Not all healthcare careers revolve around patient interaction. A Medical Billing and Coding professional is one such role where individuals who want a stable, purpose-driven career and have a strong diligence for analyzing patterns, spotting errors, and organizing complex information might excel. This role is critical to the healthcare industry, taking health information provided by medical teams and converting it into codes that insurance companies need to reimburse providers.
Do you possess the following qualities and traits? If so, medical billing and coding may be the career path you’ve been looking for.
Be detail-oriented and organized
When reviewing patients’ health records, you must be able to focus on small details to accurately assign correct codes. Mistakes could result in a claim being denied or improperly processed. You must also feel comfortable managing a high volume of paperwork each day while staying organized and on task.Practice discretion
In this role, you will have access to patients' charts, including sensitive personal information. Patients have a right to privacy; this role requires that you can honor that privacy and be discrete. Sharing details could lead to termination as well as to serious legal consequences.Be tech-savvy
Most hospitals and physicians’ offices use electronic health records, and you will need to feel confident accessing digital information. Learning new software programs and using them proficiently is essential in this career.Be a critical thinker
Coders may need to pull and compare information from diverse sources in order to code a patient’s record. You may encounter a situation where you don’t have enough knowledge to code properly and must feel comfortable seeking out more information and asking questions when necessary.Excel at working independently
While medical billing and coding professionals play a significant role in healthcare facilities, they often work independently at their desk or even remotely at home. Therefore, if you are considering this profession, you will need to be an initiative-taking, self-starter and be responsible for getting your work done accurately and on time without supervision.Take a genuine interest in healthcare and medicine
While medical coding doesn’t involve direct patient contact, this job is centered in healthcare. It requires a good grasp of anatomy and physiology to evaluate medical records and patient treatment. You will need to learn complex medical terminology and phrases, which can often sound alike, to assign codes to claims accurately.
If these traits sound like you, becoming a medical billing and coding professional might be a good career choice. Fortis can help you get started through our Medical Billing and Coding training program. Submit the “Request Information” form on this page and our career advisor will reach out to discuss opportunities with you.