A New Title for Coders

In this week’s Hands-on Help column titled “Automating the Coding Process,” authors Leslie A Fox, MA, RHIA, FAHIMA, and Patty Thierry Sheridan, MBA, RHIA, discuss the role of computer assisted coding (CAC) and its impact on the coding function and the coding professional.

The article provides details on the different types of CAC and how the new technology creates new roles for skilled coding professionals.

“New coding professionals will be learning a completely different set of competencies than today’s coders,” explained Kathy Johnson, RHIA, director of coding services at CARE Communications. “Coders will be in positions that require interacting with providers, understanding documentation and reimbursement requirements, and knowledge of quality measures and reporting.”

In the article, Johnson goes on to say, “The coding professionals will play a significant role in educating providers and working with them on the use of documentation terminologies and tools. It’s critically important for coders to have a role in the EHR implementation right now. They can help providers define documentation requirements including where to record documentation in an EHR and the structure of that documentation. This involvement will make a difference in reflecting accurately the codes that translate the services and complexity of care provided. Expert coding editors will also be in positions to mine and analyze data.”

With coders learning new skills and job responsibilities changing, Fox stated, “I am wondering if at one point you would envision the title coder changing to something else. Although throughout this discussion we have been using coding editor, I don’t think the title really captures the expertise needed to assure accurately coded clinical data. Editing traditionally refers to changing or preparing text for publication. Clinical coding is so much more than that. I like data quality experts, which denotes mastery of a body of knowledge related to clinical data input and output accuracy.”

So, what do you think? Fox, Sheridan and Johnson are asking for your thoughts on a new job title for coders. What should future coders, working with CAC, be called? We’ll take your suggestions and create a reader opinion poll. Please enter your suggestions below in the comments section.

Computer-assisted Coding — Improving Your People’s Productivity

CAC is starting to be used extensively in niche, outpatient areas, with the most common being radiology. But the technology is expanding into the emergency department and other specialty areas.

These days, it seems we automate anything and everything, from paper towel dispensers and assembly lines to parking garages and lawn sprinkler systems. Automation can be a tremendous time-saver and provide unheard-of convenience.

Not to be left behind in the wake of all this technological progress is the coding industry, where computer-assisted coding (CAC) is gaining steam as a powerful tool.

http://www.radiologytoday.net/archive/rt10082007p22.shtml

Two Types of Computer-assisted Coding

In a packed room in center city Philadelphia, HIM professionals scrawl notes and gaze at brightly colored PowerPoint slides. The unlucky ones find themselves standing in the back, leaning to jot down interesting tidbits and using knees as writing surfaces while teetering on one leg or settling back on haunches.

At the center of all this attention lies computer-assisted coding (CAC), a technology that’s been around for a while and put into practice by eager early adopters and test sites. Now, more HIM professionals are taking notice, as evidenced by the large crowd that flocked to the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) CAC workshop at the national conference last fall. HIM directors are keen on learning if the technology actually works and seeing if CAC can help ease the shortage of experienced coders. Coders at the education session listened intently to find out how, if implemented in their facilities, CAC will affect their jobs.

 http://health-information.advanceweb.com/Editorial/Search/AViewer.aspx?AN=HI_08jan14_hip19.html&AD=01-14-2008

 

 

 

Natural Language Processing in Medical Coding

Natural Language Processing in Medical Coding

Waves of Change: Computer-Assisted Coding the Latest Tech Tool for Coders

Do coding backlogs leave you feeling wiped out? Perhaps a little help will get matters under control.No other area within HIM has undergone significant changes as often as clinical coding. Working as a clinical coder when diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) were introduced in the 1980s, I witnessed a profession being propelled to the top of the surf. And there has been no going back. Waves of many sizes continue to pound the shores of clinical coding. There are always new diseases and procedures to learn, stricter regulatory requirements to comply with, and advanced technology tools to implement. Today, another new wave is approaching and it’s called computer-assisted coding (CAC). As with encoder technology 20 years ago, CAC is another technology tool for the coder. First envisioned as an evil plot to destroy the coding profession, CAC systems actually help coders become more productive, accurate, and consistent. Comments from coders who use CAC back up that assertion1:

— “It’s an amazing tool for coders. You can be better and faster at what you already do. And it will definitely make your job more interesting.” Joan Davignon, CCS, QA coding specialist

— “I would tell coders to give it a try. It’s easy to use and learn.” Denise McCreesh, RHIT, LGPN

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