Medical Coding Career Growth & Job Opportunities

Medical coding is a field many are not actually aware of. Basically, Medical coding is the translation of healthcare diagnosis, procedures, medical services, and equipment into universal alphanumeric codes. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), there were over 1.4 Billion patient visits to the hospital in recent years.  Medical Coding comes into play in tracking the incidence of a certain disease, medical facilities available, and in analyzing the efficiency of the practices. 

Why Medical Coding?

Medical coding allows for the efficient transfer of huge amounts of Patient information. Medical coding happens every time you meet a healthcare provider. Medical coding translates the documentation of health workers into standardized codes that convey the following things:

• Diagnosis of Patient

• Treatment and services to be provided to the patient

• Medical necessities and supplies needed for the patient

• Unusual circumstances or a medical condition if any, that can affect those treatments and services.

Where do Medical Coders Work?

Medical Coding professionals ensure the codes are applied correctly during the medical billing process, which includes abstracting the information from documentation, assigning the appropriate codes, and finally creating a claim to be paid. Medical coders work in the following institutions:

• Psychiatric hospitals

• Pharmaceutical manufacturers

• Acute care hospitals

• Physician practices

• Skilled nursing facilities

• Government entities

• Insurance companies

• Rehab facilities

• Law firms

• Medical laboratories

Career Growth in Medical Coding:

The demand for medical coders is on the rise than the average rate and the employment rate of medical coders is projected to grow by 15% by 2024. Various estimates indicate that the demand and supply gap for certified medical coders at present is 40%. The rising demand extends to medical billers and coders who support hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and physician-based practices. 

The diversity of agencies and institutions employing medical coders opens up a myriad of opportunities. Medical coding, being a high stake job with complex responsibilities is the ultimate reason why Medical coders are greatly compensated. Other than this, there are many other benefits of choosing medical coding as a profession as it is a well-reputed career choice. 

Read More: Benefits of Medical Coding Career

Job Opportunities in Medical Coding:

Medical coders work with a team that includes medical billers, auditors, documentation specialists, and other health information technicians. Each of these plays a significant role in the management of health information data. Therefore, Medical coding as a career can truly be a lucrative option. 

Professional coders largely work independently and are placed on tight production schedules. Successful medical coders know anatomy, medical procedures, payer rules, and policies.

AAPC has elevated the standards of medical coding by developing training programs, providing professional certification, and opportunities to work with other related medical professionals.

There are several Medical coding certifications across the globe that you can choose to pursue. The baseline for most medical coding professions is Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and there are more.

• Certified Professional Coder (CPC): Certifies the coder’s ability to work in an outpatient setting. People who take CPC training and passed the exam to earn their CPC certification have demonstrated mastery of ICD-10-CM medical code tests and CPT.

CPCs also have proven knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and pathophysiology. CPC credential from the APCC requires candidates to take the exam at an approved APCC exam site after meeting all the eligibility requirements. 

• Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC): Facility coders should pursue the CIC for inpatient coding.

• Certified Outpatient Coder (COC): Certified Outpatient Coder deals with patients receiving in and out services. 

Becoming a medical coder is not an easy task, the job involves highly specialized skills that require highly specialized training. There are many skills required for a medical coder professional including various soft skills. 

Training in Medical Coding:

The training in medical coding varies based on the type of medical coding that interests you. Many medical coding programs in Abu Dhabi can be completed in less than a year depending on the student’s availability. 

The coursework for the medical coding programs consists of a mix of technical knowledge, healthcare information, and some business topics. This combination of subjects provides you with the foundation of knowledge required for medical coding, and all you need is the ability to cultivate qualities that will complement your work as a medical coder. 

Various Job roles in Medical Coding:

Careers in medical billing and coding fields have a number of job roles that vary based on the job responsibilities. If you are considering pursuing a career in medical coding, make sure you do your own research and ask relevant questions beyond job outlook and work environment. Following are some of the job roles of a medical coder.

• Medical records coordinator

• Medical coding specialist

• Medical billing specialist

• Medical records technician

• Health Information Specialist

• Medical Records Clerk

• Medical Records analyst

Salary of a medical coder in Abu Dhabi:

A person working as a certified medical coder in UAE usually earns around 13,500 AED per month. Salaries range from 6330 AED (lowest) to 21,300 AED (highest).

The salary of a medical coder varies based on experience, skills, and geographic location. The table below shows how the salary of a Medical coder increases with experience level.

Conclusion:

Medical coding and billing fulfill an important administrative function within the healthcare industry. With the outbreak of the pandemic the healthcare industry has taken a center stage, bringing forth challenges both hidden and visible that need immediate attention.  As a result, the demand for the Medical coding and billing profession has increased over the years. 

Medical coding professionals update medical records and obtain payment for their services rendered. Individuals who work in this field assign standard codes for each diagnosis and medical procedure. Take the time to learn the right options and enroll in professional training courses before embarking on a medical coding career.