-
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ & read the forum rules. To view all forums, post or create a new thread, you must be an AAPC Member. If you are a member and have already registered for member area and forum access, you can log in by clicking here. If you've forgotten your username or password use our password reminder tool. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below..
Wiki Coder Productivity
- Thread starter jsukaran
- Start date
Pam Warren
True Blue
It's really difficult to answer this because workflows and EHRs vary by health system. You may have to do your own analysis--are they coding E&Ms, infusions, consultations? Each of those requires a review of different clinical criteria. Are they expected to abstract all diagnosis codes documented in the encounter (including chronic conditions?). Is all of the chart information in one place, or do your coders have to look in more than one application? Are they using an encoder, or books? Are the coders also going to be expected to meet a certain accuracy percentage? If so, then productivity might need to be less. How long, on average is it taking now? Remember to factor in breaks, meals, meetings and other non-productive time like emails. In a hospital I worked at recently, the coders were expected to code 6-8 accounts per hour, but they had to go into a different and clunky application, abstract all diags, and validate orders for infusions.
Totally agree with Pam that this can vary greatly depending on what they are coding and the various systems being used. I've seen this type of question posted periodically in the forums, and there is never an exact answer. I've heard of radiology coders expected to code 100 per day.
If just E/M, I would expect somewhere around 10-15/hour. Infusions would clearly take a bit longer.
While my staff does not have exact requirements, I would give a ballpark of coding 50-80 outpatient visits in an 8 hour shift (allowing for other daily work). If they are coding inpatient, it takes longer due to using 2 additional computer systems.
If just E/M, I would expect somewhere around 10-15/hour. Infusions would clearly take a bit longer.
While my staff does not have exact requirements, I would give a ballpark of coding 50-80 outpatient visits in an 8 hour shift (allowing for other daily work). If they are coding inpatient, it takes longer due to using 2 additional computer systems.