Traits Needed to Work in Medical Coding & Billing
At this point, you likely know that medical coding and billing positions are both lucrative and in demand. However, you may have wondered whether or not the industry is a good fit for your specific personality and skill set. Below, we will discuss five attributes of successful medical coding and billing specialists. Read on to see if you have the traits needed to work in medical coding and billing.
Logical Reasoning
Unlike many healthcare careers, medical coding and billing does not typically require contact with patients or creative problem-solving. Medical coding and billing is an analytical discipline. For this reason, medical coding and billing specialists must have a strong understanding of logic and reasoning.
Attention to Detail
In the medical coding and billing profession, there is little room for error. A mistake as simple as coding one procedure incorrectly could negatively affect the patient, the insurance company, the provider, and the provider’s facility. Thus, it crucial for medical coding and billing specialists to possess meticulous attention to detail.
Independence
Independence is an important trait for medical coding and billing specialists to possess for two reasons. One, much of the work medical coding and billing specialists do is performed alone. Thus, if you crave frequent socialization, this may not be the ideal industry for you. Two, many healthcare facilities do not have the need for an entire coding and billing department. Therefore, if you enter this field, you could be the only individual responsible for upholding the accuracy and efficiency of coding and billing at your facility. Such a responsibility requires a high degree of self-sufficiency and motivation.
Social Skills
Though medical coding and billing specialists spend most of their days working independently, there are times when they must communicate with others. Part of this communication involves calling nurses and physicians to clarify the diagnoses and services patients received. In this field, there are bound to be discrepancies from time to time, and such issues are easiest to resolve when you communicate in a friendly and professional manner.
Commitment to Learning
Medical coding and billing specialists work within the guidelines of healthcare providers, insurance companies, and the coding industry at large. And when there are that many entities enforcing policy, change is inevitable. However, the most successful medical coding and billing specialists are adaptable and able to learn new regulations with ease. This commitment to learning is also useful whenever new diagnoses and procedures are reported, as this means there are then new medical codes to memorize.
Develop the Traits Needed to Work in Medical Coding & Billing at EBI
Though some of the qualities above may appear to be innate personal attributes, many of them can be learned with practice. The only surefire way to see if you have the traits needed to work medical coding and billing is to enroll in an introductory course. For course offerings in the Vestal area, contact EBI at (607) 729-8915.
Why Choose the Medical Billing & Reimbursement Career
Medical billing and coding is a vital part of our healthcare system, despite public perceptions that it’s a bit of a dull desk job. The fact is that medical billing and coding specialists typically have a great quality of life. They’re in stable jobs in a continuously growing field, they get to work with other medical professionals to help save lives, and they enjoy an above-average lifestyle. Sounds pretty great, right? If you’re not convinced yet, or if you just haven’t been exposed to the profession, keep reading to discover the best reasons to work in medical billing and coding.
Help Save Lives without Medical School
There are many medical professionals in any healthcare facility that aren’t doctors, nurses, or graduates of a medical school – and all of them play a role in saving lives. Medical billers and coders are no exception. They play an integral part in our healthcare system as a whole. They log patients’ medical histories, handle insurance claims and payments, and help ensure patients receive the proper treatment. To a lot of medical billers and coders, one of the best aspects of the position is that they can help people without spending the eight to ten years and tens of thousands of dollars in medical school. The typical medical billing and coding program costs a fraction of medical school and takes between nine and eighteen months to complete.
Employment Opportunities Abound
Many new medical billers and coders primary concern is finding a job after completing a program. While a lot of the medical field is comprised of specialty positions, which would require professionals to likely travel to the nearest open specialty position, medical billing and coding is almost the opposite. Every hospital, clinic, nursing homes, administrative support centers, medical laboratories and more require medical billing and coding specialists. That a wide variety of healthcare organizations absolutely need these professionals means new medical billers and coders have a much higher potential of employment than other allied medical professionals. It also means medical billers and coders have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments, which keeps the job interesting. Plus, because the healthcare field is so dynamic, new billing and coding positions open quite frequently. And keep in mind that the more certifications a medical professional has, the more opportunities become available to them.
Quick-To-Start and In Demand
We’ve discussed how medical school isn’t necessary for medical billers and coders, which saves an enormous amount of money, but many people entering this field are more concerned with time. EBI’s Medical Billing and Coding Certificate program can be completed in 12 months and the Medical Billing and Reimbursement Specialist Associate Degree program in 16 months. Compared to eight years in undergraduate school and medical school combined, allied health careers like medical billing and coding are easily the quicker option to entering healthcare. That’s why the position is growing so fast, because people see the value in investing a small amount of time to achieve lasting career-making results. Medical billers and coders are also highly in demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the position to grow by 15 percent through 2024, much higher than the national average. Aging population, ever-changing healthcare industry, and governmental reform are just some of the causes for demand, all of which show no signs of slowing.
The reasons laid out here are just a few of the most popular benefits to choosing a career in medical billing and coding. As the demand for these specialists, along with other allied health professions, continue to rise, the benefits and advantages of the position will continue to expand. Now is a great time to start earning a medical billing and coding certification or associate degree. Future opportunities in the healthcare field for medical billers and coders has never looked so promising.
What to Include On Your Medical Billing & Reimbursement Resume
The healthcare industry is booming, but while jobs are in-demand, competition is fierce. You have to make a good first impression before you ever get your foot in the door, and it begins with your resume.
If you’re ready to sit down and put together a professional resume to pursue your medical billing and coding career, you probably have a lot of questions. How do I format? What keywords should I use? The career services staff at EBI Career College has come up with some quick tips for writing an effective resume.
Formatting
It’s your resume. You don’t need to include your life story. Make sure to hit the strong points: Who you are; Where you received your training; Your experience in the field. Be sure to include the following:
- Contact information –Name, address, cell phone and home phone numbers, and email address.
- Professional summary – Briefly describe yourself and the type of position you’re looking for.
- Skills – Use a bulleted list to include the skills you’ve acquired during your medical billing and coding training and externship. If you’re seeking your first medical billing and coding job, you can highlight some “soft” skills – attention to detail, interpersonal and communication skills, and collaboration – to help enhance this section.
- Experience – List your professional work experience in reverse chronological order. Include your externship, volunteer experience with any professional organizations and other jobs.
- Education – Include the name of the program, school, and date of completion, along with any professional certifications you may have earned.
“Action” words.
Your resume needs to grab an interviewers’ attention. Avoid passive phrases like “responsible for.” Instead, use action-oriented words such as “executed,” “organized” and “coordinated” to highlight your potential impact.
Make it scannable.
Believe it or not, but yours is one of many resumes a potential employer will evaluate to determine whether or not you receive an interview. Use scannable keywords that are directly related to the medical billing and coding field. It helps to use words and phrases from the job description.
No room for mistakes.
This could be your only shot at getting an interview, make it count. Be sure your resume is 100% error free. Use spell check. Have a friend or family member proofread. Be thorough.
Keep your resume up-to-date.
As you gain skills and experience, make sure to add it so your resume is ready when you need it. You never know when an opportunity will come your way.
One page is enough.
You only need to include relevant information on your resume. It shouldn’t take more than a page. Be sure to limit your resume to include only information vitally important to establishing your impact on a company.
Contact EBI Career College today!
Now is a great time to start a career in the healthcare field. You can complete your degree in as little as 16 months. To learn more about our Medical Billing and Coding degree program in Vestal, NY, call 607-729-8915.
