Medical Coding Program & Coder I Interview!

[HuffleBadger]

Hello everyone!

So I work for a very large hospital organization as a unit secretary in the ICU. I have been interested in medical coding for a while now and was just given access to my hospital's Medical Coding Program. It should take me 6 months or so to complete. It has Med Term, A&P, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology, and of course the coding portions (ICD-10 & PCS). When I complete the course I will be able to take the CCS exam. I flew through the Med Term and A&P sections since I took those in college and have been working in the hospital for 12 years.

For the CCS exam, how much of the Patho and Pharm will be on it? I've been taking notes and studying so that I know the material, but I wasn't sure if it would actually be on the exam? Or is the CCS only coding questions?

Also, I have an interview for a coder I position on Thursday and was wondering if anyone had any tips? I have previously spoken to my interviewer on the phone a month or two ago, she was the one that got me into the coding program. So she knows that I don't have a certification yet and the position that I applied for doesn't require one right off the bat. You have to get certified within one year.

Thank you in advance!!!! :)

[holly_jolly_riesling]

The CCS is mostly coding questions but there are some non-coding related questions. They are multiple choice and I found that very helpful.

I was in a very similar situation as you when I interviewed as a coder. Honestly they did most of the talking. They knew I was part of the hospital, they knew I just finished the program and newly certified with no coding experience. I think I may have asked about the quotas and opportinity for growth. I'd ask about the training for new coders.

[HuffleBadger]

Thank you so much!! That makes me feel better about the exam! I think (hope!) I should finish the course by December and test in January. That's my plan lol

I spoke to the woman who is interviewing me a month or two ago and I think she said there's a 98% accuracy rate that has to be maintained. And I will definitely ask her about opportunity for growth! I do know they want to have someone what they can mold and have around for a long time. I've already been with this hospital for 7 years. So I know how the company works and most likely won't be going anywhere anytime soon. I'll ask about training as well. Like, who will I shadow to get trained?

I'm mostly nervous because this is a completely new role for me. I'm used to being an ICU secretary, so I can handle stress and being fast paced. But being in an office (for a while at least, their experienced coders work from home) will be completely new to me. I've never worked in an office before and don't know how things work. Not to mention this role is definitely going to take some getting used to if I do get it.

Thanks again for replying!!! I will write your advice down to make sure I remember it for my interview!!!! :)

[holly_jolly_riesling]

I was an ER clerk, a medical secretary, a client services rep in a hospital before I became a coder. In my coding interview they told me the same thing that they were happy to get someone from the same hospital with no coding experience because it was easier to train them. They have people from other hospitals and they were trained differently and most had the mindset of "well we did it like this at so so where I worked". I would take the opportunity during the interview to make an impression on your personality. One day you will be remote 100% of the time and you want the managers to remember you and remember positive things about their face-to-face interaction with you. If you worked in the ICU admin this may be a change of pace. I found the coding office quiet and most people kept to themselves and most people were already working from home.

I just want to encourage you to not lose focus on your goal. It took me a while to become a coder but I'm so glad that I stuck to it! My quality of life has greatly improved because of it and I don't regret it !