Career Development Research Paper Health, Medicine Research Paper

Career Development Research Paper
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Career Development Research Paper
Although doctors and nurses appear as the only people who handle more responsibilities in a healthcare institution, their work would be difficult without medical coders and assistants. For instance, when a patient visits a hospital, physicians must track down the history of that person, which involves searching for relevant documentation and paperwork. The medical profile of a patient shows the procedures that the individual has undergone in the past and any medication they might be taking. When doctors get that information, it becomes easy for them to treat sick individuals without complications. Moreover, when it comes to the compensation of the services offered by physicians, medical billers and coders are the ones who determine the payment depending on the resources that have been used in the treatment procedure. In particular, medical assistants handle clinical and administrative activities to make work easy for physicians in their offices. Medical coding refers to the use of unique codes for every medical procedure or diagnosis for proper data recording. Despite medical assistants and coders being among the best job positions in the healthcare sector, being a medical coder has always been my dream since it aligns with my skill sets and gives me various opportunities to advance my career.
Medical coders hold significant responsibilities or tasks, which is the reason why they must be highly skilled individuals. They extract critical data from patient records and examine the missing information. Additionally, these individuals assign the American Sociological Association (ASA) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. These specialists obtain pre-authorization for specific medical procedures. They check benefit verification and eligibility for hospitalization and treatment (Coyne College, 2020). Medical coders review patient information to ensure that they are complete and accurate. They perform chart audits and advise physicians on proper medical coding. Additionally, these individuals check the accuracy of patient data to ensure that the codes used to comply with medical coding guidelines and practices. They inform supervisors about any issue with computer programs or equipment. Medical coders assign unique codes to various treatment procedures and diagnoses (Harris School of Business, 2019). They follow up with healthcare providers for any documentation that is unclear to them. These specialists implement, update, and maintain coding software. Proficient medical coders must be highly skilled and should have appropriate knowledge of the coding policies and guidelines. They should be familiar with the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and be competent in using computer software and systems. Medical coders should have effective communication skills so that they can inform patients from different backgrounds and ages about what they need to provide for appropriate recording. These people should be able to work in a team and solve problems and discrepancies in medical coding. Most importantly, they should maintain patients’ data confidentiality, as stated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted an increase of medical coders in 2020 by approximately 21%. In other words, many specialists in the field of medical coding will be needed to address the ever-rising number of patients. Salaries of medical coders range from $26,550-$66,260 per year depending on a person’s education, years of experience, and job performance. The hourly pay ranges from $17-$20 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019). Medical coders have several lifelong learning opportunities. They can advance their careers and specialize in other nursing fields, such as family practice to increase their salaries. Once an individual gets a certification in the medical coding and billing, it becomes easy to diversify one’s career. Moreover, a person can become a supervisor and earn over $55,000 annually. In some cases, processing insurance claims or discrepancies can be time-consuming. For this reason, medical coders are required to have patience and communicate with insurers and patients to ensure that they are updated in every step of the way. Consequently, medical coding is a growing and stable career that can make an individual open to other numerous job opportunities.
Medical assistants offer various services, namely receptionist, clerical, and technical. The scope of their work varies based on hospital size, practice, and medical facilities. Specifically, the primary responsibilities of medical assistants include helping patients by providing them with proper services. They maintain medical equipment and supply inventory. These specialists verify patients’ data by interviewing them and r...