Embracing Change: AI in Medical Coding
- By Laura Manser
- In Career Growth
- November 1, 2024
- 3 Comments
Take the right attitude to secure your future in healthcare.
In the ever-evolving world of medical coding, technology is constantly changing the landscape. One of the most significant recent developments is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI). As someone who has worked in coding for many years, I can see both the challenges and opportunities this brings. Having transitioned from being a medical transcriptionist to a coder, and now helping professionals with documentation improvement, I know how it feels to face sudden changes. But I also know that with change comes the chance to grow.
What Is AI Doing in Medical Coding?
AI is transforming coding by making it easier and faster to process information. These intelligent programs can analyze vast amounts of data quickly, abstracting documentation that might be overlooked by human eyes. This allows coders to spend less time on routine tasks and more time on complex cases that require human judgment. This doesn’t mean coders will become obsolete, however. Instead, coders can use their skills in new ways and transition to more specialized roles.
New Roles for Coders
As AI handles more routine coding tasks, medical coders can move into different, more specialized roles. For example:
- Auditing: Coders can review the work of AI to ensure accuracy and compliance in areas that require subjectivity.
- Clinical documentation improvement (CDI) specialist: In this role, coders help professionals improve their documentation. Good documentation helps AI improve its coding.
- Education: Coders can teach professionals about good documentation practices and assist programmers with teaching AI how to abstract and code clinical documentation, and to learn from the mistakes it makes.
- Specialized certification: Coders can focus on complex specialties where AI may not be able to take over for awhile. This ensures job security and expertise in areas that require a high level of human judgment and detailed knowledge.
Personal Experience
I know firsthand how hard it can be to deal with technological changes. When voice recognition software came onto the scene, I went from being a medical transcriptionist to an editor, and then my job vanished almost overnight. Luckily, I was already a certified coder, so I was able to easily transition my energies to this profession full time. This experience taught me to stay flexible and ready to learn new things.
Stay Positive and Adapt
Here are some tips to help you stay positive and adaptable:
- Keep learning: Always look for educational opportunities and stay updated with industry trends.
- Network: Talk to other professionals in your field. Sharing experiences and advice can open new opportunities.
- Find a mentor: A mentor can guide you through changes and offer valuable advice.
- Learn about AI: Eliminate the fear of the unknown. The more you know about AI, the more comfortable and prepared you’ll be to work alongside the technology.
By combining technology with our skills, we can improve outcomes and ensure accurate billing.
A Chance for Growth
AI is changing coding in big ways, but these changes bring new opportunities. By staying flexible and learning new skills, coders can find rewarding new roles. My journey from transcriptionist to coder to CDI specialist shows that a positive attitude can turn challenges into chances for growth.
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This article is timely and proactive and also greatly appreciated! After AI made similar inroads into my previous career I began looking for an alternative. You mentioned specialty areas that may have more job security and I’m hoping you’re willing to share those. Also as someone considering the transition and investment to start a new career, I’m also wondering if you would recommend it or if you believe AI advancement will overtake the industry fairly quickly. Your insight and expertise would be greatly appreciated to assist in my research for a career transition.
Warm regards,
Laura
Laura, I suggest that you search the AAPC blog for AI-related articles. We have published several that may answer your questions.
To get answers to Laura’s question, just Google “future of medical coding and AI” or “AI based medical coding”. These articles do not actually come out and say that AI software (called AI scribes and CAC) will replace people; however, it is strongly suggested that AI could eventually automate all coding activities. One author described it this way: “AI in medical coding is like having your best coder code 24/7 at lightning speed, with almost 100% accuracy.” Since the revenue cycle is one of the most important aspects of the healthcare industry, many companies would be very interested in the increased accuracy and reduced costs offered by AI. The software is not at this point yet, but it is closer than people may think it is. It’s capabilities already include the ability to interpret physician’s notes and even transcribe appointments with patients to make code recommendations. It can even prompt the physician to make inquiries that he may not have thought of or simply forgot about. Currently, there are still concerns with security, privacy, and compliance, but developers are on their way to overcoming these issues.
Initially, AI software will probably only be used to help coders to be more accurate. The next step will be for the software to take over all simple, more repetitive coding completely, with the coder only working on the most complex cases. But even these will be handled by AI software eventually. Many articles mention that this will provide opportunities for coders to move into supervisory roles where they basically oversee the AI’s work and are no longer doing any coding. I’m not completely sure what this means, but I can’t imagine that all of the coders employed today would be able to move into this type of role.
I was also considering getting a CPC as a career change; however, I’m very nervous that it is something that would last until I am able to retire. If you are planning on working as a CPC for 5-ish years, then it will be an interesting and rewarding employment option. However, if it is something that you are planning to do for 10-15 years (or longer), then you might want to do a little research on AI coding software before you jump in.