According the U.S. Department of Labor, career growth encompassing all aspects of medical bookkeeping is expected to increase.
Jobs in the healthcare industry continue to experience better than average growth. If a profession in healthcare is appealing to you but direct patient care is not, then medical bookkeeping may be the career path for you. Medical bookkeeping includes such specializations as medical billing, medical coding and health information technology.
Types of Training Available
There are many options for choosing a school to receive training in the medical bookkeeping field. Certificate programs as well as associate degree programs in health information are available. Certificate programs generally take less time to complete as there are no general education requirements that have to be met. An associate's degree in health information is a little more in-depth and includes math, biology and other health and general education classes. Some medical bookkeeping programs are now offered online.
Medical Billing and Coding
Medical billing and coding technicians specialize in coding medical information for the purpose of reimbursement by insurance companies, Medicare or Medicaid. Each medical procedure, test and diagnosis has a unique corresponding code. While in school for medical billing and coding, students will learn review patient records and reports and use a coding software system to assign each medical procedure a specific code. A comprehensive understanding of medical symptoms, exam tests and results, medical treatment and medical histories is essential for medical bookkeepers specializing in medical billing and coding.
Health Information Technology (HIT)
The cancer registry field has a high demand for health information technologists. These specialists work to register cancer patients into facility, regional and national databases. An HIT student will learn review patient records and pathology reports and assign codes specific to all of the cancers, tumors and treatments. Additionally, a health information technologist tracks the progress, treatment, recovery and survival rates of patients. This information is used on a national level to keep tabs on areas of the nation, with an increased rate of certain cancers and the success rate of clinical trials.
Finding a Medical Bookkeeping School
Obtaining a certificate or degree in medical billing, coding or health information technology from an accredited school is important. An accredited school will have a higher level of standards and benchmarks in place. Choose a school that offers hands-on experience in the form of internships or externships. If you are unsure about where to attend school, visit with staff members at a local healthcare facility and find out what schools they look at when hiring.
