Most of my coding group members are going to an approved program and while the schools themselves are wonderful everyone learns differently and some instructors are more experienced and gifted than others.   Those instructors that are well rounded and love teaching go out of their way to help their students learn.   The other instructors teach the program and sometimes the students feel it is a bad transcription or coding school because they left, not understanding something or the program did not have a subject included in their program that is needed in the real world.

I know of programs by AAPC and others that are wonderful and some of those programs not just there for the money.  My two cents is that an instructor can make a program seem bad or good depending on their experience and teaching skills. 

 

 

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Christine Goans & Company
Coding Smarter Office Support Plus
Consulting and Educational services

I started my bid to be a medical transcriptionist 3 years ago at the local community college in Indiana.  I needed a job that I could do from home in order to take care of my husband, and I really wanted something in the medical field.  At that time, I was concerned about going with online schools because what I saw just seemed like a scam, and I needed to be able to get some financial assistance.   Since our community college offered a medical transcription program and I could get federal financial aid, I went that way.  That was a mistake.  With only 1/2 of a semester + 1 class to go I learned that I would not be able to find a job.  I had spent almost 2 years on this program and was busting my rear end for nothing.  I was in shock for several days after learning that.  Then I hit the Internet again looking for ways that this could be done.  Through the AHDI website I located TRSi.  This was not only a school, but an employer.  If I graduated from the program with a certain percentage I was guaranteed a job--that was a selling point for me.  I took the entrance test and started speaking with the admission coordinators.  My biggest concern with the program by that point was affording it.  I'm already deep in debt to the federal government for the program I just came through with no success.  Through a payment plan that TRSi offers I was able to afford the program and I signed up.  That to me was a turning point in my life.  I have now successfully made it through the program and am employed by TRS doing what I set out to do long ago.  I have spoke with the program coordinator at the community college in regards to the weakness of the program and how I was not going to be able to find a job.  The response I received from them was that most people change programs and go into either nursing or medical assisting.  They have no intention at this point in time of doing anything about this program at this time.  Though I don't think the program is necessarily a scam, they do not make it to where someone can go out and get a job after graduating.  This is not an easy field to break into and starting out the way I did just made it more difficult and frustrating.  I am glad, however, that what it happened the way it did though.  I might not have found TRSi otherwise and this was so rewarding.  Everyone is great and helpful and they WANT you to succeed.

Wow, Stacey. I'm glad you found a way to make it work for you, but as a heads-up to others, it's generally agreed that training with a company like that is bad mojo. I have zero knowledge of TRSi, so am only speaking generally. In some cases, it really is a scam--you end up doing work for them for free and never quite manage to graduate to a paying position--and in at least one notable instance, they even talk you into paying quite a sum for software that doesn't even work well.  Otherwise, you end up with skills that are only accepted by that particular MTSO. Try to get a job elsewhere based on your experience and you almost always find no one else is willing to bother with you because your skills are too specific to that job, limited by the specialties you've worked there, and in some regards, because they view you as much less knowledgeable than rank beginners coming from legitimate courses. Much safer to opt for a training route with a much less nebulous outcome.

Hi Stacey,  I am taking the online course with TRSi and would like to know about your experience working for them.

I am researching Medical Coding Schools (Distance Learning), and would like some feedback from people who have taken

this course, and which school they attended.  I don't want to get a bad school!  There are so many to choose from.  Thanks.

I have a medical coders group where we have alot of discussion about the different schools available  There are a couple of very good ones but you can talk to those actually attending or who have attended.     And you can find out info on coding professional who are good resources and those who really do not have the first hand experience and have given incorrect info. 

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Christine Goans & Company
Coding Smarter Office Support Plus
Consulting and Educational services

Hi Christine. I am interested in knowing what type of coding resources you have access to and how I can contact them for info.

Thanks.