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. 

 

Medical Assistants

Introduction
As we know health sciences industry has become a promising industry that provide huge number of job opportunities for individuals who have natural desire to help others. Qualified professionals are required to work on various clinical and non clinical jobs. Due to this rising demand of well trained health science professionals, it can be a good decision to join this lucrative field as a medical assistant. These professionals are capable to manage various administrative, clerical and clinical duties in healthcare facility. In order to make more clear understanding about medical assistants, you will have to make clear understanding about duties of these professionals as well as the tasks they are not allowed to do.
Definition of Medical Assistant
Medical Assistants are not licensed professionals usually work in large or small medical units, physician offices and health clinics where they perform routine task of medical offices, physician clinics and health clinics. They are trained enough to tackle clinical and administrative issues as well as specific task in therapeutic departments. They usually don’t work in nursing care units and hospitals. This is a rewarding healthcare career and huge number of men and women are attracted to join this health sciences field. A qualified professional can work under supervision of physician, registered nurses, occupational and physical therapist, respiratory therapist and lot of other allied healthcare professionals. Medical Assistants are specific healthcare professionals who are entirely different from nurses (Licensed Practical nurses certified Nurse’s Aides and certified Nephrology Nurses) and other non-licensed professionals like Emergency Medical Assistants, Physician Assistants, and Medicine Aides. Even few of them show similarity in abbreviations with medical assistants. A doctor, nurse or physicians have to be present physically when these professionals are involved in providing any direct patient care services to patients.

Categories of Medical Assistants
There are 4 major categories of medical assistants. Every professional in a category possess unique set of skills and different training to carryout different duties in medical care units. Irrespective to training and skills that all professionals possess, they are allowed to work under direct supervision of authorized medical and health science professionals in outpatient care units, medical offices, surgical and ambulatory facilities, correctional and rehab units, colleges and universities. Following are 4 major types of these professionals.

• Administrative medical assistants
• Clinical medical assistants
• Ophthalmic medical assistants
• Podiatric medical assistants

Administrative Medical Assistants
Administrative Medical Assistants are responsible to update and maintain medical records of patients. They perform primary administrative tasks like filling out insurance forms for hospital admissions and relevant laboratory services.

Clinical Medical Assistants
Clinical Medical Assistants can perform various duties according to specific state laws. Common duties include writing patient’s medical history, observing vital signs and preparing patient’s for medical examinations, helping physicians during patient examination and explaining treatment procedures to patients.

Ophthalmic Medical Assistants
Ophthalmic Medical Assistants are specialized medical assistant who are capable to provide additional services and duties to assist ophthalmologists. They are trained to provide eye care services under supervision of eye specialists.

 
Podiatric Medical Assistants
Podiatric Medical Assistants are qualified to explain therapeutic exercises to patients under supervision of podiatrist. They also guide patients to wrap and bandage feet, keep examination room clean and arrange all instruments and equipments ready to use. Furthermore, they also look after purchase and maintain equipment’s supplies.

Job Description of Medical Assistant 
A qualified worker can perform range of different duties according to his/her knowledge and skills. Whatever the responsibilities that any medical assistant has to fulfill, their routine is very busy and they have to complete multiple tasks. Common tasks and duties that a professional has to execute include registration of new patients, maintaining new/old patient’s records, issue appointments, validate health insurance coverage for every patient, maintaining and organizing examination rooms, collect and process payments, update medical records, help doctors and physician during patient’s examination,  obtain and arrange lab reports and answering patient’s calls. You don’t need a license to work as a medical assistant. A well trained professional is able to fulfill important duties that are equally important and rewarding like clinical services offered by direct patient care services. Medical professionals assign different duties to these assistants employed under them. Their major role is to provide support to doctors to better understand and diagnose patients. They also treat patients in a very polite way and provide guidance to follow doctor’s advice.

Overview of Medical Assistant Duties
To further make you clearly understand about role of Medical Assistants in any healthcare facility, following is a quick overview of their duties.

• Recording patient’s vital signs
• Collection and preparation of specimens for laboratory tests
• Sterilization medical equipments
• Disposal of contaminated supplies
• Preparation and administration of medicines prescribed by doctors
• Guide patients to use medicines and specific diets
• Call and coordinate with authorized pharmacies to get medicines for patients
• Keep equipments, examination room and waiting area organize and sterilized
• Also maintain medicines stocks and other supplies

Medical assistants also guide patients about how to use crutches or walker in a safe way. Their major aim is to provide adequate care to every patient who visit and leave doctor’s office or medical care units. They also assist patients in sudden medical emergencies and inform doctors about critical events.

Conclusion
Becoming a medical assistant does not require any formal health sciences degree. Interested candidates usually take on job training and relevant education to become a professional. You can pursue one year certification or two years associate of health sciences degree from any community or vocational college. Medical Assistant belongs to entry level job options available among healthcare careers.
 

Healthcare Careers that Help You Persist During High Recession

 

Introduction

You must have noticed that there is a high recession in economy in recent years and it is not stable right now. This economic downfall also destabilizes and reduces job opportunities in different occupation. It has become difficult to maintain a healthy sound career for professionals in different fields. Due to current downsizing in employment, fresh candidates have become very conscious to select any occupation to pursue as a career in future. Considering all these factors about economic issues it has observed that various professions are still retain stability and don’t get affected much like healthcare, information technology and education. Healthcare is grouped among the largest industries in USA with work force of 14 million in 2006 that is expected to grow about three million additional job opportunities in year 2016 (BLS report). There are hundreds of different jobs available in healthcare profession. Like all other professions healthcare also offer highest compensation packages and good salaries for individuals holding higher level degrees and low salary with small benefits for those pursuing lower level health sciences degrees. People have become very careful to choose suitable career for their future life. They consider primary things like time and education required to earn good salaries earned in future. Good thing about healthcare profession is that there are few healthcare careers that fulfill all criteria to rapidly progress in professional world.

Healthcare Careers that Help You Persist During High Recession

Almost all jobs in healthcare sector require some level of degree and work experience to progress and survive during high recession. If you have relevant degree in health sciences you can become a qualified and successful healthcare professional in any specific specialization of your choice. Healthcare industry progresses continuously due to huge aging population and current advancement in technology. Following are some famous healthcare careers that are considered among few healthcare careers that let you persist under high recession conditions.

• Healthcare Management and Administration Careers
• Medical Healthcare Careers
• Therapist Careers
• Diagnostic Careers

Healthcare Management and Administration Careers

With an associates or bachelors level degree in the field of health sciences you become eligible to join any career in the field of healthcare management and administration. There is a broad range of careers available in this area of specialization. Depending on the level of your education you can join assistant or manager level positions in healthcare facilities. Specific healthcare management and administration careers include medical transcriptionist, medical office secretaries, medical coders, medical record keepers, office mangers or medical administrators. Expected job growth rate in this area is estimated to 18% in year 2018.

Medical Healthcare Careers

Medical healthcare careers require an associates, bachelors or doctorate level health sciences degrees. You will be working as a healthcare professional like doctor, nurse or therapist as well as assistant for healthcare professionals like doctors, RN nurses, occupational or physical therapist. As we know that baby boomer population is aging rapidly, it enhances the need of well trained and qualified healthcare professionals. Interested candidates can even start their medical healthcare careers as an assistant and learn essential skills on job. But an associates or bachelors health sciences degree is very helpful to gain and learn all necessary knowledge and skills to carry out routine tasks in healthcare facilities. You will have to complete your required degree in medical sciences to qualify for job. Graduate students of medical assisting degree programs are capable to become licensed practical nurse, physician assistant and registered nurse. All medical healthcare careers will remain in demand during high recession because qualified healthcare professionals are always required to provide better health services to populations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics job growth rate is predicted to rise 35% between the years 2006 and 2016.  

Therapist Careers
Respiratory therapist, occupational therapist and physical therapist are three major healthcare careers in this field. All of these three careers require bachelor’s level health sciences degree to become a professional. They are well trained healthcare professionals that utilize different relevant techniques to treat patients. The main cause of these professionals to improve quality of life of people having disorders like respiratory issues, mentally and physically disabled peoples and patients having some muscle injuries that don’t let them to move and work properly. Again these jobs will be less affected during recession time, because skilled professionals can also start their work privately or they can join various work settings like hospitals, schools, rehabs and sports.

Diagnostic Careers
Some individuals are more interested to perform diagnostic services that help doctors and physician to treat patients accurately. For such personals various careers are available in the field of allied health services. Diagnostic medical sonographer, cardiovascular technologist and radiologists are some of the famous diagnostic healthcare careers. Associates or bachelors level education is required to get success and good compensation with job security in future. According to BLS employment will exceed to 24% during the year of 2008 and 2018. Diagnostic careers will remain almost unaffected from recession because health practitioners and doctors rely more on these diagnostic techniques to develop accurate treatment plan. Moreover, technology advancements also create jobs for qualified technologists.

EndNote
As you can see that it is not necessary that all healthcare professions help you to survive during high recession. Each healthcare career has its own merits and demerits. All careers allow qualified professionals to earn different at different times. There is no guarantee to remain unaffected during economic recession in any field including healthcare profession. Only thing that can save you is making careful occupational choices and obtaining relevant health sciences degrees and certifications. You need to identify that healthcare career you are going to join provide such services that people avail them as need rather than want.