Medical Coder
Quick Facts
Median Salary$64,475
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-14.22%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
A Medical Coder organizes and reviews patient medical records and assigns codes for each diagnosis and treatment. Prepares coded information for use by health care insurers or for research. May retrieve information for clinicians and billing offices. Works in healthcare facilities.
Core Tasks:
- Assign the patient to diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), using appropriate computer software.
- Compile and maintain patients' medical records to document condition and treatment and to provide data for research or cost control and care improvement efforts.
- Consult classification manuals to locate information about disease processes.
- Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures, or treatment into computer.
- Identify, compile, abstract, and code patient data, using standard classification systems.
- Maintain or operate a variety of health record indexes or storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store, or analyze information.
- Post medical insurance billings.
- Process and prepare business or government forms.
- Process patient admission or discharge documents.
- Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
- Release information to persons or agencies according to regulations.
- Resolve or clarify codes or diagnoses with conflicting, missing, or unclear information by consulting with doctors or others or by participating in the coding team's regular meetings.
- Retrieve patient medical records for physicians, technicians, or other medical personnel.
- Review records for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with regulations.
- Scan patients' health records into electronic formats.
- Schedule medical appointments for patients.
- Transcribe medical reports.
What to expect as a Medical Coder
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
47% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Medical Coder related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
1512 openings for Medical Coders
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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