What is Medical Coding?

What is Medical Coding?

Timely, accurate, and easily transferable information is at the core of all good health care services. Doctors, patients, nurses, insurers, and a host of other staff must all be completely up-to-date on patients’ statuses in order to make the correct decisions and provide the best care. Medical coding professionals, or coders, help make this happen every day.

A coder’s primary responsibility is to translate patient records into numeric and/or alphanumeric codes that then go into reports and database software, accessible by health care providers, insurance companies, research firms, and other key parts of the health care industry. Using any of several government-approved codes–including the National Drug Code (NDC), the ninth revision of the International Classification of Diseases, often referred to as the ICD-9, or the Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System (HCPCS)–medical coders turn specific diagnoses, procedures, and prescriptions into standard reference numbers. These reference numbers then allow hospitals, clinics, and outpatient-care facilities to make informed decisions about ongoing patient care, staffing, and potential expansions or changes in service. Medical coding saves lives, as the information relayed keeps track of medicines, procedures, and diagnoses, and can prevent administration of lethal doses, drugs, or surgeries. Third-party payers also use coded records for reimbursement purposes, and making sure that these companies receive this data is an important part of a medical coding professional’s job.

Over half of American coders work in acute care hospitals, usually in offices. Medical coding is unique within the health care field, as this is one of the few positions that does not entail long hours standing or very much hands-on interaction with patients. Full-time coders work around forty hours a week, with schedules slightly more regular–and less prone to emergency, on-call requirements–than other medical jobs. So, in a way, medical coding is like an “office job;” the office simply happens to be a hospital, clinic, or outpatient center.

Many coders also work from home, starting their own business or working with an existing contractor, or for health care software vendors, government agencies, or corporate compliance offices. Individuals who pursue further studies in medical coding by earning a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree often advance their careers by going into consulting, research, and administration.

The mean salary for medical coding professionals in America is $43,359 per year. Not surprisingly, the highest-paying jobs for coders are in consulting, integrated health care delivery systems, and non-provider settings, where the most experienced and educated coders can wield their expertise well. Entry-level coders in clinics and hospitals earn about $37,000 a year, though those with advanced or specialized certifications can earn up to $57,900 annually.

And with the US Department of Labor’s decree that this nation has a shortage of medical coding professionals, this career is hot, and getting hotter every minute. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that hiring in the field of medical coding is expected to grow much faster than average, compared to other jobs, so now might be the time to join in and explore a career in medical coding!