1. What Do Medical Coders Do?
Medical coders work with a team that includes medical billers, auditors, documentation specialists, and other health information technicians. Each of these plays a role in the management of health information data. Health information technicians who specialize in coding are called medical coders or medical coding specialists.
Medical coding happens every time you go to the doctor. Every time a patient sees a physician for medical treatment or evaluation, a record is kept. This record includes the patient’s symptoms and medical history, the doctor’s observations, and the services the physician rendered, as well as diagnostic tests and results, diagnoses, treatment plans, and treatment outcomes.
Medical coders review the patient record and translate items mentioned above into classified numeric and alphanumeric codes. This may sound straightforward, but coding a medical chart often involves chasing down clues to find the best codes to tell the patient’s story.
Coders first must identify important details in the record, and then evaluate numerous codes to assign the precise code to represent each detail.
Getting the codes right is crucial. The right medical codes maintain the integrity of patient information, which plays a role in directing patient care. The right codes also preserve the financial wellbeing of the healthcare organization, as codes form the basis of medical claims submitted to insurances for payment.
If you speak to a medical coder — and you should if you’re considering a career in medical coding — the coder will tell you that it’s the challenge of ‘the chase’ and the significance of the work that keeps them invested in what they do.
Testimonials
I love that coding is complex. I like solving puzzles. Never a dull moment!
–Kelly Lutz
I think of coding as being a detective! I have found a job I love and haven’t worked a day in my life. I am on an adventure.
–Lori Haney Hayward
Reading through the providers’ notes, searching for hidden gems ... It’s like putting together a puzzle. Working with providers to support their efforts in caring for patients — whether it’s identifying gaps in care, identifying the ideal ICD-10 code, or ensuring that services are reported properly — there’s so much to love!
–Cheri Westman
In return for their work, medical coders are well respected and well compensated. And while there’s more to tell you about this profession — including the types of medical coding certifications, the employment opportunities, and the career paths within the industry — we imagine you’re wondering if this career choice is even feasible for you. Let’s first address your questions of practicality.