"Mini-Guide" to Medical Billing and Coding Programs Online

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for medical coders and medical billing specialists will increase more than 27% over the next 6 years. Typically a medical coder or medical billing specialist will work in a hospital setting, but does not have to work directly with patients.

In a busy medical office or hospital, it would be difficult for a physician or nurse to maintain the hundreds (or thousands) of patient records that are handled each day. For every patient that receives medical treatment at a health care facility, records are created. Patient health records serve many purposes, such as:

• To document a record of your body functions, or vital signs
• To inform other doctors and specialists about what kinds of illnesses and treatments you have received over time
• To track the results of different tests that you have received

Doctors, nurses, and other medical providers depend on professionals who are trained and experienced in medical billing and coding to ensure that patient and medical records are taken care of thoroughly and efficiently.

If you are thinking of working in the health information field, consider some of the items on the following list:

• You are detail-oriented
• You can remember and recall things without difficulty
• You enjoy working in the medical field
• You are skilled at using a computer and typing on a keyboard
• Learning is enjoyable for you, and you would not mind having training to develop your professional skills
• You would like a job that offers routine rather than irregularity

The size of the medical facility may affect your duties working in medical coding and medical billing. For example, if you find work at one of the largest hospitals in your area, you may find that medical coders and medical billing professionals specialize in specific areas of health information.

At a smaller facility, the medical coders and billers may be working in all areas.

Though medical coders and medical billing specialists may typically work in hospitals and at health care facilities, they have very little interaction with the patients. This profession is one of the few in the health care industry that does not require direct contact with patients.

The focus of medical coding and billing is mostly administrative, managing the information and paperwork that is necessary to keep records and billing organized.

It depends on your school or provider. It is important that you are comfortable using a computer and have good deal of experience using the Internet. If you are earning your professional certification, there is typically one prerequisite. Most online students are required to have a GED or high school diploma. While it can definitely be helpful, you do not need to have industry or career experience to enroll in a medical coding and billing program.

If you are interested in enrolling in an online medical coding and billing degree program, then you should check with your online college or university about the program's requirements.

The majority of online medical coding and billing certification courses can be completed in a matter of months. It's important to note that the duration of your program depends the school you attend, and what kind of program you choose.

Some schools, like Penn Foster Career School, have professional certification programs that are self-paced, meaning that you can take as long as you need to finish each lesson. When you complete a lesson, you submit your work to the professor, and then you are sent the materials for the following lesson.

Other schools have instructor-facilitated programs, where your work is graded by an instructor. Your instructor is typically an individual who has extensive experience in the field of medical coding and billing. Unlike self-paced programs, programs led by an instructor must be completed within a certain time frame.

Study materials will vary depending on the online school or program provider, but may include textbooks, software applications, study guides, eBooks, CD-ROMs, etc.

Medical coding and billing schools may also provide students other reference materials, including reference materials such as medical dictionaries.

Successful online students and successful medical coding and billing specialists share many of the same characteristics and traits. These qualities can include:

• Strong computer skills and technical knowledge
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to work independently without a lot of supervision
• Comfort with navigating the Internet
• Demonstrated experience as a self-starter
• Good time management skills coupled with a strong work ethic
• Self-starter and able to stay on task

According to latest data published by the U.S. Department of Labor, medical coders and billing specialists can make anywhere from $20,650 to $32,990 a year. This salary level depends on many factors, such as:

• the number of years you have worked in medical coding and billing
• geographical location (metropolitan areas usually pay more because the cost of living is more expensive)
• the size of the medical facility (a small practice may not pay as much as a large hospital)
• your educational attainment level (high school/GED holder,
  associate's degree holder, bachelor's degree holder)

Medical coders and billers at the associate's degree level earn an average salary of $30,700 a year, and those at the bachelor's degree level earn an average of $36,000 a year (see bachelor's degree programs online for medical informatics).

For those looking for career advancement and potentially managing a medical coding and billing department, there are online master's degree programs in health informatics and health information technology.