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|
TRAITS
for
Success |
 |
value accuracy
able to concentrate for long
periods
team player
good computer skills |
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|
 |
|
| medical coder is a member of the health information
service team. |
| The coding professional uses a classification system
to assign code |
| numbers and letters to each symptom,
diagnosis, disease, procedure, and |
| operation that appears in the patient's
chart. These codes are used for |
| insurance reimbursement, research,
health planning analysis, and to make |
| clinical decisions. A high degree of
accuracy and a working knowledge of |
| medical terminology, anatomy, and
physiology are important skills for these |
| professionals. |
|
 |
|
Average Starting Salary $30,202
|
| |
| Work Environment |
| Freelance/contract |
| Health maintenance
organizations |
| Hospitals |
| Insurance companies |
| Physicians' offices |
| |
| Academic Requirements |
| A high school diploma or
equivalent |
| is required. A
two-year associate degree |
| with a curriculum that
includes medical |
| terminology, anatomy, and
physiology is |
| recommended. Basic
coding programs |
| may last up to 5
quarters. A self- |
| paced course is available
through |
| the American Health
Information |
| Management Association
and usually |
| takes 15 months to
complete. |
|
| |
| Licensure, Certification and |
| Registration |
| Licensure is
not required in Georgia. |
| American
Health Information |
| Management
Association offers three |
| National
certification exams: Certified |
| Coding
Associates (CCA), Certififed |
| Coding
Specialists (CCS) and Certified |
| Coding
Specialists - Physician-base (CCS-P) |
|
| |
| Professional Organizations |
| American
Academy of |
|
Professional Coders |
| (800)
626-2633 |
|
www.aapc.com |
| |
| American
Health Information |
|
Management Association |
| (312)
233-1100 |
|
www.ahima.org |
| |
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EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| Certificate |
| Advanced Career
Training |
| Albany Technical
College |
| Altamaha Technical
College |
| American
Professional Institute |
| Appalachian
Technical College |
| Athens Technical
College |
| Atlanta Technical
College |
| Augusta Technical
College |
| Central Georgia
Technical College |
| Chattahoochee
Technical College |
| Clayton State
University |
| Columbus Technical
College |
| Coosa Valley
Technical College |
| Dalton State
College |
| Darton College |
| East Central
Technical College |
|
| Flint River Technical College |
| Georgia Perimeter College |
| Griffin Technical College |
| Gwinnett Technical College |
| Heart of Georgia Technical College |
| Kennesaw State University |
| Lanier Technical College |
| Middle College Technical College |
| Moultrie Technical College |
| North Georgia Technical College |
| North Metro Technical College |
| Northwestern Technical College |
| Ogeechee Technical College |
| Okefenokee Technical College |
| Sanford-Brown Institute |
| South Georgia Technical College |
| Southeastern Technical College |
|
| Southwest Georgia Technical College |
| Valdosta Technical College |
| West Central Georgia Technical College |
| West Georgia Technical College |
| |
| Diploma |
| Georgia Medical Institute |
| Lincoln College of Technology |
| Savannah River College |
| |
| Associate Degree |
| Clayton State University |
| High-Tech Institute |
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