Comments on: Recession or Not, Coder Shortages Persist http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/ The Journal of AHIMA is published monthly by the American Health Information Management Association Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:33:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Matt http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-10539 Matt Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:54:31 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-10539 It is unfortunate that facilities ask for experience rather than considering the knowledge and education of the new graduates, with credentials. It is only a matter of time, these graduates can be become efficient coders. Also, the facilities can give a period of time to prove their ability It is unfortunate that facilities ask for experience rather than considering the knowledge and education of the new graduates, with credentials. It is only a matter of time, these graduates can be become efficient coders. Also, the facilities can give a period of time to prove their ability

]]> By: Janis Hunter, CCS http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9939 Janis Hunter, CCS Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:05:41 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9939 Where does a twenty year veteran in coding go for mentoring...AHIMA I don't think so. I am sad that I will no longer be able to afford AHIMA anymore...never really much on coding anyway. Magazine got smaller and smaller. I truly feel sorry for new coders...coding is truly a thankless job and we will always be treated like clerical workers. What is a coder, it is one of the hospitals best kept secrets. Janis Hunter, CCS Where does a twenty year veteran in coding go for mentoring…AHIMA I don’t think so. I am sad that I will no longer be able to afford AHIMA anymore…never really much on coding anyway. Magazine got smaller and smaller. I truly feel sorry for new coders…coding is truly a thankless job and we will always be treated like clerical workers. What is a coder, it is one of the hospitals best kept secrets.

Janis Hunter, CCS

]]> By: Stace http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9896 Stace Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:25:28 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9896 Perhaps the formal education curriculum needs to be revisited and reinvented to include actual hospital patient medical records that are deidentified. This would offer the student the opportunity to "get some real world experience" and relieve (not eliminate) the burden on the hospital HIM dept resources (or should I say lack of resources) available to "teach" coding on the job. Criteria related to the volume and "passing score" as well as complexity of these deidentified charts should be included in the class as well as productivity standards. Perhaps the formal education curriculum needs to be revisited and reinvented to include actual hospital patient medical records that are deidentified. This would offer the student the opportunity to “get some real world experience” and relieve (not eliminate) the burden on the hospital HIM dept resources (or should I say lack of resources) available to “teach” coding on the job. Criteria related to the volume and “passing score” as well as complexity of these deidentified charts should be included in the class as well as productivity standards.

]]> By: BC http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9881 BC Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:35:42 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9881 A coder has to prove oneself when entering into the coding world. When given an interview be prepared to take a coding test on site with the coding book not the the encoder. If not offered a test request a test and you wlll know if the depatment is quality driven or productivity driven. No test no quality. If any of the new coders can they should try to shadow a Clincial Documentation Specialist. Remember coding supervisors just because a coder is experienced doesn't mean your getting quality. A coder has to prove oneself when entering into the coding world. When given an interview be prepared to take a coding test on site with the coding book not the the encoder. If not offered a test request a test and you wlll know if the depatment is quality driven or productivity driven. No test no quality. If any of the new coders can they should try to shadow a Clincial Documentation Specialist.
Remember coding supervisors just because a coder is experienced doesn’t mean your getting quality.

]]> By: Kay A. http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9839 Kay A. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:50:30 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9839 I also had difficulty finding a position as a new coder fresh out of school but with a CCA after my name. Had to apply to every hospital in a very large metropolitan area to just get 2 interviews. Thank goodness I had one manager who was willing to take a chance! I was an RN before and it is common practice for nurses whether new or experienced to receive several weeks to months of on the job training and mentoring. Don't know why that is such a difficult concept for HIM. I also had difficulty finding a position as a new coder fresh out of school but with a CCA after my name. Had to apply to every hospital in a very large metropolitan area to just get 2 interviews. Thank goodness I had one manager who was willing to take a chance! I was an RN before and it is common practice for nurses whether new or experienced to receive several weeks to months of on the job training and mentoring. Don’t know why that is such a difficult concept for HIM.

]]> By: Diann White http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9800 Diann White Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:01:33 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9800 I have had many years of inpatient coding and auditing experience. I am a Compliance Auditor and as I audit coders for compliance, I find it very evident when coders code from memory and chose not to use an encoder. This is because of their being pushed for productivity. Or I see evidence that coders choose a code without using all the facts that are documented. This scenario is my favorite because I actually give them my thought processes for reaching a code. This helps the young inexperienced coder to learn but I'm also rewarded by knowing I have added to someone's knowledge base. My desire would be that all experienced coders take one person under their wings, whether it be chart by chart or by an occasional coding question as long as you make it an educational experience and not just give them a code. Thanks, Diann BS, RHIA, CCS I have had many years of inpatient coding and auditing experience. I am a Compliance Auditor and as I audit coders for compliance, I find it very evident when coders code from memory and chose not to use an encoder. This is because of their being pushed for productivity. Or I see evidence that coders choose a code without using all the facts that are documented. This scenario is my favorite because I actually give them my thought processes for reaching a code. This helps the young inexperienced coder to learn but I’m also rewarded by knowing I have added to someone’s knowledge base. My desire would be that all experienced coders take one person under their wings, whether it be chart by chart or by an occasional coding question as long as you make it an educational experience and not just give them a code. Thanks, Diann BS, RHIA, CCS

]]> By: Rebecca H http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9798 Rebecca H Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:50:30 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9798 I agree I have a degree in Health Information Technology, and my R.H.I.T. certification, but I can't not find a job... I have a wonderful work history just not as a coder. I am so eager to work for a hospital but no one wants someone with no experience... I agree I have a degree in Health Information Technology, and my R.H.I.T. certification, but I can’t not find a job… I have a wonderful work history just not as a coder. I am so eager to work for a hospital but no one wants someone with no experience…

]]> By: Noelle http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9794 Noelle Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:55:54 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9794 The POA requirements, MS_DRGs and RACs have added more stress and also it takes longer to code a chart now. We are supposedly fully staffed but we have too much to do. We are audited quarterly and our accuracy rates have gone down since we are asked to do so much. Then the director gets upset because we aren't as accurate, yet she wants us to do more so the hospital gets paid. We need to have better mentoring of new coders and make it easier for them to enter the profession. The POA requirements, MS_DRGs and RACs have added more stress and also it takes longer to code a chart now. We are supposedly fully staffed but we have too much to do. We are audited quarterly and our accuracy rates have gone down since we are asked to do so much. Then the director gets upset because we aren’t as accurate, yet she wants us to do more so the hospital gets paid.
We need to have better mentoring of new coders and make it easier for them to enter the profession.

]]> By: June http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9793 June Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:39:23 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9793 I have many years experience as an acute care inpatient coder, plus I am a concurrent coder and I love it. I love the interaction between me and the physicians on the floors. I'm sorry all hospitals don't have concurrent coders, most have nurses who unfortunately really don't get coding or the reimbursement process. Managers you should seriously entertain the introduction of concurrent coders and watch your casemix increase considerably. I have many years experience as an acute care
inpatient coder, plus I am a concurrent coder and I love it. I love the interaction between me and the physicians on the floors. I’m sorry
all hospitals don’t have concurrent coders, most
have nurses who unfortunately really don’t get
coding or the reimbursement process. Managers
you should seriously entertain the introduction
of concurrent coders and watch your casemix increase considerably.

]]> By: Patricia Mickelson http://journal.ahima.org/2009/07/13/recession-or-not-coder-shortages-persist/comment-page-1/#comment-9790 Patricia Mickelson Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:30:04 +0000 http://journal.ahima.org/?p=792#comment-9790 I looked for over a year. Applying for any thing I could, to get into any hospital. By the grace of G-d, Providence hired me. I enjoy where I work, and the people I work under. I feel the requirements need to be relaxed a bit to fill the deficiate not only from the employers side but also from the Credentialing entities. I looked for over a year. Applying for any thing I could, to get into any hospital. By the grace of G-d, Providence hired me. I enjoy where I work, and the people I work under. I feel the requirements need to be relaxed a bit to fill the deficiate not only from the employers side but also from the Credentialing entities.

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