Importance of Professional Coders Certification for Medical Coders

Medical Coders are the qualified professionals that work in hospitals and medical offices to maintain patient’s records. They use specific coding software to assign code to every diagnosis and medical procedure used to treat patient. All codes are based on special classification system. Anyone can become professional in the field of medical coding by completing associates or bachelors level health sciences degrees with special focus on health information management and technology courses about medical billing and transcription. There are various top accredited colleges and universities in USA that provide these degrees via on-campus or online health sciences degree.

Why you should pursue Professional Certification to become certified Medical Coders?
After completing required education and training you can start your career as a medical coder in any medical office or hospital. But once you have gained some experience in this field it is very beneficial to obtain professional certification offered by renowned accrediting bodies like The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Such professional certifications provide you a competitive edge in the job market over other candidates who don’t possess certification. It also assures employers that medical coders possessing professional certifications are skilled and well qualified to perform this job. Moreover, certified medical coders can earn higher salaries as compared to non-certified professionals.

Major Accrediting Organizations offering Medical Coding Certification for Health Sciences Degree Holders
There are mainly two major professional organizations that provide professional certifications for medical coding professionals. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) are considered as highly reliable organization. Both of these organization offer online classes to reward certification to professional medical coders. Curriculum for this certification can be completed within a year via online program. Such certifications are very helpful and enhance chances to progress. As we know healthcare industry is a booming industry. That’s why medical coding professionals are in high demand like other healthcare professionals.

Benefits of Earning Medical Coding Certification
According to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), certified medical coders can make 20% higher salaries as compared to non-certified professional. All professionals possessing certification from reliable accrediting bodies can take all benefits associated with such organizations. Higher salary is not a single advantage of earning certification. Moreover, excellent job opportunities are available for certified medical coders with bright opportunities for career advancement. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) conducted a survey in year 2005 and identified that certified medical coders save employers money and upgrade quality and delivery of health care facility. Moreover, coders possessing certification needs less on job training as compare to non certified professionals.

EndNote
In order to start your career as a medical coder you are required to complete relevant degree in Health Information management as well as professional certification. Affiliation with professional organization is also very helpful to find suitable job with good income. Professional certification from accredited bodies indicates the level of skills and expertise of professionals.

What do Employers Look to Hire Entry Level Healthcare Executive?

Due to aging of large part of population and current advancement in technology, healthcare industry has become highly dynamic and promising career field among all other occupations. It offers wide range of career opportunities in its different sub-fields. Moreover, a qualified healthcare executive is capable to work in diverse healthcare setting like hospitals, managed care organizations, home health services, long-term care units and consulting firms.
You can guess the promising future in healthcare industry by observing some numerical facts about top occupations in US. According to a research report, half of the 20 fastest growing occupations are belong to health services fields. Whereas if you particularly look for employment opportunities for administrative/executive healthcare careers, you will find that number of jobs are available in physician offices and home healthcare services. During the next 10 years it is predicted that around 3.5 million new jobs will be available in health services which is the total of 16% of all new jobs. Hospitals contribute to only 2% of the jobs available in healthcare industry. Remaining jobs are offered by other healthcare facilities like clinics and private practices.

Critical Stage of Job Search
Interview is the critical stage of job search in the any field. Irrespective to the fact whether you are interviewing for hourly wage opportunity, entry level job or highest paying hospital executive role and clinical job like doctors or nurses, you will have to make sure that you are well prepared for interview. If you are thoroughly for your job interview it will ensure your success to get job. An interview is the presentation of you to the employer. You can show the skills, expertise and will to learn new things to your employer.

Do you have all primary things to become professional healthcare executive?

Before applying to get job in healthcare industry to become a healthcare executive, you must know what an employer look for in candidates applying for entry level managers in healthcare. Following are some primary criteria you must consider when preparing yourself to become healthcare executive.

Education &Training/Previous Work Experience

Like all other professions, training and education is of core importance. A relevant degree in healthcare administration/healthcare management from a top accredited college or university makes you enable to apply for job. Furthermore, candidates obtaining continuing education for professional development are also eligible for healthcare executive careers. Employers also consider candidates with previous working experience on positions like internships and fellowships health facilities and business settings.

Good Communication skills
Healthcare executives deal with patients and other healthcare professionals, effective coordination among all of them requires unmatched written and verbal communication skills. You need to show strong written and communication skills that will help you to produce reports and proposals.
Flexibility to fit in Organization
Employers also consider the flexibility in candidate. They evaluate how you can interlock your career objectives with organization’s aims. Your flexibility to work with higher level professionals, subordinates and colleagues is also an important factor that effect on employer’s decision. Other things that an employer must look include your overall attitude and appearance that represents your confidence, maturity and level of competency.
Dependability and Loyalty
Every employer considers those candidates more on healthcare executive posts who show dependability and honesty for their organization. Besides this, making mature decisions and taking responsibilities of these decisions is also a plus point.  An honest and ethical business behavior with strong commitment for organization you are employed will enhances your promotion options.

Conclusion

Above we have discussed few important characteristics a potential employer will see in a candidate applying for entry level healthcare executive. In order to become a successful healthcare executive professional you will have to train you to develop above mentioned qualities and skills. If you are interested to become healthcare executive professional, you can click here to know relevant health sciences degree programs offered by top accredited universities and colleges.

What you should know about Externship programs for Medical Assistants?

Whether you are going to attend traditional on-campus classes or online degree programs to complete your required education to become a qualified medical assistant, you will find almost all top accredited colleges and universities offer an externship or internship training along with medical assisting degree programs. A medical externship program let students to work in healthcare facility under supervision of medical professionals. 

Purpose of Medical Assistant Externship

Medical assistant externship is very important stage that plays a very important role in becoming a professional. Students who are taking externship programs after completing their degree are not treated like professionals staff working in healthcare facility. They are not eligible to attend patients neither they take part in ordinary tasks in any medical facility. Rather an externship program is an unpaid practicum training that enables students to solidify and refine their skills and train them to work in actual environment. Although, externship is an unpaid program but it provides hands on working skills and real world experience in the medical facility. Usually it continues from 6-12 weeks. Duration mainly depends on arrangement of schools with healthcare facility. State laws also regulated duration for externship programs. Not all schools offer an externship training program that’s why it is very important to search different schools and colleges before taking admission. Externship is not mandatory to obtain good quality practical training to become medical assistant, but it significantly help to find good job after graduation.

Major Advantages of attending Externship for Medical Assistant Programs

Besides providing hands on practical training to work as medical assistant externship programs for medical assistants also offers following advantages such as

• Providing Excellent Medical Assisting Experience
• Good Job offers and Job Recommendations

Providing Excellent Medical Assisting Experience

The major advantage of earning externship for medical assistant is getting real world work experience. Besides, obtaining huge knowledge and learning basic skills in the classroom, externship will provide you high quality practical skills and enable you to understand how to apply those theoretical and practical concepts in real world. During the class you are only interacting and practicing with your class mates and you are under pressure to present everything perfect. In contrast, during externship you will face actual problems and real situations that help you to build up your confidence. You will be dealing with real patients under supervision of qualified medical professionals.

Good Job offers and Job Recommendations

We all know it’s tough to find job even for degree holders, if they don’t have good communication with professionals in their field. Externship also helps you to build contact with professionals. Medical professionals who train you during practical training can become a great support for you. They can recommend you for job in any medical setting when you are ready to search job. Even you can receive a job offer for the same externship site where you have completed your training. Students who remain keep in touch with their supervisor or key personals at healthcare unit where they finish their training get benefits. And job search becomes easy for them. 

If you are willing to become medical assistant, you can visit this website to get authentic information about top accredited colleges and universities offering health sciences degrees online.

Famous Medical Assistant Work Areas

Medical Sciences or health sciences is one among the fastest growing and promising field. It welcomes all individuals who have natural interest to provide help and care to people facing health issues. You can even join some entry level medical sciences jobs with minimal level of education. The best way to jump start your career in the field of health sciences is to become medical assistant. Medical assistant itself is very broad and diverse healthcare profession mainly divided into administrative and clinical jobs. Common people assume that it requires several years of education and practical training to become a healthcare professional. The actual situation is entirely different; there are number of medical and health sciences degrees that can be completed in as little as nine months or a year and after pursuing degree you will become eligible to join great career in medical field. Usually, candidates who are interested to become in this field can complete one year certification training or two years associates of health sciences degree. While if you want to become a doctor, nurse or willing to specialize in any specific healthcare field. You will have to complete all relevant education.

Medical Assistant Work Areas

Almost all health service and medical facilities hire medical assistants to run their facility in efficient way. There are numerous numbers of job opportunities and specialization areas available for candidates with medical assisting degree and certification. Employers define duties of their medical assistants according to their requirements. Following are some of the famous work areas or jobs available for qualified professionals.

• Medical Assistants working in Team
• Front Office: Clerical, Reception and Admin 
• Back Office: Clinical and Therapeutic and Storage
• Medical Office Managers

Medical Assistants working in Team

Medical assistants find job in clean and well organized environments. Qualified professionals play important role in medical facilities to operate all functions smoothly. They follow doctors or physician directions and coordinate with patients and build lasting relationship. They manage all primary issues related to patient’s visit to clinic, collecting blood samples and other specimens like wound swabs for bacterial cultures. As we know a typical medical office is divided in to two main areas that include front and back office. Besides this major division of a medical office, a medical office should function as a single unit with a common goal to provide best health services to patients. Well trained medical assistants who are working in of large healthcare facilities work with others like a team and are capable to oversee all issues of front and back office.

Front Office: Reception, Admin and Clerical

Commonly medical assistants are the first person who interact with patients very first when they visit any health service unit. They take care of front office and reception area. They are also known as medical secretary as they are handling all kind of clerical work of the front desk. Mainly these professionals’ carryout administrative duties like scheduling patient’s appointment, verifying and filling out insurance forms, writing reference letters, making appointments for X-ray, laboratory tests and other diagnostic and medical procedures. They perform necessary data collection for patients like pulling out their previous medical records, charts when they are sitting in waiting area. Professionals working in front office are also described as medical administrative assistants.

Back Office: Clinical and Therapeutic and Storage

Back Office is an important part of medical service units. It is the hub place where all ambulatory healthcare services are performed by clinical and medical professionals like doctors, nurses and therapist. Physicians and doctors provide consultation services to patients to assess and diagnose diseases. Other important functions that are carried out in back office include screening procedures, physical and diagnostic examination, immunization and therapeutic treatments. Clinical Medical Assistants assist these professionals in back office and write prescription for patients according to physician directions.

Medical Office Managers

Medical office managers are kind of higher grade administrative professionals that work as an assistant to doctors in back office. They handle hospital computer records, financial issues and storage rooms. They coordinate with everyone in front and back office to improve quality of health services. A medical office manager can be a registered nurse or Health Information manager with a health information degree. They also ensure supply of medicines and medical equipments continuously and organize after hours cleaning staff to maintain hygienic environment. Moreover, they also maintain structure of medical facility building.

EndNote

Medical Assistants work in healthcare facilities and help other clinical staff like doctors, nurses and therapists to identify and treat patients in better way. If you are interested to become a professional in this field you can get enrolled in any university to get relevant health sciences degree via on-campus or online health sciences degree programs.

What are Healthcare Executive Careers?

 

 

Due to latest advancement in science and technology in the field of medical sciences, management/administrative health sciences have become one of the most dynamic and progressing field. A wide range of challenging career opportunities is available for candidates. You can explore about various healthcare careers while sitting on your personal computer using internet. Exploring educational and career options available in professional market will enable you to make well informed decision about career.

What are Healthcare Executives?

A qualified healthcare executive is the front-line medical professional in any health service providing facility. They try best to make patients feel comfortable as soon as they enter in hospital or clinic to obtain any health services. Healthcare executives provide their services as generalist as well as specialists. As a specialist they become responsible to work in any specific department whereas if they work as generalist they are capable to serve all departments in health service facility to manage various issues of entire facility. Healthcare executives are known as healthcare administrators and managers who plays critical role to manage hospital and health service organizations. They oversee operations and system of entire health service facility to ensure that their organization have maintained good balance between medical and operational services with strong finance to better fulfill the needs of patients, families and communities. They work as associate with doctors, physician and nurses to improve quality of health services and patient care services to all patients. Furthermore, they also run awareness programs to educate community about important health issues and provide timely information about public threats during crisis condition. Irrespective to the department they work in any healthcare unit, their main responsibility is to guarantee that their organization fulfill its role as safety nets for whole community by improving emergency and continuous services. 

Candidates who are suitable to become a Healthcare Executive?

Due to its diversity and flexible educational requirements becoming a healthcare executive is suitable for all candidates who have interest to help people and willing to work in healthcare facilities. Whether you are a high school student, a baccalaureate student researching about different occupations to choose the one or a professional who is willing to transform his career in to healthcare executive, all of them are eligible to join this career field. They are required to pursue relevant management and administration degrees.

Are there any Healthcare Careers available for Non-Medical Degree Holders?

A layman can think that health science industry offers career opportunities only for those who are holding degrees in medicine or related courses like nursing and physical therapy. You must have visited any health service facility any time you need. You must have seen there are number of other non-clinical or administrative staff in admin and billing department. These professionals are not directly involved in providing patient care services but they play important role to run the whole process of providing health services smoothly. Like all other organization, health service facilities also need qualified professionals to perform various kind of administrative and bureaucratic function to operate whole facility. If you are willing to work in the field of medicine, but don’t like to pursue typical hectic medicine degrees, you may find it interesting to become a healthcare executive after pursuing administrative health sciences degrees. To pursue a healthcare executive career you need to complete educational requirements to perform secretarial and administrative duties. Initially after pursuing bachelor’s level health science degree in administration/management you can join an entry level job in various healthcare facilities. Few entry level management job titles or careers are as follows:

• Human Resource Executive
• Government Relationship Officer
• Marketing and Public Affair Professional
• Medical Staff Relationship Officer
• Finance Executive
• Planning and Development Personal
• Nursing Administration Staff
• Patient Care Service Executive
• Material management Staff (Purchasing and Supply of equipment)

How to become a Healthcare Executive?

Healthcare Executive is a kind of high standard career that requires some extra level of skills and education to become a successful professional. It is not enough to possess just bachelor’s degree when you are seriously willing to acquire this profession. Initially higher level of health sciences degrees are not required to become an administrative or management professional. But now days a tough competition has existed among all candidates who are striving to become a professional in this field. In order to maintain a competitive edge over your competitors by keep yourself updated with higher degree and working skills. Rank matters a lot when you are working as an administrative and management executive in healthcare facility. Candidates may find job to work in private work settings and government agencies.

EndNote

Healthcare Executive careers have gained much popularity among individuals who have a strong desire to work in healthcare units but don’t interest to get into medical careers. You can acquire any administrative or management career after pursuing management health sciences degrees from any of the top accredited universities and colleges of your state.