Online colleges are becoming very popular and some jobs are better than others when choosing which course to take. Selecting the right program could greatly increase your chances of getting a job after the course is completed.
Medical Transcription
Medical transcription is a very popular profession in one of the fastest growing industries. It has the highest success rate for any online course available. It only takes an average of 6 to 9 months to complete and costs range from $1,200 to $3,500 depending on the course instruction. Hundreds of companies are searching for medical transcriptionists every month so many people are able to locate a job within 6 weeks of completion. Medical transcriptionist listen to dictated recordings made by physicians and other healthcare professionals and transcribe the information into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative material. A transcriptionist uses a foot pedal to pause the recording while transcribing, and keys the text into a personal computer or word processor, editing as necessary for grammar and clarity.
A typical online medical transcription training course and medical transcriptionist training program includes:
- Keyboarding
- Business English
- Medical Terminology
- Human Diseases
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Beginning Medical Transcription
- Advanced Medical Transcription
Medical Coding
Medical coding matches medical transcription for popularity. Medical coding courses usually take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete depending on the experience level of the applicant. The cost of the course ranges from $1,500 to $3,000. very medical service (such as an office visit, surgical procedure, and testing) has a numerical code associated with it. A medical coder identifies and assigns numerical codes to patient procedures and diagnoses by abstracting information and utilizing required coding systems. This information is then submitted for financial reimbursement to health insurance companies and/or government agencies.
A typical online medical coding course will teach the following concepts:
- Business English
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Office Procedures
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Evaluation and Management
- Coding Diagnoses
- Coding Procedures
- Coding Linkages and Compliance
- History of National Level Coding
- Third Party Reimbursement Issues
- Official Guidelines of Coding and Reporting
Medical Billing
Medical billing is also very popular because of the employment success rate. Medical billing courses usually take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to complete depending on the experience level of the applicant. The cost of the course ranges from $1,500 to $3,000. The healthcare services industry is expected to hire more financial specialists, particularly medical billers, to match the explosive growth of this field. A medical biller processes the paperwork required to complete patient claims.
The course includes all the necessary skills to become a successful medical biller:
- efficiently processing medical claims
- billing insurance companies
- handling patient invoices
- medical terminology
- medical office procedures
- medical billing
- medical coding, including utilization of the ICD-9 and the CPT
Many online colleges are now providing placement assistance which will almost guarantee employment after the program is completed. Click here for a list of the best online colleges and training programs on the Internet.