4 registered
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and 7 anonymous users online.
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#74902 - 06/25/07 07:50 PM
self teach?
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goaldie
New Member
Registered: 08/05/03
Posts: 11
Loc: alabama
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I was wondering has anyone just bought medical coding books, studied and taken the certification tests...and passed? If so, what books did you use. Thanks you..
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#74914 - 06/25/07 09:50 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: goaldie]
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Gisele Dubson
Member
Registered: 05/28/99
Posts: 5608
Loc: Boulder, CO, USA
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Boy, I've never heard of anyone doing that. I took a class in coding which showed me just enough to pass my certification in health information management (coding is just one component of that), but it wasn't nearly enough for me to get a job doing that kind of work, and I cannot imagine teaching it to myself. I still work as an MT.
_________________________
Gisele F. Dubson, RHIA, Mercury Medical Communications
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#75456 - 07/02/07 03:39 AM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Gisele Dubson]
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Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 878
Loc: Virtual Oklahoma!
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It's almost impossible to do that. One problem is that you would be unable to determine what would be on the certification test. Another is that you would be unable to know if you were coding correctly or not without assistance from a competent instructor.
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
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#75484 - 07/02/07 10:23 AM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Redpen]
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goaldie
New Member
Registered: 08/05/03
Posts: 11
Loc: alabama
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I was wondering because I've seen so many books posted on Ebay,and thought you could just read and study and take the test. Silly me, thanks for the replies.
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#75487 - 07/02/07 10:53 AM
Re: self teach?
[Re: goaldie]
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Gisele Dubson
Member
Registered: 05/28/99
Posts: 5608
Loc: Boulder, CO, USA
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If you look, you will see the same kind of materials offered to learn MT, and trying to do that on your own would certainly NOT result in job offers.
_________________________
Gisele F. Dubson, RHIA, Mercury Medical Communications
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#75673 - 07/04/07 06:14 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Gisele Dubson]
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Redpen
Member
Registered: 12/31/69
Posts: 878
Loc: Virtual Oklahoma!
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When we learn, we do have to do the learning ourselves. It isn't possible for someone else to "learn us" the subject.
Teachers point us in the right direction, sort out what we need to learn, offer advice and assistance, encourage, and otherwise facilitate what would be a nearly impossible undertaking.
You could, perhaps, learn coding on your own, but you would have to buy and study what amounts to several hundred textbooks, review and organize information from a load of constantly changing websites, spend innumerable hours in trial-and-error attempts to figure out what you should do, and then take all the certification exams once -- expecting to fail -- just to find out what sort of things would be on them so you could take them again to pass. If you could figure out which certification exams to take or why it would be important to do so, that is.
Instructors have already done this work for you, and they are prepared to guide you through the forest.
We don't think of that when we sign up to take a course, but it's true. The instructor had to learn the material himself or herself, had to get a job and work in it to gain experience, had to study for and take certification exams, and now, as an instructor, has to review textbook after textbook to find ones that would communicate the necessary material in a suitable fashion, has to figure out ways of organizing the material in a logical and efficient fashion, has to come up with assignments and tests that will demonstrate accomplishments and expose weaknesses, and after all that still has to review student work like Sherlock Holmes to ferret out what issues the student needs assistance to learn, and then has to cook up something the student can do to facilitate learning it.
It's a huge task and one which is, unfortunately, invisible to the prospective student.
_________________________
Redpen
(The Andrews School)
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#75675 - 07/04/07 06:52 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Redpen]
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Gisele Dubson
Member
Registered: 05/28/99
Posts: 5608
Loc: Boulder, CO, USA
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I think teaching yourself coding would be like teaching yourself how to take out your own appendix.
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Gisele F. Dubson, RHIA, Mercury Medical Communications
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#75679 - 07/04/07 08:11 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Gisele Dubson]
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Endiqua
Member
Registered: 04/28/05
Posts: 3320
Loc: At the computer - where else?
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LOL, Gisele, what an image. If I'm *really* motivated and work *really* hard, I can overcome any difficulties that might arise from a less than adequate education, right?
"Ooops, that artery wasn't shown in the textbook. Wonder if it's supposed to spurt like tha........"
_________________________
"I recognize the tintinnabulation when it starts, but I haven't the least idea which particular bat-filled belfry it's coming from." Tonks
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#75683 - 07/04/07 08:53 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Endiqua]
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Gisele Dubson
Member
Registered: 05/28/99
Posts: 5608
Loc: Boulder, CO, USA
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_________________________
Gisele F. Dubson, RHIA, Mercury Medical Communications
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#76072 - 07/11/07 10:53 AM
Re: self teach?
[Re: goaldie]
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sep
New Member
Registered: 08/18/06
Posts: 22
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I have not read all of the replies; I just would like to relate my own experience. First a little background.
I have taught myself many different things, foreign languages, the computer, and transcription. I also am a nonpracticing lawyer. I have the discipline motivation, and quite frankly, the brains to be able to do it.
So, when I decided that I wanted to transition into coding, and had the opportunity to have a CPT instructor as a study partner, it seemed like the obvious way to go.
I spent roughly 4 months studying the CPT and ICD-9 books, using study guidebooks with answers, and the Carol Buck CPC exam review book. I estimate I studied 2-5 hrs./day, 5-6 days a week. I met with my study partner 2-3 times a week, when she would answer any questions I had.
I sat for the exam on June 16th; I found out this past Monday that I am now a CPC-A. But, I have to admit, that when I came out of the exam, I was convinced I had not passed. It was gruelling. All of my studying had not prepared me;in addition some of the format was different than it had been previously, which was very disconcerting. Five hours sped by like it was 5 minutes. My mind was like swiss cheese afterwards. Truly, I don't know how I managed to drive home :-)
Anyway, I don't intend this to discourage anyone. It is testament that it can be done; however, you must be prepared and disciplined enough to devote a signifcant amount of time and energy.
Now comes the hard part: finding a job and having to work in an office again after 12 years of working from home! BTW, I will turn 53 y/o at the end of this month. It's never too late to learn. As a special friend of mine likes to say "It's not a big jump for a show dog." Good luck.
Sandy Portella
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#76076 - 07/11/07 11:58 AM
Re: self teach?
[Re: sep]
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Gisele Dubson
Member
Registered: 05/28/99
Posts: 5608
Loc: Boulder, CO, USA
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Hey, congrats on passing the exam! Good luck in your new profession.
_________________________
Gisele F. Dubson, RHIA, Mercury Medical Communications
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#76077 - 07/11/07 12:04 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: Gisele Dubson]
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sep
New Member
Registered: 08/18/06
Posts: 22
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Thank you, Gisele.
Sandy
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#76087 - 07/11/07 04:18 PM
Re: self teach?
[Re: sep]
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JJ3
Member
Registered: 04/01/01
Posts: 147
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You are an inspiration! Thanks for sharing your story.
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