Independent Medical Coding : The Comprehensive Guidebook for Career Success As a Medical Coder [Paperback]

Donna Avila-Weil (Author), Rhonda Regan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1998

The comprehensive guidebook for career success as a medical coder.

How to start and successfully run your own professional independent medical coding business.

Types of services to offer. Marketing tips. Medical transcriptionists as coders.

Numerous topics and resource lists. Covers skills vital to success; education; certification; coding systems; home office set-up; pricing; business operations; ethics; risk management; finances; taxes; contracts; Internet; confidentiality; alternate careers for medical coding specialists; and much more.

If you're looking for a solid new career, consider medical coding -- one of the hottest professional opportunities today! Currently, there is a shortage of qualified medical coders in health care, and as managed care increases, more coders will be needed. Here's everything you need to know to be on the forefront of this exciting new industry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I felt as if the authors were sitting across from me explaining all the tips of the trade." --ADVANCE for Health Information Professionals

"In uncomplicated language, readers are told how to set up and manage a small medical-coding service. An array of topics ... are concisely presented ... an excellent resource" --Today's Librarian

"a great introduction to entrepreneurship as a medical coder ... this book is an excellent place to start your research ... excellent advice ... nuggets of coding and business savvy ... references and resources that are likely to be worth the cost of the book on their own merits ... accurate description and excellent list of advantages to a coding carer ... honest outline of concerns and issues that you must be prepared to handle ... you'll be able to use chapter after chapter of 'Independent Medical Coding' both at the beginning of your venture and for years to come." --For the Record --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.

About the Author

Donna Avila-Weil received her ART credential in 1997, and has worked extensively in the medical record setting for 25 years in the areas of coding, medical transcription and in medical staff services. Donna is also a CMT.

Rhonda Regan completed her ART course and received her CCS credential from AHIMA in 1994. She has eighteen years experience in the health care field, sixteen in coding. She owns her own independent coding and coding/consulting business, presents coding workshops, and was a consultant for a physician-owned -and-developed encoder system.

Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: Rayve Productions (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877810177
• ISBN-13: 978-1877810176
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,229,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Medical Books > Basic Sciences > Nosology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For any Coder thinking of pursuing an independent career., August 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Independent Medical Coding : The Comprehensive Guidebook for Career Success As a Medical Coder (Paperback)

This is a fantastic reference for anyone who is pursuing a career as an independent coder. In this age of "compliance" conscious organizations, anyone working independently needs to now how to organize business practices. This is not a "how to code" book. There are numerous very good coding references. This book addresses coding as a business. Working independently as a consultant, coding education resources and certification. It is an excellent resource and highly recommended to all who are considering pursuing an independent coding practice.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for coding professionals, March 19, 2000

By 

Brooke Mendoza - See all my reviews

This review is from: Independent Medical Coding : The Comprehensive Guidebook for Career Success As a Medical Coder (Paperback)

I was very pleased to find this book on Independent Medical Coding. I had been considering just such a career, but didn't know where to begin. This book was exactly what I needed. It gives the experienced coder an alternative career path into entrepeneurship without doing "billing". This book provided me the first stepping stone in what is soon to be my new career. I would like to see the authors do an even more in-depth book, providing even more information about this field. Because books of this nature are so rare, a comprehensive reference would be wonderful, and I would gladly pay extra for the information. The book as written, however, is an excellent resource and I definitely recommend it to anyone already skilled in coding who is interested in working for themselves. Thank you for writing this book!

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Be cautious of the title. Not what I needed or wanted., July 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Independent Medical Coding : The Comprehensive Guidebook for Career Success As a Medical Coder (Paperback)

Book may be helpful for someone already adept at medical coding, though I thought it still lacking in substance and vague non-responsive answers to very important subjects if really going to help someone changing careers. Title suggested help in coding which I needed and I wasted $35.