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When we think about careers in healthcare, many people assume that they all work with blood and needles. However, there are many opportunities to work in healthcare behind the scenes. In fact, many believe that Medical Biller and Coders are the uncelebrated heroes of healthcare!  If you are looking for the stability of working in the healthcare field, then a medical billing and coding career could be perfect for you!

Medical Billing and Coding Training 

You have decided that you want to become a Medical biller and coder. Great, now what? Well, the next step is to research medical billing and coding programs. The career training you receive to join the growing healthcare field will be important. You should consider choosing medical billing and coding classes that will help make you well rounded in your new career as well as prepare you to take the NHA exam.

Skills and Traits Needed to a Successful Medical Biller and Coder

So, if you are someone who has strong attention to detail, organization, and strong analytical skills, becoming a Medical Biller and Coder may be a great fit for you. Medical billers and coders are responsible for entering correct procedural and diagnostic codes to ensure each procedure or healthcare visit payment is correct. You will have to be keen on tending to minute details and picking up on the smallest discrepancies.

In addition, this profession requires not only the ability to work with numbers and money but having strong analytical skills to ensure that all diagnosis and procedure codes match up. Medical billers and coders need to have a basic understanding of human anatomy and medical terminology to analyze medical records and assign the correct diagnosis and procedure codes on a claim so that it will be billed correctly.

Help Others Daily Through Your Medical Billing and Coding Job Duties

With this career path, you will have the chance to help others. This could include working with patients, providers, and insurance companies to ensure billing for services is correct and timely. And most recently, we have seen the importance this role has had in providing critical data to help researchers prevent diseases and epidemics. Medical billers and coders can work in a variety of settings including doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. By performing your medical billing and coding job duties, you can enjoy the satisfaction of helping others daily.

Job Opportunities for Medical Biller and Coders

Those who graduate from a Medical Billing and Coding program may qualify for a variety of jobs as they pursue their medical billing and coding career path. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of health information positions will grow 8% between 2019 and 2029, which is faster than the average growth rate. These jobs may include medical biller, insurance claims specialist, medical records technician, and medical coder, just to name a few.

Medical coding is also one of the most flexible jobs available. With the right experience, you can perform many medical coding jobs at home. In fact, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote medical coding jobs have become much more common for those that have earned some in-field/in-office billing and coding experience.* Dr. Sharmalan Sathiyaseelan, RMA, AHI, Program Director for the Medical Billing and Coding program at Swedish Institute, said of the career in this field:

“This is a gratifying field where you can be the rising star in the healthcare industry. This course combines the basics of medical coding, medical billing, and medical terminology to provide a comprehensive program that will prepare you to work as a Medical Coding and Billing Specialist. In this program, you will learn about the necessary medical terminology, insurance guidelines and compliance requirements, medical billing functions, and legal and ethical issues. This high-demand field can lead you to a variety of careers and settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, physician’s office or a home based office.”

Train Towards A Medical Billing and Coding Career at Swedish Institute 

Your new career in healthcare is within reach! It begins with getting the right training. Swedish Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding program can help you get on your way.  The program is offered in a blended type of instruction (online and in-person learning) and can be completed in as little as 12 months. That is just one year to get you on your new career path of being a Medical Biller and Coder!

Going back to school to train for a new career is a big decision. It is one that should not be taken lightly. That is why our team is committed to the success of each of our students. If you want to reskill or retrain for a new career, our team would like to speak with you to see how we can help. We are committed to helping our students pursue their medical billing and coding career path. We invite you to take the next step! Contact us today to learn more about training for your new career.

*Work-from-home is not typical, even during COVID, for new medical billing and coding graduates with no experience.