medical coding training at home.
There has been hype in taking up medical coding and billing courses because of the said increasing demand of people who are qualified to be in this position. Whether you are someone who is almost out of high school and is looking for a good career path, someone with a full-time job who wishes to find another income source or someone who simply wishes to switch to another career, you must first know the pros and cons of becoming a medical coder and biller.
The Disadvantages:
- Education and Certification. The job of a medical coder and biller is quite a technical one. In fact, the required list of medical coding and billing courses to take up include anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, code and computer usage and knowledge in office forms and procedures as well as legal and ethical issues. It may take some time before you can land a job in this career as you would have to undergo proper training and pass a certification exam as well.
- Internships. This is mostly a big disadvantage on students who are enrolled in schools that do not provide internship programs. This would mean having to do the task of calling hospital and clinics and asking if there are any internship openings.
- Entry-Level Positions. If you want to land that job, you need to excel at it first. Having an edge over all the other people with similar skills as you do should help you land a job in this career but, if you do not, you may have to content yourself with getting entry-level positions such as becoming a file clerk or a receptionist at first. It may not be what you had hoped for but this should give you a starting point to make your way up.
The Advantages
- Flexibility. A lot of people take up medical coding and billing courses because of the flexibility it brings. A person may study at their own pace and at their own time, without worries. The job offers the same advantage as well which is why it is ideal for those having full-time jobs and for stay-at-home moms who wish to have something lucrative to spend their spare time on.
- Gain Control. Because of the flexibility that medical coding and billing jobs bring, you have the choice to work as much or as little as you want. You can also go on with your normal routines and work whenever you feel like it. You can practically gain control of how you wish to spend your day.
- Home Business. Some schools offer lessons on setting up medical billing home business as part of their medical coding and billing courses. The upside of it is that it can be quite easy to start one as long as you have the right skills and resources for the job. It can be quite a lucrative business especially for one who wishes to just stay at home and look over the kids.
