Getting Plugged In

Do you ever feel like you are working in a void with no one to go to when you have a coding (or billing, compliance, etc.) question? I travel a lot, for work, and almost as much for fun, and the number of people I’ve met in the healthcare community who’ve expressed feeling alone and somewhat unprepared for some of the tasks they are asked to complete continues to leave me flummoxed.

According to the AAPC website, there are over 160,000 AAPC members. Although that is a small blip in the world population (approximately 7.5 billion), or even in just a single state’s population, anyone who works in healthcare will attest it’s a “small world.” I realize I am likely a bit biased because I’m passionate about being involved in organizations related to my career. I’m an AAPC Local Chapter Officer.  I’ve served on the AAPC National Advisory Board and Ethics Committee. I spend a good amount of my time and resources speaking at other local chapters, networking with other coders online, coaching coding and billing students, and speaking at conferences for both coders and clinicians.  I’m not saying all this to toot my own horn. I haven’t always been plugged in to the organizations around me.

At one time, I was a coder working in an office and didn’t know about all the resources available to me. Now, however, I have a huge list of resources I love to share with my colleagues and am always asking others about the resources they use and recommend.  I’m always finding something new!

How did I make the switch? Well, I started by attending a local chapter meeting and networking.  I also started doing a lot more research! Did you know Google is my best friend??  In all seriousness, I just keep researching, reading, and asking questions. Each time I’d find an answer in some new resource, I’d make a note of that resource! Of course, always be sure your source is a reputable one!

Want to see some of my favorite resources? I’m always happy to share, but I want to see some of yours as well!  Are you on social media? Use your favorite social media platform (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) and share your favorite resources along with the #AAPCSharesSkills to help show our fellow members they are not alone. I’ll be posting mine (with the hashtag) in the AAPC group on Facebook. If you are not yet a member, be sure to join.

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Chandra Stephenson

Chandra Stephenson, CPC, CDEO, CIC, COC, CPB, CPCO, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CCS, CPC-I, CANPC, CCC, CEMC, CFPC, CGSC, CIMC, COBGC, COSC, is an independent consultant and an AAPC Fellow. She started out in healthcare over 14 years ago and has worked in various settings, including a centralized billing office, a family practice office, a cardiology office, and a local technical college as a billing and coding instructor. Stephenson has worked as a coding and compliance auditor and enjoys auditing, researching coding and compliance issues, developing coding tools, and providing practitioner education. She is a member of the Indianapolis, Ind., local chapter.

Latest posts by Chandra Stephenson (see all)

• Make Your Chapter’s Mentorship Program a Hit - February 2, 2018
• HCCs Point to Risk Adjustment Compliance - October 1, 2017
• Getting Plugged In - July 19, 2017