Medical Coding Student Profile

Student: Roberta Hudgins
School: Shoreline Community College- June 2005

How did you get interested in medical coding and billing?

I had been working in a warehouse setting, and I injured my back and couldn’t return to my job. As I was going for treatment, I had different experiences of how I was treated in offices. Some people were friendly, and some were cold and distant. When you’re hurting, it’s nice to see a friendly face. You want someone sympathetic who can brighten your day.

I hadn’t worked in the medical field before, but I wanted to be able to help people who were feeling miserable. I did a lot of research, and this was what I chose to do. I wanted to work in a doctor’s office or physical therapy office, a place where I’d be able to help people directly.

How did you choose a school?

My school had all the requirements, the coding classes, ICD-9, and that’s what I was looking for. It took three years, because I hadn’t been in school for a while and needed to catch up on English and math skills. They let me complete the program at a comfortable pace, and the more comfortable I felt, the more classes I took. I was in school full time, part in the coding program and part taking other prerequisites. My certifications are in medical reimbursement, coding in a physician’s office and coding in a hospital setting.

What was the most interesting part of the program for you?

The coding, which was like learning another language. I felt like an investigative reporter, going through someone’s file and pulling out the information so that a physician’s office can turn that in and get paid for services. It was fun to pull it apart and find the right code. If a patient had a fracture in the leg, we’d go to “fracture,” then select what kind of fracture, the bone, the types of fracture, then find the right one. The coder looks all of this up in the ICD-9 book.

The medical terminology class was fun. But it was also hard and required a lot of memorization. During the first year I worked with a tutor from the advanced program, and she helped me build my foundation, so that when I went into the intermediate and advanced classes I knew what I was doing.

My advisor and the faculty were wonderful. Sometimes I’d have a bad day at school and my advisor was really there for me. Then I’d be fine the next day. All the students team up, we study together, and when someone has a rough day we’d support them. If one person understood how to do something, they’d show someone else who was having difficulty.

My professors not only teach, but they work in the field and devote a lot of time to their students.

Did you work while you went to school?

I tried, but that did not work for me. It works for some people. My family gave me a lot of support, and I was able to use worker retraining funds from the state, since I couldn’t return to my old job.

How did your studies help you in your job?

I’m working in an opthamologist’s office. My first day there I knew what I was doing because I took that medical records class, that medical terminology class, so I was able to understand what was going on. The reimbursement class has come in very handy as well. I have to deal with insurers, ask how come they only paid this much on the claim, or why a claim was denied.

When the teachers said “pay attention to the details” they truly meant it. You have to make sure the numbers and the names are right, the codes are right. You have to understand why the insurer paid what they did. You have to pronounce and spell people’s names right, and some names are difficult.

What kind of person does well in this job?

You have to be able to multitask, answer the phone, talk to a person in the office, check the forms. Sometimes there are emergency patients at the front desk, all three phones are ringing – things go at a very fast pace. You have to be outgoing and really like being with people. And through all that, you have to pay attention to the details and not let anything slip by you. An outgoing person does well.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

My goal is to be an office manager, which would include some coding. To do that, you have to know how everything in the office is run, all the systems. If someone has a coding problem they can’t handle, you need to be able to step up to the plate. I plan to take the tests for coding certification soon, as one step toward my goal.

What is your advice for someone who’s thinking about a career in medical coding?

Don’t settle. Choose something that you know you’re going to love to do. Do the research, find out how much opportunity there is for you in the field and make sure you really want to do it. I researched to see what was out there. My college offered a free information class where people can go in and ask questions before they enroll, and that was helpful. Take advantage of those possibilities; they can really help you find out what a program is like.

I’m very happy with this work. It was a good choice for me.