Popular positions available after graduation for students with a medical billing and coding diploma
March 9, 2009
•SBC-Collinsville
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Medical billing clerks and medical records clerks play crucial roles in the modern healthcare industry. Medical records clerks, who specialize in medical coding, are primarily responsible for recording a doctor's diagnosis and treatment of a patient properly, into the patient's file. Medical billing clerks insure hospitals, doctors' offices and nursing homes are correctly reimbursed by medical insurance companies for the care they provide patients.
In 2006 medical records and health information technicians held approximate 170,000 jobs in America, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment opportunities are expected to increase by 18% over the 2006-2016 decade. Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm#outlook. Many students are pursuing a medical billing and coding diploma as a way to break into this prosperous field.
Medical Billing Representatives
Medical billing courses introduce students to the procedures of medical billing. Medical billing representatives are often called medical office billers or medical office billing assistants. Individuals with medical billing and coding diplomas, who have completed medical billing courses, may find employment in doctors' offices, care facilities and hospitals. Every hospital maintains a medical billing department, which updates and manages the charts of every patient in the hospital. Doctor's offices may have in-house medical billing departments or may use services located outside of their offices. Medical billers ensure that doctors and hospitals are properly reimbursed for their work so that they may continue to provide top care to their patients.
As not all doctors' offices and nursing homes maintain billing offices, skilled medical billing representatives, particularly those who have studied in medical billing courses and completed a medical billing diploma program, may be able to work from home. Working from the comfort of your home allows some medical billers increased flexibility in their schedule. Medical billing courses and a medical billing diploma may be the extra help you need to find a job working from home.
Medical Coding Positions
Medical coding technicians play a significant role in helping doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals provide excellent medical care to their patients. Without proper knowledge of medical coding techniques and computer programs a disease or treatment could be improperly documented and a patient could be harmed. Those who have completed a medical billing and coding diploma may be able to pursue careers as medical office billers, medical records clerks, medical office assistants or intake coordinators.
These individuals work in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.
Help Doctors Better Treat Cancer as a Cancer Registry Medical Coder
Medical records clerks may choose to work in cancer registry. Cancer (or tumor) registrars maintain area and national databases of cancer patients. Cancer registrars deal primarily with cancer patients' files, noting the type of cancer or tumor, treatment and results. Registrars follow-up with cancer patients to track their recovery and provide information to public health organizations and officials. Doctors and health organizations use information from cancer registrars to learn which treatment options are most effective in beating cancer. Building a career in this area is joining the fight against cancer and will provide you the opportunity to use your talents to improve the quality of life for those affected by this disease.
Obtaining Medical Billing and Coding Diploma
Sanford-Brown College-Collinsville (SBC) offers a Medical Billing and Coding Diploma with courses covering subjects such as: billing practices and systems, coding and reimbursement systems, data abstracting, health record maintenance, or healthcare computer applications. Students in the SBC Medical Billing and Coding Diploma program will also complete a clinical externship to gain hands-on experience in the field. Want to make a difference as a medical biller or coder? Learn more about our Medical Billing and Coding Diploma program here.
Sanford-Brown College - Collinsville is close to many locations:
Alton, IL - approximately 21.6 miles
Edwardsville, IL - approximately 12 miles
Granite City, IL - approximately 8.4 miles
Madison, IL - approximately 11.2 miles
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm (visited February 06, 2009).