Where Do Most Medical Coders Work?

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Medical coders play a critical role in the delivery of healthcare services. As administrative professionals, they ensure that medical facilities and providers get paid. There are employment opportunities in virtually every healthcare setting from hospitals to private practices to name a few. If you have a passion for wellness, good organizational skills and an aptitude for research, why not explore a career as a medical billing and coding specialist?

What Do Medical Coders Do?

Medical codes are alphanumeric sequences that describe symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, durable medical equipment, and ancillary health services, such as ambulance transportation. The primary purpose of coding is two-fold.

Codes are a universal language that simplifies health data. Any healthcare professional, insurer or government agency can cross-reference codes for medical, billing or research purposes without combing through patient records.

Medical codes also reduce the volume of data exchange between insurers and healthcare providers, streamlining communication while protecting patient privacy. Public health officials use codes for benchmarking and disease surveillance.

Medical billing and coding specialists are interpreters in a sense, translating health information into codes from one of several standardized volumes, ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS. Key players in the revenue cycle, medical coders responsibilities include:

Managing Health Insurance Claims

Nearly all medical bills in the United States are covered by insurance companies. Medical coders complete and submit claim forms using the appropriate medical codes. When claims are rejected, they work with patients and providers to fix errors or troubleshoot coverage issues. A healthy cash flow relies on a quick turnaround.

Payment Tracking

Medical billing is complex. It’s not unusual, for example, for patients and two or more insurers to share the burden for a single bill. Medical billing and coding specialists track the debits and credits on patient accounts, adjusting the running balance.

Invoicing and Collections

Medical billing and coding specialists are responsible for invoicing clients once insurers have met their obligations. Patients owe the final balance, so you’ll send them a bill. You may also work with people who can’t pay, setting up installment plans or finding alternative funding solutions, anything to avoid involving collection agencies.

Obtaining Pre-authorizations

Insurance policies vary, no two cover the same treatments. To avoid surprises, medical billing and coding specialists work with insurers to secure preapproval for all but emergency services. Facilities get a guarantee of coverage, and patients can relax knowing that the bill will be paid.

Regulatory Compliance

Few fields are as regulated as healthcare. In the interest of public health, rules for medical billing practices are strict. As experts, medical billing and coding specialists manage regulatory compliance, ensuring that their employers follow the law.

Light Accounting

Job descriptions vary, but most medical billing and coding specialists also have a wide range of other fiscal responsibilities, such as calculating co-insurance payments, tallying credit card receipts and compiling financial reports. You’ll work closely with office managers, accountants, and administrators to safeguard the financial health of your practice or facility.

Client Care

When patients have money questions, medical billing and coding specialists have the answers. You’ll help clients better understand the billing and payment process by explaining the nuances of the revenue cycle.

Where Do Most Medical Coders Work?

There’s no shortage of employment opportunities for medical coders, but job responsibilities vary based on the setting. Where you seek a position should reflect your interests, aptitudes, and preferences.

Hospitals

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of billing and coding specialists, roughly 30%, work in hospitals. Acute care facilities generate billions in medical bills, so it takes teams of staff to manage the reimbursement process.

There are dozens of potential roles, each with a different title. Some jobs have broad responsibilities while others are limited to specific duties. Examples include:

Medical Coder – are responsible for reviewing medical records, assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures and submitting claims for reimbursement. In a busy hospital, they rarely stray from this task.

You’ll spend most of the day in front of a computer, working less with patients and more with providers to clarify documentation. If you want a predictable job that’s more research than math, you’ll thrive as a medical coder.

Coding Auditor – spot-check medical records and claim forms for accuracy and regulatory compliance issues. It’s not a gotcha job, the goal is to identify and correct patterns of error. New graduates won’t qualify for this role, but it’s one that entry-level medical billing and coding specialists can aspire to with experience and ongoing education.

Revenue Cycle Specialist – oversee the entire billing process, from submitting claims to following up on denials and appeals. It’s the next rung on the career ladder for medical coders.

The working environment is similar except that you’ll interact with both providers and insurers to finalize claims quickly. The focus is on getting quick and accurate reimbursement.

Medical Records Technician – hospitals often hire medical billing and coding specialists to manage medical records. Because they’re trained to research charts, they know the ins and outs of paper and electronic medical files.

In general, this is a dedicated position in which you will organize, store and archive records while fielding data inquiries for patients and physicians. It’s an ideal role for anyone with strong administrative and organizational skills.

Patient Account Representative – help clients understand their bills. As advocates, they investigate concerns and clear up misunderstandings. Among the many roles for medical billing and coding specialists in acute care facilities, this job is the most public-facing. If you like making connections with people, it’s a good way to start your career.

In general, working in a hospital exposes you to the widest possible scope of experiences. The claim volume is high, so you’re bound to see unusual cases that you won’t encounter in other settings. You’ll have to start at the bottom in an entry-level job, but it’s a great way to gain experience. Advancement opportunities are plentiful.

Doctor’s Offices

Medical billing and coding specialists employed in private practices have the same responsibilities as their hospital peers. However, they tend to be jacks-of-all-trades. Teams are smaller, so each member has more big-picture responsibilities.

Supervised by a practice manager or an office administrator, you’ll research charts, code insurance forms, submit claims, communicate with patients, and handle other financial tasks. If you like dabbling in different aspects of medical coding and enjoy engaging patients, a job in a private practice may be a perfect fit.

Outpatient Clinics

Freestanding clinics also utilize medical codes for billing purposes. However, the subset is smaller because they provide fewer services. The atmosphere is similar, but the pace is more relaxed, emergencies are rare. Some clinics are affiliated with a hospital system, so it’s an easy way for new graduates to get a foot in the door of a major institution.

Insurance Companies

Insurance agencies depend on medical coders to review claims. You’ll verify their accuracy and make coverage determinations. It’s a research-intensive desk job that requires the spirit of a detective and a keen eye for detail. Excellent communication and coding skills are essential.

The Government

The state and federal governments employ medical coding specialists to perform administrative and research duties. You might, for example, handle claims for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the nation’s largest insurer. Or you could work for a public health department, helping officials conduct disease surveillance through the analysis of coding statistics.

Medical Equipment Dealers

Most health insurance policies cover medical equipment, so pharmacies and sellers hire medical coders to request reimbursement on the client’s behalf. It improves sales and gets the patients what they need faster. The job consists mostly of verifying coverage and submitting claim forms.

Medical Billing Services

Small hospitals and private practices are increasingly outsourcing their billing needs. It’s a convenient and cost-effective way to separate the health and business aspects of medicine.

Medical billing services manage claims for hundreds and even thousands of healthcare providers. A non-clinical environment, it feels more business-like than medical. Client and provider contact is typically limited to e-mail or phone calls. Instead, you’ll work with a team of professional billers, coders, accountants, and administrators.

How Do You Become a Medical Coder?

Education options for medical coders range from diploma to bachelor’s degree programs. Unlike other careers in healthcare finance, you don’t need to go to college. A vocational school program will prepare you for an entry-level job as a medical billing and coding specialist. You’ll graduate in months with a diploma that qualifies you for many of the same roles as your college-educated colleagues.

Programs are short but comprehensive and lifestyle friendly. Courses include:

  • Medical Terminology
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Health Insurance Models
  • Coding Systems and more

Vocational students are also well-prepared for certification, the next step forward on the career path. Vocational school graduates are eligible for several nationally recognized certificates that make them more valuable job applicants. It’s among the best values in training today.

Final Thoughts

Not all healthcare heroes wear scrubs. Medical billing and coding specialists are as integral to medicine as doctors and nurses. You may not heal the sick, but you’ll ensure that those who do have the resources necessary to succeed. Healthcare is a team sport, one in which you’ll play a vital role.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.

 

How Do I Prepare for a Medical Assistant Interview?

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If you have an interview for a medical assisting position, congratulations, you deserve it. But now comes the difficult part, preparing for a face-to-face meeting with a potential employer. It’s okay to be nervous. Most people are because they know what’s at stake. These tips will help you make the best possible impression.

How Do I Prepare for a Medical Assistant Interview?

A job interview does what a resume doesn’t,  it puts a human face on an otherwise dry list of qualifications. It’s a one-off opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, education, and professionalism. Here’s how to prepare:

Learn about the Employer

Turnover is costly, so employers want to hire medical assistants who are a good fit for their organizations. The right candidate is more likely to get along with coworkers and have a positive impact on the workplace.

Researching the employer’s website before the interview allows you to highlight the skills and experiences that best align with their needs and culture. Familiarizing yourself with their services, vision and values demonstrates a keener interest in the position and better prepares you to ask and answer tough interview questions.

Review the Job Description

Jobs for medical assistants are as variable as the applicants, all positions are not the same. Understanding the requirements and responsibilities allows you to clarify expectations and highlight pertinent skills.

Dress for Success

What you wear to an interview demonstrates the professionalism with which you will represent an employer. Make it count. A business casual outfit is your best bet.

Keep it simple with matching separates that are clean, pressed and understated. Photos on social media may offer clues about the dress code.

Arrive on Time

Being on time for a job interview is among the simplest ways to make a positive first impression. If you’re not familiar with the location, don’t take chances. Time the route in advance, allowing extra time for bad weather, unexpected traffic, or parking woes.

Be Prepared

Bring an extra copy of your resume, a list of professional references and letters of recommendation for the interviewer’s convenience. Know the name of the person who will be conducting the interview and be prepared to ask questions that demonstrate an interest in the organization.

Improve Your Odds with a Vocational School Diploma and Career Services

If you don’t get the job, you won’t be alone. Only one candidate will land the position. While some employers are still willing to train people with a strong work ethic and the willingness to learn, most prefer to hire trained candidates.

If you don’t have a formal education or experience as a medical assistant, a great way to ease your disappointment is to improve your odds of getting the next position you apply for by graduating from a vocational school program. Not only does a diploma give you a competitive advantage, but it also comes with perks like comprehensive career services and certification preparation.

Common Interview Questions (and Answers) for Medical Assistants

Applicants can expect a volley of questions during a medical assistant interview. Here are some of the most common and how to answer them confidently:

Question #1: “Tell me about yourself.”

“Tell me about yourself” and similar questions allow interviewers to get a sense of your background and skills. But it’s an inherently uncomfortable question that puts applicants on the spot. How you answer is seen as a reflection of how you would handle challenging inquiries from clients.

The rules for responses include:

  • Keep it professional — concentrate on your training, experience, and work history, avoiding personal details.
  • Don’t ramble — replies should be concise.
  • Stay positive — never perseverate on your failures or speak about past employers in a negative way.
  • Don’t memorize responses — the vibes you get from the interviewer should shape your response. Canned replies may seem stiff or disingenuous.

Question #2: “What are your Strengths?”

Another tough question, asking “What are your strengths” forces applicants to self-evaluate their skills. Examples of sought-after strengths for medical assistants include:

Strong communication skills — the ability to read, write, and speak confidently is critical when engaging with patients, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.

Team spirit — medical assistants are members of the clinical and administrative teams. Their ability to collaborate with others is a must.

Flexibility — adapting to new situations and tasks is important in a medical environment. Emergencies are the rule, not the exception.

Empathy — the ability to see things from different perspectives is a valuable skill that helps you better relate to patients and peers.

Attention to detail — medical assistants are responsible for recording health histories and doctor’s orders. Accuracy is vital.

You can stand out among applicants by:

  • Game planning role-specific responses based on the job description — if an oncology practice values emotional awareness, for example, describe your empathy.
  • Sharing relevant examples — explaining how you lowered your last company’s medical bill by reducing waste and negotiating with vendors means more than saying that you are resource-conscious.

Question #3: “Describe your work experience.”

If you’ve worked as a medical assistant, focus your response on your most relevant experience. Mention your versatility but find ways to link it to the skills the employer is seeking.

If you’re a new graduate or have neither a diploma nor experience, highlight the skills you’ve gleaned through past employment or volunteer work. Working as a cashier, for example, requires accuracy with numbers and good customer service skills.

Question #4: “What are your weaknesses?”

Employers are less interested in your weaknesses than in how you’re overcoming them. It’s an awkward question, but one that demonstrates your self-awareness. Stick to this formula for a winning response:

  • Select an honest, professionally relevant weakness, such as being uncomfortable with public speaking.
  • Offer an example of how this has created a problem in your life, like being unable to articulate ideas through group presentations.
  • Explain how you’ve learned from it and are trying to overcome the issue by, for example, taking a class that teaches practical communication skills.

Question #5: “Why do you want to work for this practice?”

Interviewers ask this question to determine if you researched the organization and thought critically about your potential role. Your answer should reflect an understanding of their mission statement and company and culture. Reasons could include that:

  • You identify with their professional values.
  • You’re interests and aptitudes seem like a good fit.
  • You’ve heard positive things about their contributions to the community.
  • The job aligns with your values and career goals.

Question #6: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

Employers ask this question to:

  • Determine if the company can meet your short-term career goals.
  • Assess whether you’re over-qualified and unlikely to be satisfied in a lesser role.
  • Find out if you’re willing to improve your skills.

If you’re tempted to guess what an interviewer wants to hear, don’t. Just be honest. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a dead-end career or working for a company with unrealistic expectations. Honest answers are best, but dos and don’ts include:

Do share your aspirations — employers want to know that you’re thinking ahead. Mention how the position you’re applying for will help you meet your goals.

Don’t mention promotions — instead, talk about personal and professional growth through experience and further education. Be enthusiastic about learning.

Don’t overreach — big goals may sound ambitious, but most are unrealistic.

Do express flexibility — it’s important for employers to know that you’re open to changing and growing with them.

Question #7: “Do you have any questions?”

This question helps employers gauge the sincerity of your interest in a position by exploring topics beyond the usual Q&A. It’s also a golden opportunity to erase any lingering doubts or questions about the role. Consider it your chance to interview the company.

Some examples of questions to ask include:

Is this a new role?

New roles are typically less defined than established positions. Candidates should generally be more flexible and open to shifting job responsibilities.

What’s your favorite part about working here?

Non-specific answers are a red flag. Look for positive comments about the staff, leadership, and workplace environment.

What’s the biggest challenge in this position?

This question is a good way to assess how a company supports its team members. Challenges are only obstacles if they’re not properly managed.

What factors determine someone’s success here?

Managers know what makes their employees successful. Typically, it’s flexibility, compassion, time management and reliability. Whatever the answer is, it gives you one last opening to share examples of professional achievements in that realm.

Is there room for advancement here?

Training new workers is expensive, so the most valuable employees are those who plan to stay. Asking this question plants a seed in the mind of the interviewer, letting them know that their business is a part of your goals.

Do you have any concerns about hiring me for this role?

Interviews are often over before applicants can sell themselves. As intimidating as a face-to-face meeting can be for candidates, it’s equally daunting to many employers who lack interviewing skills.

Most, however, can articulate a reason why they might think you’re not a good fit for the job. Use the opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings about your experience or qualities.

Final Thoughts

First impressions determine future opportunities. Known as the “halo effect,” employers are more likely to hire and promote people with whom they had a positive initial interaction. So, despite your qualifications, interviews can open doors or close them. Preparation is the key both to getting a job and growing your career.

Medical Assistant Program

Ready to start a new career as a medical assistant? Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact Gwinnett College today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant.

Is Becoming a Massage Therapist a Good Career?

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Are you interested in becoming a massage therapist but not sure if it is a good career? Massage therapists are professionals in the healing arts. They enjoy helping clients relax and reduce pain. They use their intensive training to deliver customized treatments to clients. While many massage therapists offer standalone treatments, some work as part of holistic and integrative wellness teams. So, is becoming a massage therapist a good career?

Is Becoming a Massage Therapist a Good Career?

Is massage therapy a good career? The job outlook for massage therapists is robust. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of massage therapists is projected to grow 20% through 2031.

The increased demand for trained and licensed massage therapists is due to the increase in demand for holistic medicine. As interest in integrative medicine grows, people are increasingly seeking out noninvasive, holistic options for dealing with pain and injuries. Additionally, growing awareness about the importance of self-care for mental health has many people seeking options for unplugging from the stress of daily life. Massage therapy has been linked to lower stress levels, decreased anxiety, and reduced irritability. Ordinary people all over the country consider their massage therapists essential for wellness and relaxation.

What Does a Massage Therapist Do?

A massage therapist is a licensed professional capable of delivering both relaxation-based and therapeutic techniques. Massage therapists assess and treat the body’s joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and soft tissue. The primary job duty of a massage therapist is to apply manual pressure and stimulation. They can do this using their education focused on anatomy, physiology, reflexology, and the intricacies of recognized treatment techniques. Services offered by licensed massage therapists can be used for:

  • Improving circulation.
  • Promoting relaxation.
  • Treating injury-related pain.
  • Treating chronic pain.
  • Promoting overall health.
  • Promoting mood and mental health.

Massage therapists listen to their clients to get an understanding of what they need. Using input from each client to determine a patient’s wellness goals, you can design a custom plan that utilizes the best technique and scheduling frequency to produce results. You can also follow up with clients, help to monitor progress, and provide suggestions for supporting the musculoskeletal system.

Where Do Massage Therapists Work?

As a massage therapist, you can work in a variety of settings. You can work at spas, wellness centers, and massage offices. Some are affiliated with hospitals and care centers. It’s also possible to work for resorts and cruise brands as a massage therapist. In some cases, licensed professionals prefer to work independently because they enjoy the freedom to travel from client to client. Opportunities also exist for event-based massage work at shopping malls, festivals, corporate events, and casinos. It’s also possible to get a job working for sports teams and athletes. Professional and elite athletes are increasingly using massage therapists to help with muscle recovery to achieve enhanced performance and injury prevention. Many college and professional teams and leagues employ on-staff massage therapists.

How Does Someone Become a Massage Therapist?

Massage therapy is a tightly regulated industry. You must become a licensed professional in order to legally work in this field. The only way to earn licensing is by graduating from a massage therapy program at a vocational school. While programs require a minimum number of classroom hours to obtain a diploma or degree, a massage therapy program is an intensive experience designed to equip you to be successful. In fact, you will become an expert at the human body, reflexes, and muscle groups.

After successfully graduating from a program, you must pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Completing a degree or diploma program isn’t just a requirement. The reality is that a massage therapy program is necessary to pass the state board exams. These thorough exams will cover all of the technical, ethical, and hygienic requirements that massage therapists must be familiar with before they can begin seeing clients.

What Do You Learn During a Massage Therapy Program?

A massage therapy diploma program consists of a well-planned sequence of courses designed to help you grow in skill and expertise. While these programs are intensive, they are designed to help you learn at a reasonable pace, digest the course materials being covered, and learn how to apply your “book” knowledge in practical settings. Each course prepares you for the next phase of information and training.

A massage therapy school curriculum covers scientific and technical information, manual skills, and mastery of the business knowledge needed to successfully work as a massage therapist. You are led by instructors with real-world experience in a variety of settings. Of course, the highlight of any massage therapy program is the intensive training that you receive in respected massage therapy techniques. You will learn how to administer forms of massage therapy that have been developed around the world. The list of key topics covered during in-class program coursework includes:

  • Swedish Massage.
  • Deep Tissue Massage.
  • Neuromuscular Therapy.
  • Chair Massage.
  • Sports Massage.
  • Anatomy and Physiology.
  • Business and Success Techniques.

Training in these areas will help equip you to walk into employment situations with the skills employers are looking for. In addition, you will be empowered to help your clients discover approaches to healing and wellness that allow them to enjoy health, comfort, and vitality. In fact, you will have the ability to use your in-depth training to help clients discover healing solutions based on their symptoms, health backgrounds, and other core diagnostic factors.

What Happens After Graduation From Massage Therapy School?

Graduation day is an exciting day because you will know that you are about to walk into a career with limitless potential. There is also a sense of excitement in the air because you have chosen a profession that offers rare levels of satisfaction, personal freedom, and room for growth.

Upon graduation, you are qualified to begin applying to entry-level positions at spa franchises, and medical centers. Many students discover that they have a specific preference that they’d like to pick as a specialty. Choosing a specialty can be a great way to enjoy a niche career with a steady roster of repeat clients. Clinical massage, medical massage, sports massage, and prenatal massage are just some of the specialties that you can pivot toward while building a career. Of course, being a generalist can be a great way to enjoy a career that’s full of variety.

Who Can Become a Massage Therapist?

This occupation is open to anyone willing to put in the time and work needed to graduate from a massage therapy program. Many people come to this career after spending years working in corporate settings, education, and other fields. They are drawn to the healing arts because they are seeking a career that gives them a sense of purpose and connection. They also like the fact that a diploma or degree provides access to a sustainable career in a growing field. Also, many people know from a young age that they don’t want work in an office. They crave the satisfaction of a career with many different options for growth.

There’s no need to have a specific background to enroll in a vocational program. No prerequisite courses are required before enrolling.

How Does Someone Begin a Massage Therapy Career?

A career in this expanding field begins with a diploma or degree from a massage therapy program. A great way to start the journey is by enrolling in a massage therapy program offered by Gwinnett College. While the decision to become a massage therapist requires dedication, you will have the guidance and support of your instructors throughout the educational journeys.

Interested in learning more about starting a massage therapy career? Upon graduation, Massage Therapy Program students will receive diplomas and be qualified to seek entry-level positions as clinical, medical, or deep tissue massage therapists in wellness clinics and centers, spa environments including resorts and franchises, and self-employment.

Gwinnett College also offers a degree program in Massage & Spa Management for students attending the Lilburn, GA campus. The Associate of Science Degree in Massage and Spa Operations is designed to provide you with the additional knowledge and practical skills to transition into positions of leadership within the spa environment or to better function as a proprietor of your own massage business. The program includes core curriculum courses specific to the practice of massage as well as courses to be used in the administration of a practice.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a massage therapist today.

Is Medical Assisting Harder than Nursing?

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Compassionate people are naturally drawn to the medical field. However, not all healthcare jobs are created equal. Some are more physically demanding than others while advanced roles take longer to train for.

Which career you pursue should reflect your interest, aptitudes, and professional aspirations. Nursing and medical assisting are two examples of similar fields with different rewards.

Why Does Someone Get into the Healthcare Industry?

Healthcare careers have personal and practical benefits. Motivations are as unique as people are and include:

Helping Others

People feel best about their work when they know it has an impact, we all want to make the world a better place. If you’re a people person, a healthcare career allows you to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Accessible Training

It takes years to train for jobs in some fields, time that some people just don’t have. But you can break into the healthcare industry with a diploma or an associate degree.

Job Security

The medical sector is among the fastest-growing fields nationwide. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13 percent increase in demand for healthcare workers through 2031. During a time in which technology is making some careers obsolete, nurses and medical assistants have a secure and stable future.

Personal Fulfillment

A fulfilling job improves our emotional well-being. We get a deep sense of satisfaction by having a purpose. Surveys consistently show that workers feel more engaged, motivated, and productive when their career reflects their values. The medical field is a good fit for people who are passionate about health and science.

Opportunities for Advancement

Starting at the bottom of a new field is never easy, it takes time to climb the career ladder. However, nowhere is that simpler than in the healthcare industry. Advancement is within anyone’s reach through continuing education and experience. Opportunities are plentiful.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants manage the flow of patients through healthcare offices by performing a broad range of clinical and administrative tasks.

The job includes:

Scheduling

Proper scheduling minimizes wait times and ensures the efficient use of practice or facility resources, including staff. Medical assistants work with the front office team to support the needs of both patients and healthcare providers by keeping the schedule running smoothly so that the workload is manageable.

Rooming Patients

Medical assistants prepare patients for exams or procedures by verifying their identity, confirming their medical history, taking their vital signs, and making them comfortable while they wait for the clinician. The goal is to maximize the provider’s time by managing tasks that don’t require advanced skills.

Performing Diagnostic Tests

Medical assistants can perform a surprisingly broad variety of diagnostic tests, saving patients a trip to the hospital. Examples include electrocardiograms, urinalysis, pregnancy tests and blood glucose testing.

Drawing Blood

Phlebotomy is among medical assistants’ most valuable skills. Medical assistants draw, process, ship and sometimes test samples when equipment is available.

Billing and Coding

Medical assistants have a primarily clinical role, but they’re also trained to perform administrative duties. While billing specialists manage most claims and invoicing, medical assistants are responsible for entering patient data into the clinical record, an integral part of billing. In small clinics and doctor’s offices, they may also assist with preparing insurance claims, tracking payments, and inventory management.

Office Communication

Medical assistants act as liaisons, engaging with patients on the clinical team’s behalf. From triaging urgent care requests to reviewing lab results, they manage office communication and client outreach through letter, e-mail, and phone.

Is Medical Assisting Harder than Nursing?

Medical assisting and nursing are challenging careers in their own ways. Which is harder depends on your strengths, passions, and career goals. The jobs are similar, but there are key differences, such as:

Training Requirements

Nurses need more education than medical assistants. It takes a year to become a practical nurse, and two years to become an entry-level registered nurse. However, full-time students can become medical assistants in months, rather than years. It’s an ideal career choice for working adults who need a quick transition from the classroom to the field.

Nurses also need a license to practice. Graduates must pass the NCLEX exam before they can work. Medical assistants are work-ready upon completing a vocational school program. Certification is recommended but not required.

Work Setting

Medical assistants and nurses work in many of the same places, hospitals, clinics, and private practices. However, their roles are different, and so are their working environments.

Most medical assistants work for doctors. Most nurses are employed by healthcare facilities. The pace in offices is brisk but predictable. Visits are by appointment, so time management is important but less challenging than in an acute care facility. And while emergencies occur, they’re relatively rare.

Nurses work in fast-paced settings in which crises are the rule, not the exception. And because most nursing tasks, such as medication administration, are time-sensitive, there’s limited flexibility in when they’re performed. Neither approach is harder than the other, but which you’ll prefer depends on whether you prefer consistency or variety.

Responsibilities

In general, nurses perform primarily clinical tasks while medical assistants engage in both clinical and administrative activities. Nurses provide direct patient care. Medical assistants play an equivalent but supporting role, preparing patients to receive treatment.

If you like interacting with people, being distracted by clerical duties may seem harder and less gratifying than nursing. However, if you have interests in both health and business, dabbling in a wider range of tasks than nurses are trained for could be a better fit.

Professional Growth

Nursing offers more opportunities for advancement than medical assisting, but there’s a catch. You may need another degree. Practical nurses with diplomas, for example, need at least an associate degree for most supervisory positions.

A registered nurse with an associate’s degree needs a bachelor’s for most leadership posts and a master’s to be a nursing instructor. And because most nursing education doesn’t include training in medical coding or accounting, getting a purely administrative position may be challenging.

Medical assistants may need additional education to get a promotion, but the road is less complex. Adding to your credentials through specialty certifications gives you an edge without needing a degree.

Getting an advanced phlebotomy certificate, for example, can earn you a supervisory role in a hematology practice, while coursework in accounting or human relations could qualify you to become a practice manager.

Work-Life Balance

Most medical assistants work a regular weekday schedule with evenings, weekends, and holidays off. Mandatory overtime and holiday hours are rare.

Conversely, nurses can’t punch out just because their shift is over. In an emergency, it’s all hands-on deck. Overtime requests are common, and new grads may have to work the night shift for a while before getting a premium day slot. For people who need to work evenings or weekends, however, there’s never a shortage of job openings.

What Does a Nurse Do?

Nurses play a critical role in the delivery of clinical care. Their many responsibilities include:

Assessing and Monitoring Patient Needs

In facility settings, nurses assess patients to identify physical, emotional, and social needs related to medical conditions and treatments. As the doctor’s eyes and ears, they monitor vital signs and changes in health status.

Care Planning

Nurses are autonomous professionals. They create, evaluate, and adjust individualized plans of care for each patient to ensure that their nursing needs are met.

Patient Advocacy

A nurse’s most fundamental obligation is to advocate for their patients, protecting their rights as individuals. As part of an interdisciplinary team, they work closely with physicians, pharmacists, therapists and other medical professionals to ensure that patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care, even if they can’t speak for themselves.

Administering Medications and Treatments

Nurses administer physician-prescribed medications and treatments, from tube feedings to wound care, observing for adverse reactions and responses to therapy.

Assisting with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

While assisting with ADLs, eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming is often delegated to paraprofessional staff, nurses retain the ultimate responsibility for patient safety and nursing outcomes. Direct care is the foundation of nursing practice.

Patient Education

Nurses are health educators, helping patients to better understand their diagnoses and treatment needs. Knowledge empowers people to help themselves, improving long-term health outcomes.

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant or Nurse?

Becoming a medical assistant is as simple as enrolling in a vocational school program. Admission criteria are selective but usually not strict.

Full-time students graduate with a diploma in under a year. The comprehensive curriculum prepares you for optional certification.

Nursing requires more education. Practical nursing programs take at least a year to complete. Upon graduation, you’ll be ready to sit for the licensing exam.

Admission into nursing programs is more academically stringent than it is for medical assistant programs. Not because the work is harder, but because there are fewer slots available than there are applicants.

Final Thoughts

Nursing and medical assisting are both rewarding careers with secure futures. But there’s no one-size-fits-all choice. Consider your strengths, preferences and ambitions when deciding which path is right for you.

Medical Assistant Program

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

LPN Program

The Practical Nursing diploma program provides the didactic and skills training needed to take the NCLEX-PN examination.* LPN courses create employment opportunities that include entry-level practical nursing positions.

Contact Gwinnett College today to learn more about becoming a medical assistant or nurse.

Can I Do Medical Billing and Coding without a Degree?

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Are you interested in the medical industry but don’t want to manage patient care? Consider becoming a medical billing and coding specialist? Careers in the healthcare industry offer flexible schedules, job security, and the satisfaction of helping others. The healthcare system requires many administrative professionals who can support doctors and nurses. While these roles do not have clinical contact with patients, they enable hospitals and providers to deliver excellent care.

Medical billing and coding specialists are experts on the revenue cycle, documentation standards, and compliance regulations that keep the healthcare system functioning. They provide an essential layer of quality control and accountability that helps ensure efficiency and patient safety.

While a degree is not required to become a medical billing and coding specialist, obtaining a degree is an excellent way to maximize your earning potential and become a leader in the industry. The requirements for a degree take longer to complete and require more challenging coursework than certificate and diploma programs. As a result, a degree opens the door to better opportunities and broader career options.

What Does a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Do?

Medical billers and coders generate invoices for rendered healthcare services using a standardized alphanumeric coding system. They must read charts and medical records to accurately determine the services performed, assess payment eligibility, and submit bills to insurance companies for reimbursement.

Medical billing and coding specialists are required to collaborate with doctors and nurses to obtain clarification on medical records, leverage reference materials to research procedure codes, and complete follow-up tasks to secure payment for delayed or denied claims.

This work requires high-level attention to detail, critical thinking, and organizational skills. Successful medical billing and coding specialists need solid foundational knowledge of billing and coding best practices and the soft skills to work with multiple partners.

How Do You Become a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist?

Billing and coding is a highly structured discipline governed by federal regulations and industry-wide standards. These formal processes ensure consistency across the healthcare system to persevere patient safety and privacy. Learning to be a medical billing and coding specialist requires formal training because the information is detailed and specific.

A great way to become a medical billing and coding specialist is by attending a vocational school. Medical bills are subject to strict formatting standards and deadlines. As a result, employers only hire trained professionals who understand the job duties. The role is too critical to the ongoing success of healthcare facilities to teach people to code on the job.

What Can I Do in Medical Billing and Coding with a Degree?

While vocational schools offer a variety of programs that enable you to enter the workforce, obtaining a degree provides you with the best return on your investment. The advantages of completing your degree through a vocational school include:

Higher Level Study, Deeper Understanding

While all billing and coding programs teach you the fundamentals of successful coding and health information management, degree programs cover topics in more detail. You will take advanced-level medical anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology courses. This higher-scope coursework will make it easier for you to work alongside doctors and other medical professionals.

Plus, advanced science courses will help you read and interpret a broader range of medical records, giving you the confidence to take on the most challenging roles during your career.

Competitive Advantage

When applying for positions, degree holders often receive preference over candidates with certificates or diplomas. A commitment to your education and the challenging level of your coursework tells prospective employers you are committed to the field and possess an advanced understanding of the profession.

Applicants with degrees may be eligible for positions with a broader range of employers, including government agencies, specialty medical practices, and insurance companies.

While the job market for billing and coding should remain strong based on the needs of our healthcare system, holding a degree will help you stand out from your peers. Many top employers have minimum education requirements for their applicants. As a degree holder, your blend of vocational training and academic achievement will make you a highly sought-after  candidate.

Advanced Skills Development

Beyond making you an effective and skilled billing and coding specialist, the degree coursework makes you a well-rounded student. Covering in-depth topics and delving into theory challenges you to think critically and creatively.

The work required to succeed will help develop your communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. As a result, you’ll strengthen the attributes needed to be an effective collaborator and leader. This soft skills development will fuel your career growth, boost your self-confidence, and enrich your life.

Your coursework will also make you a better researcher and investigator. Beyond teaching advanced coding competencies, your studies will sharpen the skills needed to research new codes and untangle complex cases. This versatility will make you a valuable addition to your medical team and enable you to work on policy and procedure projects.

Promotional Opportunities

Once you’ve entered the workforce, your degree will help you thrive in your role. Comprehensive training will lower the on-the-job learning curve because you’ll understand the tasks and expectations. Your degree will make it easier to obtain promotions as you gain experience and learn about how your employer functions.

Career Advancement

Beyond promotions, obtaining your degree is a great pathway into supervisory roles and management. Hospital systems and other large employers have large teams who handle various aspects of medical record management, billing, and coding. They need leaders who understand billing and coding and how it fits into the facility’s overall mission.

A degree tells employers about your dedication to the field. Your achievement indicates that you understand how to code and have advanced training in the principles and underlying theory that guides the profession. Your degree will help you rise through your career, securing roles with higher challenges and leadership responsibility.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.

How to Become a Travel Nurse in Florida

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Are you interested in traveling Florida as a traveling nurse? There are many opportunities for traveling nurses because of the demand for healthcare professionals. According to Avant Healthcare Professionals, there will be a deficit of 59,00 nurses by 2035. So, what exactly is a traveling nurse?

What is a Traveling Nurse?

A traveling nurse is employed in short-term roles by healthcare staffing agencies, according to EveryNurse. As a traveling nurse, you will work on a contract basis before transitioning to another medical facility in need. Assignments can vary from hospitals and clinics to assisted living facilities. The standard travel nurse assignment is 13 weeks; however, some are more flexible. So, what does it take to be a traveling nurse?

What Does it Take to be a Traveling Nurse?

For those that want to become a traveling nurse, the first step is to complete a Nursing program. Then you must become licensed by passing the NCLEX exam. Some states may require a state specific license so completing training at a vocational school will allow you to travel in the Sunshine State as a traveling nurse.

Experience as a Nurse

It is important to get some experience as a nurse before you can start traveling. Traveling nurse agencies are looking for candidates with some experience and proven ability to adapt to a new environment. This will help build your confidence, so you are ready when you step into a new hospital with different protocols.

Find a Travel Nurse Agency

The next step is to identify a travel nursing agency that works with nurses of your skill level. There are big and small agencies that work with all types of specialties in many different metro areas. If you find an opportunity at a specific hospital first, you may need to work with the travel nursing agency that manages that hospital. Agencies also have travel nurse recruiters that liaison between you and the hospital, negotiating on your behalf.

Pick an Assignment

You may get the flexibility to choose your assignment. Do you want to work during the day or evenings, weekdays, or weekends? The contract you sign for the assignment will dictate the specifications of the nursing role.

Find Housing

Most travel agencies will have company-provided housing however some offer a stipend and rely on you to find housing accommodations. You can find long-term housing at hotels, Airbnb, and through Facebook. Make sure you understand your situation. For example, Hawaii may pay more for nurses but living expenses may also be higher. Know your options.

Keep Your Nursing License Valid

Each state has a minimum number of hours you must work to keep your nursing license as a traveling nurse. Make sure you understand each state’s requirements, so you are not left without the opportunity to take travel nursing roles. Some states also require an annual number of continued education units in specific areas to maintain licensing.

What are the Benefits of Being a Traveling Nurse?

There are many benefits to becoming a traveling nurse. These benefits include:

Traveling to New Places

Travel nurses can explore the new cities they are assigned to by travel nurse staffing agencies. During the duration of the contract, you can enjoy the food, recreation and nightlife offered by many cities and metro areas. Not only do you see new places, but you also meet new people. People that you may keep in touch with for years to come.

Flexibility

Traveling offers flexibility over a permanent nursing career. You get to choose when and where you work. You can also take off days in between assignments to relax and unwind. This can offer you a better work/life balance.

Increase Experience

By traveling to distant hospitals, you get the opportunity to try new things and learn new skills. You can gain experience and learn new skills that permanent nurses may not be able to achieve. This can help you secure a full-time position in a specialty once you decide to settle down.

Great Pay

Traveling nurses are well-compensated. In addition to competitive salaries, travel nurse staffing agencies may pay for housing and offer health insurance or bonuses to entice traveling nurses to rural locales.

However, make sure you properly calculate your take-home pay because you may be responsible for some additional expenses. While a job may be advertised at a certain rate, it is important to understand the cost of housing, travel and other expenses that coincide with the job opportunity.

Are Traveling Nurses in Demand in Florida?

Hospitals have been counting on traveling nurses to meet temporary needs. Whether nurses are on vacation, the hospital is short due to an outbreak or other circumstance, hospitals will look to traveling nurse staffing agency to fill temporary needs.

The Affordable Care Act has significantly increased the demand for traveling nurses. Millions of people gained access to healthcare coverage, and this left hospitals short staffed. In the interim, hospitals looked to travel nurses to fill the shortage while they attracted and retained full-time staff.

What are Travel Nurse Staffing Agencies in Florida Looking for?

A travel nurse staffing agency is looking for a balance of experience and education. They look for candidates that work in a variety of settings, that posses’ good communication and can adapt to their environment. The specific skills a travel nurse staffing agency in Florida looks for include:

Flexibility

As a travel nurse, you will need to be flexible and adapt to new environments. You will end up working for a variety of supervisors with different temperaments and leadership styles. You must be able to adapt quickly and build effective relationships with fellow colleagues.

A Good Attitude

Travel nurse staffing agencies in Florida interview candidates and look for signs of a positive attitude. Do you have a positive, optimistic outlook? Do you work well with a variety of people that have different characters and interpersonal skills? A successful candidate will be positive and have energy to excel in their station.

Competence

A travel nurse must be in good standing with education, credentials, and licensing. They must be competent in their duties and have a full complement of knowledge and skills to perform nursing duties. It helps to be a self-starter to learn new protocols and get along with new people.

A Team Player

In a hospital, it is a team effort. Everyone must work together to offer positive healthcare outcomes. Sometimes it is important to lead and other times to follow. A good team player understand their role and works toward a common goal.

Final Thoughts

Are you interested in becoming a traveling nurse? Let us help you complete a Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program and prepare you for the NCLEX-PN exam. We can get you started on your new career path and support you every step of the way.

Practical Nursing Program

The Practical Nursing program at Gwinnett Institute provides training to prepare you to enter the nursing profession as an LPN. After graduating from the Nursing diploma program and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, you will further your career to become a licensed practical nurse.

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam. College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN in Florida at Gwinnett Institute.

Is it Faster to Become an LPN or RN?

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Did you know that you can become a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in two years or less depending on how much time you can commit to schooling? Either program brings you a step closer to your career goals. There’s no wrong way to be a nurse, the important part is to get started. Let’s explore your choices.

What Does an LPN Do?

LPNs provide basic bedside care. Their responsibilities include:

Assisting with Activities of Daily Living

Practical nurses help patients eat, bathe, dress, groom and eliminate, performing personal care while making clinical observations about their physical, emotional, and cognitive status.

Taking Vital Signs

LPNs are entrusted to take vital signs, measurements of temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and respirations that reflect a patient’s health.

Monitoring Intake and Output

How much people eat and drink has a significant impact on their health. Practical nurses measure intake and output to monitor fluid and calorie balance.

Administering Medications

LPNs administer low-risk oral, injectable, topical, and inhaled medications, monitoring patients for adverse effects.

Wound Care

Practical nurses clean wounds, apply dressings and change bandages, monitoring patients for signs of infection or healing.

Collecting Biological Samples

LPNs collect urine, sputum, and stool samples for laboratory analysis, using techniques that prevent contamination and ensure valid results.

Inserting Urinary Catheters

When a patient can’t urinate, a common chronic and post-surgical problem, practical nurses insert urinary catheters to drain urine from the bladder.

Changing Ostomy Appliances

Debilitated patients who have ostomies for elimination rely on practical nurses for help changing them. You’ll remove the bag, monitor the skin at the adhesive site and fit a new appliance when needed.

Giving Tube Feedings

Patients with gastrointestinal disorders may require liquid nutrition through a gastric tube. A risk for aspiration, tube feedings require the skill of a nurse to administer.

Assessing for Pain

Pain plays a critical role in how fast patients get back on their feet after an illness or injury. If discomfort affects their mobility, they can’t participate in therapeutic exercises. Practical nurses assess pain through verbal screening and observation, administering analgesics when necessary.

Protecting Skin Integrity

Skin ulcers are a consequence of immobility and poor nutrition. Practical nurses help bedridden or chair-bound patients eat better and change positions more often to improve circulation.

Assisting with Therapeutic Exercises

Physical and occupational therapists prescribe exercises to keep patients fit. Practical nurses assist with range-of-motion and conditioning plans that improve stamina and enhance flexibility.

Managing Medical Equipment

Practical nurses manage medical equipment from oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and CPAP devices to mobility aids, like walkers and wheelchairs.

Providing Emotional Support

A nurse’s hand is often the only hand a patient has to hold. Practical nurses are not only caregivers, but they’re also friends, providing emotional support when the family isn’t near.

Educating Patients and Families

Patients and their families require a lot of teaching when it comes to diagnoses and treatments, knowledge and a good support system can be the difference between success and failure. Practical nurses serve as frontline educators, helping them better understand the doctor’s recommendations.

Supervising Paraprofessional Staff

Patients have an entire team of paraprofessionals, such as nursing and dietary assistants, on their side. Practical nurses ensure they’re following the care plan.

Documenting Care

Documentation takes time away from patients, but it’s crucial for the continuity of care. You’ll record changes in their condition and the care you provide each shift.

What Does an RN Do?

Registered nurses do everything practical nurses do plus high-risk technical tasks beyond a practical nurse’s scope of practice. They manage sicker patients with more complicated needs while assuming most care planning, education, and supervisory duties. Their work includes:

Patient Assessment

Practical nurses gather data, registered nurses decide what to do with it. Using their clinical expertise, they assess patients for responses to treatment and changes in condition.

Care Planning

RNs create care plans, blueprints for nursing care that include interventions and goals. An action plan, it helps nurses provide consistent, around-the-clock care.

Administering Intravenous Medications

In many states, only registered nurses can handle some parts of intravenous therapy due to the risks. Examples include initiating new medications, giving blood transfusions and total parental nutrition (TPN), IV nutrients that bypass the GI tract. Once established, practical nurses may assist with treatments.

Delegation and Supervision

In facilities where both RNs and LPNs are working, registered nurses take the lead. They delegate straightforward tasks to practical nurses while tackling tougher cases.

Practical nurses, for example, can handle minor wound care, while RNs manage deep wounds at risk for complications. Registered nurses, however, are responsible for the outcome of what LPNs under their supervision do, so trust and supervision are necessary.

Education

All nurses are educators. However, RNs have more training, so they’re better prepared to teach patients how to self-manage their illnesses. Registered nurses hold positions as patient navigators, case managers and disease-education specialists.

Management

Registered nurses serve as floor supervisors, unit managers and department leaders, rising through the ranks with experience and continuing education.

What Are the Main Differences between the LPN and RN Roles?

RNs and LPNs are both state-licensed professional nurses, but each has a different role. An LPN provides intermediate bedside care for stable patients who require medical supervision but not acute care. RNs perform more complex nursing tasks plus patient assessment and care planning. Practically speaking, however, the job descriptions are similar.

You’ll find RNs and LPNs working side-by-side with the same patients and doing many of the same tasks, but RNs are better educated. Responsible for the outcome of nursing care, they assume a supervisory role, delegating tasks with predictable outcomes, such as assisting with daily activities, to nursing assistants and practical nurses.

LPNs can work in acute care environments. Contrary to rumors, practical nurses are not being phased out of hospitals. While there’s a nationwide effort to hire more RNs, LPNs fill a valuable niche as bedside nurses as registered nurses assume increasingly complex technical tasks and managerial responsibilities.

Conversely, practical nurses are the primary caregivers in long-term care facilities. RNs offer distance supervision, filling mostly managerial and leadership roles. LPNs work on the floor and serve as charge nurses, directing daily care.

Ultimately, both RNs and LPNs are autonomous caregivers with skills their patients rely on. And though their responsibilities vary, each role offers nurses an opportunity to spread their wings. The differences allow nurses to choose their own path.

Is it Faster to Become an LPN or RN?

You may have guessed by now, but it takes longer to become an RN than an LPN. Practical nurses need at least a diploma, programs take about a year to complete. It takes two or more years to become a registered nurse, you need an associate degree or higher.

RNs with a bachelor’s or master’s degree qualify for greater responsibility than associate-educated RNs, but they hold the same professional license. States set the licensure requirements for nurses, so students get the same core training regardless of the length of the program.

How Do You Become an LPN or RN?

Registered nurses can get their degree from a university, college or vocational school. Some universities offer practical nursing degrees, but most students opt for diploma programs. Cost-effective and lifestyle-friendly, vocational school training is fast becoming the education option of choice for both registered and licensed practical nurses. The benefits can’t be ignored.

The Benefits of a Vocational School Program

There are many benefits to attending a vocational school. These benefits include:

Fast Training

Vocational training is quick but comprehensive. Accelerated programs can be intense, but you’ll be out of the classroom and into the field faster, earning money and gaining experience.

Flexible Schedules

Vocational schools specialize in the needs of adult learners. They know how hard it is to hold down a job and go to school, so they offer flexible schedules and hybrid learning options when possible.

Seasoned Instructors

Vocational school instructors are hired straight out of the field. The goal is to give students the most insight possible into the nursing industry during the short time they’re enrolled. You’ll learn from people who’ve been there and know how to succeed. The tips you’ll glean will help you transition more effectively from the classroom to the workplace.

License Preparation

All nurses take the same licensing exams, the NCLEX-RN for registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN for practical nurses. Vocational programs are shorter, but instructors focuses on the content on these exams. You’ll graduate well-prepared and ready to take the exams.

Career Services

Vocational schools take pleasure in helping graduates find jobs. They partner with local healthcare facilities, so they’re the first to know about choice job openings. Graduates get first consideration.

Final Thoughts

The healthcare industry is growing faster than expected, and the demand for nurses is projected to grow 6 percent in the coming decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you’re ready for a life change and want a nursing career you can train for in two years or less, call your local vocational school. They’ll help you channel the time and resources you have into the program that’s best for you.

Practical Nursing Program

The Practical Nursing program at Gwinnett Institute provides training to prepare you to enter the nursing profession as an LPN. After graduating from the Nursing diploma program and successfully passing the NCLEX-PN licensure exam, you will further your career to become a licensed practical nurse.

Registered Nursing Program

The Associate of Science in Nursing degree program provides training to prepare you to enter the profession as a registered nurse (RN). Upon successful completion of the nursing training degree program and demonstrated nursing competence, you will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.*  

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam. College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an LPN or RN at Gwinnett Institute.

Should I Get a Medical Billing and Coding Diploma or Degree?

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Medical coding is a vital component of the healthcare system. Skilled medical billing and coding specialists review medical records, translate clinical data into easy-to-read invoices, and secure reimbursement from insurance providers. Every healthcare facility needs talented professionals to complete billing and coding tasks, whether a single physician operating a private practice or a vast hospital system.

This multi-faceted career requires adaptable critical thinkers who can process complex information while adhering to rigorous regulatory standards. As a result, the industry offers rewarding work and career stability to attract high-quality individuals.

The best way to become a medical billing and coding specialist is with a formal training program. Vocational schools provide comprehensive instruction focused on real-world application to ensure graduates can succeed from their first day on the job. Potential specialists can pursue a billing and coding diploma or degree. Each track offers distinct advantages depending on your career goals and focuses.

What Does a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Do?

Medical billing and coding specialists provide vital administrative support to clinical practitioners in a variety of healthcare settings. They also help maintain document compliance to promote patient safety. You will compile and manage patient information in electronic medical record systems, conducting audits for completeness and compliance.

Medical Billers and coders primarily generate health insurance claims by converting narrative healthcare data from patient charts into standardized invoices using the ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS coding systems. As a medical billing and coding specialist, you will uphold ethical compliance regarding healthcare claims and follow patient privacy and HIPAA confidentiality guidelines.

You will most likely work in a conventional office setting within a clinical facility or remotely at an off-site facility. Depending on your employer, you may specialize in a specific practice area, focus on one phase of the revenue cycle, or serve as a generalist, completing all aspects of the billing process.

Medical Billing and Coding Diploma and Degree Programs

Choosing a diploma or a degree will provide you with the foundational knowledge and practical skills to confidently begin your career as a medical billing and coding specialist. The top employers require some level of formal training for applicants.

Completing your diploma or degree is the best way to secure an interview and begin working. When deciding between a diploma or degree, it’s vital to consider the following factors and how they relate to your short and long-term career goals.

Individuals with strong attention to detail and persistence are best suited for diploma and degree programs. As a medical biller and coder, you will encounter diverse cases every day because each patient’s course of care is different. You will need to assess the available information, utilize what you learned during your program, and research solutions to new problems you encounter.

Career Path

In general, you can complete a diploma program in a shorter timeframe than a degree program. Obtaining your diploma provides the quickest pathway to begin working as a medical billing and coding specialist. These programs are great for students without medical coding experience because they immerse you in the field. As a diploma holder, you’ll start gaining valuable experience that will help you grow professionally and build seniority with your employer.

Degree programs are excellent for individuals some prior billing experience because they establish the underlying fundamentals of the profession before adding advanced topics. A degree takes longer to obtain but offers broader career opportunities. While entry-level positions often require a minimum of a diploma, employers often limit promotions to advanced or supervisory roles to medical billing and coding specialists with degrees.

In addition, holding a degree is often a prerequisite for obtaining advanced certifications, like the Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS) credential. The long-term earning potential with a degree is higher, but it will take you longer to begin working.

Curriculum and Coursework

In both programs, you will learn anatomy and physiology, coding skills, clinical terminology, and how to function as a biller and coder. Vocational educators are uniquely qualified to provide complete classroom instruction and use real-world scenarios to develop the practical skills needed to thrive in the workplace.

A diploma program will focus on how to complete billing tasks and the fundamental knowledge needed to understand the revenue cycle. You’ll learn the worldwide billing standard, federal laws, industry-wide rules, and regulations. Getting your diploma will make you an effective billing and coding specialist because your coursework will blend theory and simulated billing activities that will prepare you for the field.

A degree curriculum is more comprehensive. Your coursework will delve into advanced topics including clinical coding, pathophysiology, and a deeper exploration of the theory underlying billing practices. The broader scope of your coursework will prepare you for more specialized coding positions and opportunities for advancement because you’ll have a global understanding of the billing and coding industry.

Timeframe

While all vocational programs are structured to help you begin your career as soon as possible, a diploma can be earned faster than a degree. The diploma programs are tailored to get you up to speed quickly and efficiently, covering all the essential knowledge for you to successfully analyze, code, and bill healthcare claims.

Completing a degree takes a few extra months due to the additional classes needed to expand your knowledge about pathophysiology, healthcare regulations, and advanced coding principles. However, a degree program is still much faster than a 4-year college program.

What Do You Learn During a Medical Billing and Coding Diploma and Degree Program?

Diploma and degree programs cover the same topics. Degree programs will devote more time to core topics and delve into advanced curriculum that allows graduates to pursue positions with greater specialization. The core medical billing and coding training program will include the following course topics.

Billing Basics

You will learn the components of a complete bill, conventions that govern bill generation and submission, and how to understand insurance plans. The coursework will cover the standards and practices as well as hands-on billing simulations to help you understand the processes. Billing basics are a vital component of both diploma and degree programs. Each subsequent class will build on this foundational knowledge.

You will rely on your basic billing skills to communicate with doctors and other clinical staff to ensure they understand the documentation requirements needed for generating proper insurance claims.

ICD-10 Coding

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) is the standard alphanumeric dosing system used to identify body parts, diagnoses, and injuries. This course will teach you the basics of analyzing healthcare data and translating chart notes into the codes needed to establish medical necessity.

The instruction will help you gain confidence to read and interpret the manual so you can adapt to billing for a wide range of medical specialties and practice areas. A degree program will devote more time to ICD-10 theory and how to navigate the applicable manuals.

CPT/HCPCS Coding

You will learn the Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) systems which you will use to generate bills for services. These alphanumeric languages are used to secure reimbursement for rendered medical services. This coursework will build on the pathophysiology and clinical terminology courses to help you read and understand medical records.

While both the diploma and degree programs will provide the skills needed to succeed as a billing and coding specialist, degree programs will cover a broader range of treatments and procedures to expand your knowledge base.

Advanced Clinical Coding

Once you have learned the basics of coding, you will move into advanced clinical coding courses that explore specialized outpatient coding topics related to multiple medical disciplines. These courses will prepare you for work in specialty clinics, like dermatology or rheumatology practices.

The advanced coding courses included in a degree program may be divided into multiple modules that give you an in-depth understanding of distinct clinical practice areas, making you a more versatile biller and coder.

Inpatient Coding

Your inpatient coding coursework covers coding topics related to patients admitted to a hospital or clinical facility. You’ll learn about the components of inpatient medical records, relevant terminology, and special requirements that pertain to inpatient care.

This curriculum is covered in a diploma course to give you essential competency. Degree holders who want to work for a hospital or large healthcare network will have advanced inpatient coding courses that highlight every aspect of inpatient care in acute, subacute, and long-term care facilities.

Coding from Operative Reports

All surgical procedures are thoroughly documented and subject to rigorous bill review. Your coding from operative reports class will teach you surgical terminology, advanced anatomy and physiology, and the conventions of operative reports and records.

These cases are dense and complex, requiring strong analytical skills and keen attention to detail. This coursework will help you succeed in a hospital setting or surgeon’s office. Degree programs will devote enough time to operative coding to help you gain the skill and competence needed to succeed on the job.

Health Information Technology

Today, all healthcare information is managed using electronic medical record systems. This helps ensure compliance, keeping patients safe and doctors accountable. Both diploma and degree programs allow you to practice your skills using live software, which is similar to the systems you’ll use throughout your career.

Instructors will cover the privacy and compliance obligations that billing and coding specialists must follow. You will regularly communicate patients’ protected health information both internally and externally. This responsibility places you at the front lines of HIPAA compliance and data security.

Advanced topics in health information management are a component of degree programs, helping you secure supervisory positions in health information management, which is closely linked to billing and coding.

Want to Learn More?

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical billing and coding specialist today.

What Is It Like to be a Telephone Advice Nurse?

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Are you interested in becoming an RN but not sure you want to work directly with patients in person? Consider becoming a telephone advice nurse. As a telephone advice nurse, you’ll manage healthcare for patients over the phone and on the Internet. Patients will call you to seek advice about a wide variety of ailments. Many people call for simple answers to basic questions. Still, others may face complex situations where they need comfort and reassurance. You’ll help a high volume of people daily. For example, you might help someone facing difficult medical conditions for which they don’t know what to do or advice someone that is not sure if they should test for influenza. So, what is it like to b a telephone advice nurse?

What Is It Like to be a Telephone Advice Nurse?

A telephone advice nurse manages high call volumes and works for insurance companies and medical facilities. For example, you may work in a call center designed for medical questions. In addition, as a telephone advice nurse, you might work remotely from your home.

A typical consultation with a patient over the phone may start with a basic question. However, as the call progresses, you might collect a health history from the patient to better understand how to treat and advise them. A patient and their family’s medical history reveals their existing medical conditions and informs you of hereditary diseases that the person could develop. For example, suppose the caller has symptoms such as high blood pressure or mild to severe chest pain. In that case, knowing if cardiovascular disease runs in their family is beneficial.

Address Their Chief Concern

The callers present you with their chief medical concern, and as the telephone advice nurse, you guide them through what they should do next. Following the above example, a caller experiencing mild chest pain could have one of many various conditions, including gastrointestinal issues. However, suppose they are experiencing severe chest pain. In that case, you or the caller need to contact emergency services as the caller could be experiencing a heart attack or stroke.

Completing Phone Triage

There are many reasons why phone triage is necessary. Telephone advice nurses perform phone triage under circumstances where medical facilities have a higher volume of incoming patients. For example, an epidemic or pandemic presents increased risks for patients who come to the ER and must wait a long time. So instead, a telephone advice nurse collects information from the patients, including why they need medical services and what symptoms they are experiencing. After they enter these patient details into the medical center’s IT system, the patients avoid long waits and get to an examination room faster.

The Importance of Emergency Identification Details

As a telephone advice nurse, you may ask for emergency identification details. The information provides important facts to add to the patient’s medical file. For example, some patients wear Medic-Alert jewelry that signifies if they have a pre-existing medical condition such as epilepsy or diabetes.

The same emergency identification details inform emergency care workers if the patient is allergic to medications or medical supplies. As a telephone advice nurse, you may need to contact emergency services to help a patient with these details to save their life.

Educating Others On the Phone

Telephone advice nurses educate others over the phone, including medical staff and callers from the general public. You will obtain the training, knowledge, and experience to manage medical crises and circumstances requiring advice or medical treatment. As a telephone advice nurse, you’ll have an extensive understanding of medical procedures and treatments and how these services could improve the caller’s health or the patient they are treating.

Collaborating with Other Medical Professionals

Collaboration with other medical professionals can save lives and improve the standard of care patients receive. For example, as a telephone advice nurse, you could discuss cases with a doctor. These discussions could help diagnose a patient based on population health data that is available to you that the doctor hasn’t seen.

A medical professional could call to inquire about a patient and determine if they were prescribed medications that could lead to dangerous drug interactions. Unfortunately, a patient that enters the emergency room unconscious cannot inform the staff what medications they are taking. However, a telephone advice nurse working in the doctor’s office where patients receive treatment could access their files. By providing advice and information, telephone advice nurses shape new protocols for treating patients and enable other medical professionals to perform their job.

Where Can an Advice Nurse Work?

As an advice nurse, each position gives you opportunities to take on different roles. The part you play depends on where you work and who will likely contact you for advice or assessment. Here are a few places where a telephone advice nurse may work.

Working for Insurance Companies

Telephone advice nurses assist insurance members with health-related symptoms. As a telephone advice nurse, an insurance member will call with a chief concern, and you must identify the symptoms they are experiencing and any medications they have been prescribed. You will triage these patients and either give them advice or refer them to their primary care physician. In the case of an emergency, you will instruct patients to go to the emergency room.

A Private Practice or Doctor’s Office

A telephone advice nurse at a doctor’s office would complete triage tasks and answer questions about a patient’s symptoms. You will help patients determine if they should schedule an appointment with the doctor or if their symptoms are treatable with OTC medications. Under circumstances where allowing patients into the private practice presents health risks, a telephone advice nurse can safely manage triage and improve the flow of patients in and out of the office.

Outpatient Care Facilities

In an outpatient care facility like urgent care centers, you’ll provide answers for patients in your local community. Patients may call about testing for seasonal illnesses or to determine if the facility is equipped to manage specific conditions. For example, patients get involved in accidents and may need wound care. You’ll tell the callers if your facility is suited for treatment or if the patient should visit an ER instead.

Helping at Crisis Hotlines

Crisis hotlines are vital to the public and address circumstances that could change unpredictably. Telephone advice nurses use their skills to manage mental health-related problems, suicide prevention, and help individuals through difficult situations.

Trauma Centers

In trauma centers, telephone advice nurses provide compassionate help for families with a loved one who is critically ill or injured. In addition, you may manage incoming calls about the status of the patients and advise families.

Hospitals or Major Medical Centers

Telephone advice nurses in hospitals or medical centers handle incoming calls about various conditions. For example, they may redirect patients according to which ER is open. The nurses instruct callers in all circumstances involving poison control or household accidents. The nurses manage high-volume calls instructing callers on how to perform first aid. They may offer triage services when a hospital has higher than average admissions or ER patients.

How Do You Become a Registered Nurse?

Telephone advice nurses must become registered nurses. As you begin on this career path, you will attend a vocational school program to get an Associate of Science in Nursing Degree. You’ll get the practical skills, hands-on training, and experience to work in medical facilities as an RN. These programs will also prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN exam.

What Do You Learn During a Vocational Nursing Program?

During the Registered Nursing program, you complete coursework and gain hands-on experience. Your mastery of the coursework isn’t based on test scores alone. Instructors monitor how well you cultivate skills to perform vital medical services that you’ll perform in the field. In some courses, you gain practical skills by working with patients or through simulations. By the program’s end, you’ll be treating patients and managing their care.

Foundations of Patient Care

The foundations of patient care course shows you how to manage care for patients and what protocols to follow. Essentials for treating patients help you manage patients under various circumstances. You’ll also learn what is expected of you in different departments and what you’ll do as an RN.

Complex Medical Surgical Nursing

In complex medical-surgical nursing, you’ll put your knowledge to the test and learn to assess patients according to ethical or cultural attributes. You will use healthcare practices to decrease the onset of illnesses and provide treatments to maintain proper health. You will also gain critical thinking and problem-solving skills you’ll use in the field.

Maternal and Pediatric Care

In maternal and pediatric care, you discover how to manage care for expectant mothers in the labor and delivery department. You’ll gain practical skills to transition patients from the different stages of labor to postpartum units. The course addresses pregnancy complications and how to manage pediatric care for newborns. In addition, you’ll learn how to address nutrition and illness prevention for infants. At the end of the course, you’ll have the skills to provide healthcare services in maternal or pediatric departments in different medical centers.

Surgical Nursing

The surgical nursing courses introduce you to nursing protocols in a surgical setting. You learn how nurses assist in the operating room and will get hands-on experience to supplement classroom lectures. In these settings, you’ll assist surgeons by maintaining sterile surgical instruments and ensure access to sterile supplies and equipment.

Gerontological Nursing

Gerontological nursing courses introduce you to practical skills for providing healthcare to the elderly. These skills are vital for addressing the health and well-being of elderly patients in doctor’s offices, medical centers, and nursing homes. In addition, you will discover conditions that affect the elderly, such as dementia and gain training to advocate for these patients, while ensuring that they receive appropriate care.

Final Thoughts

As a telephone advice nurse, you’ll work for various facilities and manage the care of a high volume of patients. This position gives you access to patients and other medical professionals who need your guidance and support. Advice nursing is a rewarding career choice and lets you give back to your community. Starting a vocational program today is your first step to changing your life and the lives of others.

Registered Nursing Program

The Associate of Science in Nursing degree program provides training to prepare you to enter the profession as a registered nurse (RN). Upon successful completion of the nursing training degree program and demonstrated nursing competence, you will be eligible to apply to take the NCLEX-RN licensure examination.*  

*While Gwinnett Institute provides test preparation and review assistance to college students, it cannot guarantee any college student will be able to take or pass any type of licensure exam. College students must be mindful throughout their entire training program that licensure is a prerequisite for employment as a nurse and to diligently prepare themselves to meet this important requirement.

Contact us today to learn more about becoming an RN at Gwinnett Institute.

Medical Assistant vs Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

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Healthcare is a booming industry, so why not prepare for a brighter future in the medical field? Whether you’re a people person or a number-cruncher, your talents are in demand. You can choose from clinical or non-clinical roles, and it takes less than a year to become a medical assistant or a medical billing and coding specialist. If you’re ready for a challenge, healthcare is ready for you.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative duties in healthcare settings from doctor’s offices to hospitals. If you have an aptitude for science with a side of business savvy, it’s a rewarding field. The work includes:

Scheduling

Medical assistants work closely with providers to manage a tight schedule. They partner with the front office team, triaging urgent phone calls so that the sickest patients are seen first. Keeping doctors busy but not overwhelmed is in the best interest of patients who want thoughtful, unhurried care.

Rooming Patients

Once patients check in, medical assistants serve as their guides. They walk patients to treatment rooms where they update their records, take their vital signs, perform diagnostic tests, and help them change for their exams. Completing these clinical and clerical tasks while the doctor is with another patient saves valuable time.

Diagnostic Testing

Routine diagnostics, such as electrocardiograms, pregnancy screens and pacemaker checks, no longer require a trip to the hospital. Medical assistants can perform them in the comfort of a doctor’s office.

Phlebotomy

Medical assistants draw blood, making testing more convenient for patients. You’ll process samples, prepare them for shipping or do the analysis yourself if your workplace has a lab.

Minor Wound Care

Medical assistants manage minor wounds and post-surgical incisions from suture removal to bandaging. You may also help nurses with more complex dressings.

Surgical Assisting

Doctors rely on help from medical assistants to perform minor surgical procedures. You’ll set up the proper equipment, pass instruments and monitor the patient. After, you’ll clean up, sanitize the area, and sterilize the instruments. It’s a medical assistant’s responsibility to keep patients safe by controlling the spread of germs.

Patient Education

Medical assistants engage with patients when providers can’t. As liaisons, they make the most of doctors’ time by managing calls, messages, and correspondence.

They can’t offer medical advice, but they can reinforce the physician’s recommendations and relay instructions on their behalf. You’ll help patients understand new medications and prepare for tests and procedures.

Billing and Coding

Most clinical tasks include a billing and coding component. Tracking services rendered is critical for generating revenue. However, medical assistants are also trained to handle tasks from invoicing to collections so that they can fill in when necessary.

What Does a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Do?

Medical billing and coding specialists manage insurance claims and invoicing for private practices and institutions. Their responsibilities include:

Coding Insurance Forms

Medical codes are standardized, alphanumeric sequences describing symptoms, disorders, procedures, equipment, and supplies. Medical billing and coding specialists translate health information into universal codes that insurers understand.

Filing Claims

Most medical bills are covered by health insurance, but doctors don’t get paid until claims are approved. Medical billing and coding specialists complete the forms and submit them for review.

Posting Payments

Medical billing is complex. A single invoice may have multiple payers plus additional charges or discounts to apply. Medical billing and coding specialists track payments on patients’ accounts, ensuring an accurate balance at all times so that each payer, including the patient, knows what they owe.

Appealing Denied Claims

Insurers reject a small amount claims due to insufficient or incorrect data. However, practice revenue hinges on reimbursement, so it’s up to medical billing and coding specialists to troubleshoot issues.

You’ll examine claims, determine why they were denied and gather the data necessary for approval. The goal is a quick turnaround.

Requesting Pre-authorizations

Under some policies, certain treatments must be pre-approved. Medical billing and coding specialists work directly with insurers to obtain pre-authorizations. They collaborate with the clinical staff to paint an accurate picture of what the patient needs and why. Requesting pre-authorization protects both practices and patients from financial liability.

Bookkeeping

Medical billing and coding specialists manage bookkeeping tasks from balancing cash drawers to reconciling credit card payments. Other duties include invoicing and collections.

Medical Assistant vs Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Medical assisting and medical billing and coding are both fulfilling careers. Which one you pursue should reflect your aptitudes and career goals. There are significant differences in the responsibilities and rewards.

Duties

A medical assistant’s role is both clinical and clerical. In most practices, clinical responsibilities take precedence, you’ll devote most of your time to patients. Jobs with a more administrative focus, however, are available.

Medical billing and coding is a non-clinical role with no direct care responsibilities, the duties are exclusively financial. You’ll spend more time with computers than with people.

Training

Medical assisting programs cover clinical and administrative procedures, but the training in billing and coding is less comprehensive. You’ll learn what medical billing and coding specialists do in the context of your clinical responsibilities, so you can help bridge the gap between the exam room and the back office.

Medical billing and coding programs cover financial topics in detail, but the clinical training is limited. You’ll learn just enough to facilitate coding.

Employment Settings

Many medical assistants work for doctors, the rest are employed by hospitals, clinics, chiropractors, and public health departments.

Medical billing and coding specialists are also employed in private practices and healthcare facilities. However, they may also work in non-medical settings, including pharmacies, insurance companies, medical supply firms, and independent billing agencies.

Working Environment

Healthcare facilities are fast paced, there’s never a dull moment. How much excitement you want on an everyday basis should help decide where you want to work.

Medical assistants can choose an action-packed hospital or a doctor’s office where the pace is more relaxed. Still, as part of the clinical team, they need to be flexible, emergencies happen when they’re least expected.

Medical billing and coding specialists stay busy, but crises are limited to dollars and cents, not life and death. It’s a good career choice if you prefer a more structured and predictable day.

Work-Life Balance

Full-time medical assistants work a regular Monday through Friday schedule. A great job for parents, you get evenings and weekends off with the kids. On-call and overtime demands are rare. For evening birds and night owls, there are always off-hours opportunities in hospitals and urgent care clinics.

Medical billing and coding specialists enjoy a similar schedule, but evening or overnight jobs are challenging to find. Because your job requires engaging with insurers, plan on working a traditional 9 to 5.

Careers in medical assisting and medical billing both offer an enviable work-life balance with opportunities for part-time and job-sharing positions.

Coworkers

Medical assistants are surrounded by patients, peers, and professionals. Members of the administrative and clinical teams, they work with doctors, nurses, administrators, and billing managers.

Medical billing and coding specialists have less interaction with medical professionals and more with peers, insurers, managers, administrators, accountants, and auditors. You’ll only contact the clinical team when you need to clarify data for a claim.

Career Growth

Medical assistants have advancement potential. Some build on their diplomas and move into related fields, like nursing. Others grow into supervisory roles as they gain experience, becoming clinical team leaders or office managers.

Medical assistants are also eligible for dozens of specialty certifications that pad their credentials. A cardiology certificate, for example, opens doors in the heart health field. If you tend to get bored in jobs and like to switch roles without changing careers, medical assisting is an excellent choice.

Medical billing and coding specialists have growth opportunities in administration. Working on a degree while you gain experience is the fast track up the career ladder. And lateral moves are always an option. In a busy hospital, medical billing and coding specialists qualify for many positions.

Personal Fulfillment

Most medical assistants choose the field because of the personal connections they make with patients. You’ll work one-on-one with vulnerable people, and it feels good to know you’ve changed lives.

However, medical billing and coding can be an equally gratifying role if you prefer less intimate relationships with patients. You’ll still be part of the medical field, providing an invaluable service to your community. However, you’ll be insulated from the emotional ups and downs that come with caring for the sick.

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant or Medical Billing and Coding Specialist?

Enrolling in a vocational school program is the first step to becoming a medical assistant or a medical billing and coding specialist. You’ll graduate with a diploma in less than a year. If you’re unhappy with your current job, these lifestyle-friendly programs are ideal for adult learners who want a fresh start without spending years in a 4-year college.

Medical assisting and medical billing programs prepare students for the certifications upon which they can build a career. And they offer robust job placement services. They’re not satisfied until you find quality employment.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the difference between medical assistant and medical billing and coding specialist, it is time to learn more about Gwinnett College. We can help you decide which healthcare career is best for you. Whether you’re a wellness enthusiast with a passion for science or a financial guru with a talent for billing, there’s a career in healthcare for you.

Want to Learn More?

Medical Assistant Program

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical assisting courses to gain essential skills and training at multiple campuses from Lilburn, Sandy Springs and Atlanta/Marietta to Orlando, FL and Raleigh, NC. The core curriculum at these campuses focuses on the medical assisting skills and training you will need to seek entry-level employment in physicians’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical settings needing the services of associates trained in both front and back office medical assisting skills. These medical assisting courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Medical Billing and Coding Program

Gwinnett Colleges & Institute’s Medical Billing and Coding programs will provide you with the opportunity to learn insurance coding and processing, medical administrative procedures, and the regulatory requirements in the healthcare delivery system.  School externships provide the opportunity to apply the medical billing and coding skills learned in the classroom in actual medical settings. Gwinnett Colleges & Institute offers medical billing & coding courses to gain essential skills and training to achieve entry-level positions in this career field. These medical billing & coding courses will be the first step in starting a rewarding career.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant or medical billing and coding specialist today.