Andrews School
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 4949
Loc: Oklahoma City, OK US
|
Dave, thank you for letting us know. I am so sorry to hear about her death.
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#90354 - 02/04/08 07:34 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding school
[Re: Linda Andrews CMT]
|
Annie
Administrator
Registered: 01/08/00
Posts: 7835
Loc: Long Island, NY
|
I copied David's post into the Word Help forum so others who knew Nancy would know.
We're so sorry for your loss, Dave
_________________________
New to the site? Please read through the "How to Use MT CHAT" forum BEFORE POSTING!
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
|
#91139 - 02/15/08 07:15 PM
Re: What are the best online medical coding school
[Re: Annie]
|
sleeplessnVa
Member
Registered: 07/31/05
Posts: 199
Loc: NoVa
|
Dear Linda,
I have been a CMT for 13 years. I am currently the transcription coordinator for a community hospital. I have been contemplating learning to code for some time now. My office is in the coding section and the coders have been offering me advice as to how I should go about achieving this goal. I have narrowed my choices to attending your school, or taking the online AHIMA classes. Why should I take your course rather than the AHIMA classes? Also, have you considered offering a HIT program? Thanks for your time.
_________________________
"It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got." Sheryl Crow/Jeff Trott
|
|
Top
|
|
|
|
Moderator: Linda Andrews CMT
|
