What is Medical Coding?

At the simplest level medical coding is translating medical diagnoses and procedures into a string of numbers, a code. Let me give you an example. Bobby takes his bike out for a ride (sporting his Superman helmet and elbow pads, of course). He decides to jump the curb. Crash! Next thing you know he's in the car with Mom headed to the doctor's office. As soon as they get there, Bobby's medical record begins. During each step of Bobby's visit and care, information is added. The nurse makes notes - What happened? Bike crash. Fever? No. How old is the patient? 8. Where does it hurt? "My ankle."

More details are added by the radiologist as he looks at the x-ray film and sees a fracture. The physician records details of Bobby's physical exam: normal head, neck, but painful, swollen ankle. These details are recorded in medical language, "Head normocephalic, atraumatic. Left lower extremity reveals edema and tenderness to palpation. Diagnosis: Tibiofibular fracture, nondisplaced." These recorded details become Bobby's medical record.

Medical coding specialists work with medical records. The medical coder is responsible for reviewing the medical record. The coder looks for key information such as the diagnosis - in Bobby's case a tibiofibular fracture. The coder also identifies services provided or treatments performed during Bobby's stay in the hospital - fracture casting, pain medication, consultations.

The coder assigns to each of the key pieces - diagnosis, procedures, services, treatments - a 3- to 5-digit code. The diagnosis code is assigned to the patient's diagnosis, and the procedure code is assigned to the treatment or procedures used to treat the diagnosis.

Medical coding is TRANSLATING medical language into numeric language... CODES!!

Medical Coding Training

Many colleges offer medical coding courses. When selecting a school for medical coding training, it is best to choose a school that follows the Career Step curriculum. Industry-wide, this curriculum is recognized as an excellent online, competency-based training program, which has been integrated into numerous programs at universities, colleges, technical and private schools.

Commenting on the new-hires in the coding industry, Chris Foster, EGOS, Academic Partner Medical Coding Program Manager, had this to say: "I am getting VERY positive feedback from [Career Step Curriculum grads] who are hired along with grads from other programs. Grads from other programs are unable to sit for the certification test and are told by their schools to go out and TRY to get a job, work for a year or two, and then take the test. Their programs are 6 months, in classrooms, and cost between $9,500 and $10,000. SHAME ON THEM!! My [Career Step Curriculum grads] have said that those students don't have a clue about what to do on the job and are frustrated and unhappy. My grads are performing very well and, while they feel they still have a lot to learn and experience, they feel good about the education they got and are happy with their jobs.

For more information on medical coding training, contact any number of academic programs that offer Career Step Curriculum. You may also request information or enroll in online medical coding training programs directly through Career Step's website.

More information on Medical Coding Training can be found here.