What Does a Medical Coder Do and Earn?
Description: As a medical coder, you may review medical records and enter patient information into computer databases for insurance purposes, in compliance with federal legislation mandating the use of electronic record-keeping. Some of your duties may include: • Abstracting clinical information from medical records • Assigning appropriate codes to each diagnosis or procedure • Using computer software to categorize patients into a “diagnosis-related group” (DRG) • Communicating with physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other health care providers Attention to detail, effective communication skills, and strong time-management abilities are essential to be a successful medical coder. Typical Workplaces: Physicians’ offices, hospitals, health care organizations, outpatient care centers, and nursing and residential care facilities.
