Medical coding is a rapidly growing field in the healthcare industry which converts documents from medical records, such as lab and radiologic results and doctor notes, into universal alphanumeric codes that indicate the diagnosis, treatment, operation, service, or equipment.
The field is extremely popular in worldwide marketplaces, and the need for medical coding professionals is gradually expanding around the world. The COVID-19 situation has drastically changed how healthcare is delivered, necessitating effective revenue cycle management. Medical coding has become an increasingly important aspect of the system, demanding the addition of more professionals along the healthcare continuum. Furthermore, the medical coding industry was worth USD 15.2 billion in 2019 which is expected to grow at a 9.6% CAGR between 2020 – 2030 and hence the sector is likely to expand gradually.
Medical coding is a thriving career route for anyone looking to advance their career. With short courses, getting started in medical coding takes less time. Quadra Plus in Dubai prepares candidates at a global level by providing a training program for certifications such as CPC® (Certified Professional Coder) offered by AAPC’s (American Academy of Professional Coders), Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). These certifications are recognized as gold standards in medical coding. This training would be the start of your medical coding profession.
If you’re thinking about a career in medical coding, here’s how you can learn more about the Medical Coding Career Path and the options available.
Role of a Medical Coder
A medical coder is essentially a translator. The medical coder goes over the patient’s file, converting everything to the universal codes required by insurance companies. It is the obligation of the medical coder to guarantee that the correct code is used every time. Moreover, in order to have a better understanding of the human body, medical coders must be familiar with anatomy and physiology. To understand legal concepts such as fraud and confidentiality, medical ethics is a must to study.
Career Benefits as A Medical Coder
Highly Rewarding:
Medical coder holds significant importance in healthcare as their contributions are critical to maintaining patient care continuity, which affects patient outcomes. It’s an excellent career path in terms of job demand and the financial security that an in-demand profession offers. Advancement opportunities as certified auditors, documentation specialists, and compliance officers increase income potential even more.
Rapidly Growing Industry:
The healthcare sector is a fast-paced world that is directly influenced by Research & Development, which increases the advent of innovative technologies and electronic health records (EHRs), promising a profitable career for new graduates and other professionals.
Dynamic Workplace:
Medical coders can work remotely because they have no direct contact with the patient. Moreover, you can work in hospitals, clinics, support centers, testing labs, and other medical establishments comfortably in 9-5 type shifts. As a result, every medical coder enjoys an excellent work-life balance.
Make a Career in a Few Months:
Unlike graduates who must devote significant time to establishing a profession in a field, medical coders can begin their careers in a few of months. A medical degree is not required to work as a medical coder or biller. A medical coding course can be completed in less than a year and is extremely lucrative. After passing the certification exam, you will be able to work in a variety of healthcare settings all around the world.
Independent Career Path:
As a medical coder, you would require little supervision from hospital administrators. You’d work with electronic databases to retrieve codes and tag the documents once you had the patient reports. As a result, the career is self-sufficient and has a realistic learning curve over time. You can even establish your own medical coding business and work with local healthcare providers to handle their reports.
Scope of the Medical Coding Industry
As mentioned above, the demand for medical coders is growing rapidly, with the employment of medical coders expected to increase by 15% by 2024.
Medical coders can work in any sort of healthcare facility, including hospitals, clinics, medical facilities, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, doctors’ offices, and medical laboratories. With the emergence of digital health records, several new opportunities have emerged for medical coders and their employers. New digital tools always help ensure the correctness of medical reports and boost the efficiency of medical coders.
Job opportunities open for a medical coder
- Medical Record Coordinator
- Medical Records Technician
- Medical Coding Specialist
- Health Information Specialist
- Medical Billing Manager
- Medical Records Director
Industries Looking for a Certified Medical Coder:
- Information Technology Services
- Government Agencies
- Professional Liability Agencies
- Insurance Companies
- Healthcare Facilities
- Physician Officers
- Health Systems & Hospitals
- Billing Organisations
- Ambulatory Surgery Centres (ASCs)
Medical coding allows you to be a part of a purposeful workforce. Insurance companies will not reimburse healthcare practitioners unless their reports are correctly coded. As a result, medical coders play an important role in recognizing medical operations, marking them with codes, and processing claims. The specialization indicates promising job prospects. Medical coding training can lead to several opportunities and, as a result, a lifelong career. You can learn the healthcare sector from the ground up and eventually assume key administrative positions.
