I'm thinking about a career change and taking vocational classes for medical coding/billing. Do you or anyone you know do this for a living? I'd just like to hear some opinions from someone who is experienced in this field. Things that would be good to specialize in, what to do/not do etc. Thanks!
2006-08-07 09:15:29 · 2 answers · asked by jacktripperslovechild 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
yes, I am in Pharmacovigilance/Medical Information at a fortune 500 biotech/pharmaceutical corp. in Cambridge MA ( where they all are lol) we do medical coding a LOT and while it is boring, there is good money in it.
However, a few stipulations.. all of OUR medical coders are qualified health care professionals as well (two are RNs, one is a Med. Technologist, and 1 is an RN and an NP) so if you are not a qualified HCP, this MAY hinder you getting a job... maybe not tho, this is the hub of the industry so they use the "top" people.... smaller companies and start ups might not be that picky.
Medical coding is a good career, its very boring as you do the same thing day in day out, but its good $ and u MAY be able to telecommute doing it.
Also, you need to be well versed in medical language, so this is probably why the ones we have here are all qualified HCPs... for example, before you can code Pulmonary Embolism, you need to know things like what organ/system class does it even fall under? If you knew that it's the Lungs and it means little air bubbles stuck in the pulmonary arteries commonly from when thrombosis follows a surgical operation or confinement to bed... then you are already well versed! if not, dont think it requires a few easy classes and youre in, because its not THAT easy... it takes time to learn the medical/scientific language that we use in pharmacovigilance and other medical fields as well.
What Im saying is, it is a good field, lots of jobs, good money but you really need to know ur medical/anatomical language. Good luck
2006-08-07 09:27:11 · answer #1 · answered by Peter Griffin 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I cant tell you much about it, because I am thinking of doing the same thing. All I have heard is that its becoming something big--- not very much school with really good pay..
2006-08-07 16:23:16 · answer #2 · answered by chinadoll 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋