While America’s eventual transfer to electronic medical records (EMR) is a foregone conclusion, the ways in which we accomplish the shift is still being debated. The key is to create a system that makes doctors’ lives easier, and not more difficult. To achieve this goal, medical coding professionals are crucial to the future of electronic medical records.

The most logical interface to aggregate all medical records is the internet. Individual computers that contain medical record information is a method of the past; to maintain all medical records – a  huge amount of  information – a web-based system is the only option capable of immediately updating and maintaining the digital system.

Aside from changing a paperwork-based system that has become standard practice for them, doctors are often times unfamiliar with the pages of coded medical terms that are central to electronic medical records. This is another obstacle that stands in the way of the full adoption of digital health records, and highlights the necessary inclusion of medical coding professionals in healthcare facilities.

Professionals who are trained and experienced in medical coding facilitate the full implementation of electronic medical records. President Obama guaranteed that every American medical record will be electronic by 2014; this means huge job growth for medical billers and coders. Read the rest of this entry »

“I love my kids and they deserve my time,” says Toni K, a woman who is studying online to become a medical biller and coder. “But I feel like I never get any uninterrupted time to sit down and concentrate on my lessons. The kids are always banging on my door, and then I feel guilty if I get irritated at them. Does anyone out there have any suggestions?”

We posed this question to Dr. Kenneth Ruge, a therapist who has written several books, including Where Do I Go from Here?

“Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem,” Ruge states. “Overall, I would say that it is best to get out of the house, if you can. Get to Starbucks, for example. However, when kids reach age seven or eight, they might enjoy doing their own homework while a parent is studying – it can become a family study period that kids will actually enjoy. And kids can feel good if they know they are helping a parent reach important goals.”

Here are more ideas we gathered from people who have learned how to juggle studying with parenting duties:

Make sure your technology is not limiting you. If your only computer is a desktop at home, maybe a laptop would let you study over lunch hours at work. And laptops can now be bought for $400 or even less. Another solution? Print out your online lessons and carry them with you. Remember, paper is portable. Read the rest of this entry »

With so many distractions and the comfort of your home as major obstacles, working or studying from home can be a difficult course to pursue. That is why Medical Billing and Coding blog has developed a list of time management tips for remote learners, to help you work efficiently from home. Remote learning is not for everyone, but if you follow these simple tips, it is possible for anyone.

Set clear goals – Each day you should have a list of tasks/assignments that you will complete. If you set a clear list of deliverables for each work day, you will have an easier time working to reach those goals. The biggest mistake you can make is to procrastinate, and push work off for another day; all this will do is slow you down, let your work load pile up, and make you far less efficient.

Limit Distractions – In any work environment, distractions can limit productivity. This is magnified when you are working or studying from home; you might have to worry about walking your dog, or picking up your mail, or answering to your kids, among other potential disruptions. To avoid these diversions you should isolate yourself in your home, in a designated “work” area. While you are working, make it clear to your children that you are busy, and ignore all phone calls, doorbells, and enticing TV programming.  Don’t attempt to multitask; your designated work time is for working only, and nothing else.

Establish Specific Work Hours – If you are working from home it is easy to procrastinate and say “I will get to this later”; this is a bad habit! Create a specific time frame each day dedicated to work. Whether it be 9 AM – 5 PM, 12 PM – 8 PM, or 6 PM – 3 AM, establishing specific work hours is crucial to remaining productive and getting your work done in a timely fashion. Your friends and family should be familiar with your work hours, to ensure you are not bothered when you should be working.

Dress for the Job – Rather than sitting around in your favorite pair of sweatpants, you should dress like you are in a classroom or workplace. Your mindset is the most important aspect of time management; if you are dressed to work, then you will most likely work. If you are dressed to relax, then you will most likely relax

Here’s a question for medical billers and coders . . .

Exactly when did your career start?

If you stop to think about it, you will probably realize that your career didn’t begin when you got your first job.  It actually started on the day when you walked into a classroom and began your training.

It only makes sense that great students tend to have an easier time starting their careers.  Their strong grades often give them an edge over other job-seekers. They tend to get better recommendations from their former instructors too.

So how can you be a training standout?  Here’s some advice:

Dress one step ahead. If you dress like a working professional, people will see you in that role – and will think of you first when professional opportunities arise.

Project a positive attitude – even in early-morning classes. Stand tall when you walk into the classroom. Greet the instructor. Smile, sit up, and maintain eye contact as you listen to what your instructor has to say. Then thank the instructor when class is over.

Keep your textbooks and course materials organized, protected and clean. It shows that you are taking your training seriously. Also: Never forget your course materials. But if you do, avoid calling attention to the problem.

Be a great colleague in shared activities and projects. If you show that you are a good team member, people will notice and remember you.

Show strong interest in everything you learn. One good way? Ask questions that dig for information that was not covered in class.

Don’t disappear when your coursework is over. Come back to visit your former instructors. Explain how you are applying the skills you learned in class, and talk about your new achievements. Remember, students who keep in touch come to mind first when instructors hear about new opportunities.

Do you have more training strategies to recommend? Why not take a moment to share them here with other members of the billing and coding community?

To ensure that you get the most out of the Career Services Department, Medical Billing and Coding Blog has outlined some of the important benefits of the department.  Here are a few tips in taking advantage of all that Career Services has to offer:

Assistance with Resume Writing

Your resume is one of the most important documents in your job search. Having a professional, well-written, and neatly organized resume can go a long way in impressing your potential employer. The Career Services Department has specialists who can walk you through the resume writing process, and ensure that you present yourself well to potential employers.

Interviewing Tips

The Career Services Department also specialize in teaching crucial career tips, such as offering mock interviews and advice on “dressing for success”. It is extremely important to enter an interview prepared and confident in your candidacy for the position, and our Career Services Department focuses on preparing students for these critical interviews.

Job Opportunities

Where are the jobs available? This is the most important question when beginning your job search. Luckily, the Career Services Department remains well-informed on what positions employers are hiring, and the type of candidates for which they are searching. This is another reason why it is imperative for you to remain connected to the Career Services Department – they are in the loop on job information, and can help you apply to the right positions for you. Read the rest of this entry »

Did the word “deduction!” jump into your mind the minute you thought about opening a home office? If so, you are thinking wisely, because a home office provides many great opportunities to deduct business expenses from your taxes.

But be careful. The IRS has some requirements – and traps – waiting for people who break the rules about what can be deducted.  So be sure to follow these steps to avoid trouble.

Read what the IRS has to say. Download Business Use of Your Home, a guide that is published by the Internal Revenue Service. It spells out which expenses are deductible, how much of your home you can deduct as a home office, and more. You’ll also find some unpleasant surprises. Example: If you sell your home for a profit after you’ve taking deductions for a home office in it, you could end up paying capital gains tax on your business. (See page 14 of Business Use of Your Home.)

Talk over your plans with your accountant or tax preparer. Your strategy for taking home-office deductions will vary according to whether you own your home or rent, the physical layout of your home, the amount of time you intend to stay in your current residence, and other factors.

Keep complete records of all deductible expenses. A file cabinet is your best friend in this area. Set up files for office expenses, travel expenses, and all other categories. Also: Print out and file records of Internet purchases, invoices and other electronic documents that you will need to complete your taxes. Preparing your taxes will be much easier if you have all your records in one place.

If you have multiple clients, keep careful records for each of them. You will need to track the income for each of them – as well as expenses that apply uniquely to them – separately. Your accountant or tax preparer can help you set up filing categories to keep everything straight. Read the rest of this entry »

According to a December 30, 2009 article in the NY Times, entitled “Bonus Planned for Digital Medical Records”, Medicare officials have outlined a plan to reward medical offices and hospitals that maintain systems of electronic medical records. Under the proposed stimulus, billions of dollars will be handed out across the country to healthcare providers that keep updated digital medical records of their patients. The announcement is just a proposal, however, and the plan does not expect to be completed until the spring.

The article features a quote from David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology, who says that “Widespread adoptions of electronic health records holds great promise for improving health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety”.

The proposed plan will provide bonus payments to health care professionals who use electronic medical records for at least 80 percent of their medical instructions. These incentives will facilitate America’s full transfer to electronic medical records, which President Obama has promised by 2014.  According to Obama administration officials, using digital health records will reduce costly medical errors and duplicate testing.

The national implementation of electronic medical records will also result with a high demand for healthcare technology professionals, such as medical billing and coding specialists, who can help medical offices and hospitals maintain these systems of electronic medical records.

Last Monday’s post covered some strategies for making the transition to working at home.  This week, let’s explore some of the same concepts in more depth, with an emphasis on staying focused when you are working and studying alone.

• Work in dedicated time blocks. Don’t check your email or send text messages during your working or studying period.  Work time should be work time.

• Explain to family members that you should not be interrupted.  A student who is also a mother explains, “I took me a week to train my kids not to interrupt me. I told them they could only knock on the door if somebody was dying.”

• Get away to a quiet place. Many students report that their concentration is best in a public library,  on a park bench,  or in a vacant conference room at work.  So try to get away from it all.

• Beware of “crash” foods. A cup of high-test coffee or a bowl of sugary cereal might start your day on an energy high, but you will probably crash afterwards.  Many students and home workers report that solid foods like almonds, granola bars, or fruit do a better job of sustaining energy. Try eating them in small quantities throughout your working and studying hours.

• Get rid of eye strain in your work area. One simple strategy is to place your computer so it is not between you and a bright window. In that position, you have to squint to see your screen, which causes fatigue. Better: Sit with your back to the window and your computer in front of you.
• Also: Turn off your computer and look at your computer screen.  If you see bright reflections on it from windows or lights, move your computer to eliminate them.  They are contributing to eyestrain and fatigue.

And then there’s the greatest fatigue-fighter of all . . .

Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Sounds logical, right? But how much sleep is enough?  To find out, read Sleep, Performance and the Workplace, a report from the National Sleep Foundation.