First AAPC Chapter Meeting
I attended my first AAPC local chapter meeting last week. The meeting was an informal session on the daily duties of a coder. Coders shared their stories on a typical day at the office. Some people had a dual role of office manager/coder and others functioned as a coder and biller. The variety of tasks that must be completed in a typical day was just mind boggling. I don't know how they manage to get through the day without having a meltdown. Listening to the discussion made me realize how important the role of the coder is in the physicians' office. Their level of expertise can seriously affect the cash flow of the office. The dual roles make it necessary for coders to know more than just coding. They must know about posting charges, filing insurance claims and appealing denials of claims.
There were a couple of coders that work at home as independent coders. I think most of us dream about working from home. These coders pointed out that working from home is not for everyone. If you are a social person and like the interaction with coworkers, working from home may not be right for you. I could relate to this because I am not a social butterfly. When I teach online, I can go days without having to leave my house.
The great thing about being a coder is that the job requires for more than just coding. The skills sets of a coder are woven into so many areas of the physician practice.