text stringlengths 36 1.57k |
|---|
Welcome to another edition of I am AAPC. Today I have Mike Sanko from the Philadelphia Pennsylvania AAPC chapter. Hi Mike, how are you? Good Alex, how are you? I, thanks so much for being willing to do this. It's good to have you on. Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and what led you to medical codi... |
learned a lot about medical terminology, and really this is where I got my first taste of medical coding. Although I was not a coder, that's really where I learned about, you know, how coding is used in the health insurance and, you know, the overall health care industry as a whole. So from that point, my next step was... |
while I'm raising the two little ones at home, there's three now, but at the time there's two. But I saw the, you know, I saw the opportunity with this. So I went ahead and took that, you know, I took that opportunity and just went with it. So it took me about three months to go through that course. And really, that's ... |
you know, all of what I've kind of gained from the APC, this, you know, this whole time. That's kind of the story. Mike, I'm curious, because there may be viewers watching who don't know what a compliance analyst does. Would you tell us a little bit about that role?. Yeah, absolutely. So I'm not I'm not actually a code... |
you know, the risk adjustment and the HCCs. So since then I've gotten that certification as well and using that more and more every day. Do you think you would have gotten that job or typically compliance positions? Do they require a bachelor's or master's degree? You know, you know, not not necessarily. Yeah, some of ... |
even accounts receivable. It may be challenging to go right into a compliance position, but it's not, you know, it's not something I would count out. But yeah, I would just take any opportunity to, you know, if you're looking to get into this industry, just take any opportunity that you can and at a facility or, you kn... |
you know, going right from a CPC. And then gaining the skills on a job would be key. Okay. All right. You completed the AAPC online training. I believe it was it online? It was. Okay. And you said it took you three months to get through the program. Yep. That's that's fast. Tell me about that experience. How much time ... |
this out of the blue a week before you took the real exam. Some say that the practice exam is harder than the real exam. What do you think? Well, both were not easy. I don't remember specifically the practice exam, how hard or how it felt or how hard it was, but I just remember it being a great opportunity for just goi... |
I'm curious. Do you know how your score came out on that practice exam? How I received the score? Or the actual score on the practice exam? Do you know what that was? Oh, you know what? I don't know. I can't. I actually don't remember how I did in the practice. Well, it must have given you confidence going into the rea... |
I think the big thing for me was utilizing the resources that are available in the course. And I honestly forget the person's name, and I wish I remembered. It was quite a while ago. But there was somebody walking side by side with me throughout this course, letting me know, you know, where I went wrong, what is the op... |
you know, at a facility. I don't know if everything is done now online or if there is an opportunity. But this was done at a facility, it was a six hour, six or six and a half hour exam. No, I don't know what I did that morning. I honestly don't remember. I had to drive about 45 minutes to the location because it was f... |
just taking that first step, you know, joining a health system. For me, it was about joining a reputable health system, right? Getting in the door, getting somewhere that I've, you know, kind of always looked at as a place I would like to work. And then, you know, then you can go in and prove yourself, right? You work ... |
you can connect with other professionals in the AAPC Facebook group. I have spoken with members who've literally found jobs of the relationships they've made through that, but also connecting with local coders in your area. So, Mike, I don't know if you do this, but if you're watching dress up your LinkedIn page, make ... |
you know, I don't know what my next step is, but I'm always looking to grow. The great thing about like coding and compliance auditing is it doesn't need to stop there. I think I've gained a lot of experience from this from this industry that can really be used in any area of the revenue cycle. So I think just moving o... |
Mike, thanks so much for sharing your story. I'm sure that someone out there watching might connect and relate to your experience. Every journey is unique, it seems like, there's no cookie cutter approach into the journey of health care. Yeah, absolutely. I think everybody's different. Everybody has their own journey. ... |
Welcome to another edition of I am AAPC. I am AAPC, Alex, and today we're with Maddie Oaksotry. Hey Maddie, how you doing? Good, how are you Alex? I'm great. And I was just speaking with Maddie about how we were connected and he does some work. Maddie, you do work with APC with our students and our training programs. T... |
actor by trade. So initially when I left high school and I started on my career path, I got an undergraduate degree in biology and psychology. And when I was in undergrad, I started dancing and I just kind of fell in love with it. And it was kind of, you know, make or break it. Give it a shot. So I auditioned for a con... |
psychology roots in a way to sort of help facilitate my life as an artist and as an actor and as a performer. And I was always searching for something that I could do besides waiting tables and besides catering and that gig work that happens in between. And someone mentioned to me medical coding in a conversation throu... |
I had a lot of that in my undergrad but it had been 15 years since I had really went back to my biology roots in my undergrad and so I was like, you know, it's just good to get that refresher. And I studied a lot of anatomy and my graduate worked with dance, but I was like, you know, anything that I can get that just c... |
I did the course training in three months. And then right around that time is when AAPC started introducing the online examinations. So I took my online exam and then I went right directly into Practicode after that. And I spent the next month just doing all 600 of those cases and three assessments. And I got my A remo... |
I really remembered that. And it was an opportunity when the opportunity came for me to be a TA. It was something that I really wanted to pursue and give back and help students because it helped me so much during that time. But I also found a really great community in the Facebook group. Through there I found tons of t... |
I work in anesthesia. So my coding skill sketch has to be across the board of all specialties. And there are a lot of times that I need to search for something and if I don't have to post a question, the search really helps me in fine-tuning other posts and discussions that have happened in the past and I can go and na... |
it's just the city at that time wasn't allowing in-person meetings. Everything was shut down. Everything was shut down. It wasn't a possibility for my local chapter to even hold an in-person examination. So at that time it was my only option. But you know, I was nervous a little little bit about the technical difficult... |
you know, others who might be in different parts of the country, but it really was a numbers game in the beginning. And every day, I set a goal for myself to send out at least 10 applications. And it didn't matter what it was, as long as they required a CPC or there was something that could lead to my foot in the door ... |
you know, realizing that I was at a point in my life and career that I was ready to make that change. And so, I used those first round of applications and those first interviews to keep building on each other. And it took a while for me to learn how to interview as a medical coder and not as Maddie the actor-dancer. So... |
something just didn't sit right with some of them and I could tell that's not going to be a good fit and so I don't want to waste my time there yet and so I just kept putting it out and I kept putting it out there and eventually, you know, the right manager saw my resume. And the thing is, is there were sometimes, I wo... |
you know, perseverance and dedication and working through those nose. And, I with my manager at that time. And she was like, you know, I think anesthesia would be a great fit for you having just gone through the course. You know, all of those different series of CPT coding and diagnosis coding or, you know, fresh in yo... |
I have to look at it and I have to break it down piece by piece and find those important bits that tell the story and That's what coding is coding is you're finding those important bits that tell the story of that encounter for that patient and so it was It was really finding a way that I could relate my past experienc... |
but I have done something like it in my other career and I can use those aspects and those skills for myself as a performer and it's going to translate to medical coding just give me a chance and I finally found that manager who said oh absolutely let's do it I love it I love Now, is the job you're currently in that fi... |
they were starting to come back, but just, you know, pockets here and there when they needed to. And so I would show up on some days and my manager would take me through things and show me. And then some of the trainings for EPIC, we use EPIC at my place of employment. Some of those were online, so there were three tim... |
but we just really were a support system for each other. And she became a T.A. And after I got a little further along in my job about a year, I was looking to bring in another source of income to supplement what I was doing, but I also just really wanted to help other students. I found through life, career, anything, w... |
we've really are continually inventing new ways to improve that TA program and really be a source for students and for help. And so it's been it's been going through a lot of changes and they're all good changes and it's going to keep going through changes and so it's also been nice to be a part of that and see that TA... |
biochem, and I will tell you that CANPC exam was one of the toughest exams I've ever taken. Wow, wow. So that is the specialty for anesthesia coding. What does the CANPC stand for, Maddie? Certified anesthesia and pain coder, I believe. I'm not sure what the N is, actually. I'm sorry, I should know that. That's all rig... |
I, when I first got certified, the industry was kind of shut down, so I was able to fully immerse myself in coding. And then when I started my job, it was also, you know, the industry started to pick up a little bit, but I was like, you know what, I really want this career to be a viable, consistent career for me. And ... |
you know, I worked so hard to get there. And when I got there, that first bow that I took on a Broadway stage was amazing. All my dreams came true. And then that second bow, while it was still exciting and I was living my passion, my joy, what I wanted to do. I took that bow and I was like, you know what, this is the s... |
this year receiving. And so this year's all about finding that balance again of being a medical coder and still pursuing my art. And so that's where I am this year. So hopefully you see me on a TV or film screen again soon. And if it happens, I'll let you know to look for it. Well, you know that now that the cat's out ... |
and then I go and usually take a 430 or a 530 crossfit class, and then I come back and I do my TA work. And then I'm also busy. I have three dogs and a cat. So it's quite busy around here. And so yeah. And then during the pandemic, I also started doing pottery. I started watching the Great Pottery throwdown or whatever... |
that you really still have something that you can break away for at least an hour and just, you know, interact with people of something that you love doing and it gets you out of this. Yes. Yes. Well, Maddie, thank you so much for sharing your story. I would like it if you would leave us with a message to maybe a CPCA ... |
send out five more applications. And for every next time you go to another, you know, level in the interview, send out five more applications. Always have more eggs in the basket to keep going to. I think it's really important so that as you're waiting to hear back from that interview or for that job, there's another o... |
my gosh, I tailored that answer that I used to give now this way and I just feel so much better about how I'm presenting myself in this interview. It's always finding a way to keep yourself in some place of gratitude so that you don't let the fear and anxiety of searching for a job overshshadow that. And it works out. ... |
there's only a couple weeks left in the class and I got an email and they felt like they just weren't doing very well in the class because they were comparing themselves to some of the students in the class who were a little bit more outspoken and the email came to me and it was kind of just a little bit out of the blu... |
you know, any of our students who have you as a teaching assistant is fortunate, Maddie, and that's inspirational and I love it. Well, Maddie, thanks so much for sharing your story. Stick with me just for a moment. As we wrap up, you can listen to Maddy tell his story on the AAPC podcast or view it on the AAPC YouTube ... |
Hello and welcome to another. I am a PC. I'm Heather Johnson and I'm here talking to Wendy Cox. Wendy, thank you so much for taking the time. Thank you. First off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Sure. I am a medical coder. I live in North Carolina and gosh, with my four dogs and my teenage son. And I thin... |
how long you've been doing it, and what your current role is? Okay. In 2005, I worked as a front desk receptionist in an internal medicine practice. And shortly after I started there, our medical biller left. And I was offered the opportunity to take her position and learn about billing. So for a couple years, there wa... |
I decided that coding was the career I wanted to pursue. So it was when you were doing the charge master that you decided the medical coding was the direction you wanted to go. Yes. Okay. Can you tell me what credentials you have and did you get them then or had you gotten them earlier when you started billing back in ... |
I love that. So that was in 2014. Are you still with that organization now? I am not. No. I actually worked with that organization as a full-time employee for four years. And I left there. I took a full-time position with another hospital organization, but worked part-time at the one that hired me. So until December of... |
of course. I think people don't recognize, I mean, outside of the industry that coding is not just about like, sure, it's about getting the payment right, but like when you're coding correctly, like it's better patient care, it's giving the provider the opportunity to, to like provide, provide like they have more time ... |
but he didn't have any after-school care, and I needed to be flexible. So, I started working from homes so that I'd be here whenever he was here in the afternoons, that kind of thing. I love that your job allowed you that flexibility. I think that's so cool. And I think that's kind of a pro of medical coding in general... |
this is my. Nice. And I have all the papers printed out but I did it online and at one point in time there were a PC instructors who were available to give us feedback if we had questions or wrong answers I don don't know if that's still, if they still do that or not, because I haven't went down that route. But the stu... |
I prefer the electronic, but I do have my coding books handy because there are times whenever I actually need to see it on paper and maybe see like the references around it. It's sometimes it's a little easier to see the guidelines in the book. Yeah. And I like using both though, but again, electronic books are definit... |
and I've so far taken three with AAPC. Any test that you take is definitely long. It's definitely nerve-wracking. You're in a room with other people. It's quiet, and you're sitting there for four hours. But again, study the material that's provided to you. Take those practice tests. And any answers that you get wrong, ... |
have a good one. Thank you, you too. |
Welcome to another edition of I am a PC. Today we have Pam Brooks with us who is featured as a member of the month in our May 2022 issue of health care business monthly. Pam, how are you? I'm doing great. How about you? Alex, thanks for having me. Oh, you bet. I'm excited to learn more about your history and career in ... |
what's the word when you try to streamline things I was much more efficient I guess with my actions and so when I got into production coding I did extremely well because I was able to move from one case to the next, you know, with that mindset and place. I got into health care after the birth of my boys, my oldest one ... |
that sort of thing. And so I switched my major from medical assistant to medical office management was lucky enough while I was still in school to get a job in a family therapy practice where I really got my teeth into billing and some coding accounts receivable collections, front desk. So I had a nice opportunity whil... |
you know, when I was asked to be on the advisory board and when I was on the chapter association board of directors and have done other activities and work for AAPC. She wasn't kidding because I never could have imagined a career in the way that I've had on that very first day as a coder that I didn't even know what I ... |
really interesting and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't learn something because you just can't always, you can't know it all. Yeah, and how does APC fit into this ttourny where it sounds like you had started this path and found AAPC later. Is that true? That is true and actually when I was first coding they ... |
and found that as I met people and broadened my scope of work. I had virtually a colleague or an acquaintance in every single field in the industry and almost always when I'm faced with a question that I'm not really sure about I have I can phone a friend. I have somebody that I can call that if they don't know the ans... |
the bigger and better my career grew. It's fun to hear you talk about earlier. You mentioned just when you started down this path that you could never imagine that it would become what it has become. And the, your mentor to others and people look up to you now and look for it to you for insight and guidance in their ca... |
you know, you just, I think you just need to decide where it is you fit, and know that there is a way out there to make those things happen for yourself if you just, you know, trust your your instincts and take any opportunity that comes your way. I know the national office, the AAPC national office has relied on your ... |
you know, the CLC did give me some great overview of how facility coding and billing is done. And when I set for both of those, it was five hours and 45 minutes I think and it was the 150 questions. I don't think they switched the time and they switched again apparently until after I sat for both of those exams and the... |
any of that from AAPC is really the key to success. And I always encourage people to do that. If you're serious about passing that test, you have to, you have to do the studying and do the work. Okay, all right. I was going to ask you what would, what would you tell a future examinee and really that just grasp on to, a... |
you know, through rote memorization. It's knowing where to find that information in your book that is going to, that is going to cause you to be successful and taking that examination. Okay. Now, I bet Pam that you would have had a perfectly great career even without your APC certifications. Then we see and we've learn... |
you know, the requirement to keep up that certification through education was for me an opportunity to go to conferences. I was fortunate enough in all of my work to have a decent education budget and so almost always was able to be able to go to either national if they were on the East Coast or regional conferences in... |
but the hybrid model has made it a lot easier for individuals to get that conference experience without actually having to get on a plane, which for most of us is generally required. So I hope that continues. I think it's a great way to bring that effort and education to people who otherwise wouldn't be able to attend.... |
you know, over time and I each year when the proposed rules come out, I think, you know, how am I ever going to learn all of this and how am I ever going to keep it all straight? And I think health care organizations and their executives have realized that certification is a must. We, you know, the bottom line really d... |
I think I read recently is that the average 10 years about two and a half years. And so more and more employers are not expecting their staff to, you know, to spend their lives working for them and so it's not unreasonable after a year or two to say, you know what, this might not be for me and it's okay to make those k... |
it might not be for you because many of us are seated right here for an eight hour day and then some. I also talk a little bit about, you know, often it's difficult to get a coding job right out of the gate so be prepared to look at other areas in the revenue cycle where you might gain some experience to get your foot ... |
I provide the recommendations and the regulatory guidance to the people who teach the physicians and they develop their own education plans. But I really did enjoy doing that. I did it for quite some time fairly early in my career. I like the compliance piece of it. I like reading the regulatory guidance. I know I'm a ... |
there's no lack of information out there. You just need to know where to find it and know what is reliable. Okay. What does Pam like to do when she's not in her career, not in medical coding and work. Oh, so what do I do outside of work? Yes. I'm actually a stained glass artist. Oh, wow. Tell us a little bit about that... |
I have a studio at our house in Maine. And then I'm actually in Florida right now where we have a small, very small little winter home. And here I go fishing. I fish. Yeah. So. Like big fish, like when I think of Florida fishing, I see people with like swordfish and all these big crazy things. Yeah, I've not pulled any... |
you know, here's what I can do and here's what you're going to have to live with. Because a lot of times people will come to me with designs that have lots and lots of little pieces and that's really not what stained glass is. Stainglass is using bigger pieces and the glass textures and colors suggests the detail. So I... |
what kind of words of encouragement would you get them? I would encourage anyone who wants to enter this field and make this a career that they never dreamed of by making sure that every opportunity, no matter how minor or insignificant it might seem to take advantage of that. So even if you're asked to sit in on a spe... |
Welcome to another edition of I am AAPC. I am AAPC, Alex and today I have with me. Dina Mellon. Dina, thank you so much for being with us today. Tell us about how you found your way to the medical coding path. Well, I, my first husband was a physician and I worked in his office as a primary care physician in internal m... |
how long have you been in AAPC number four? A long time. Well, we're 35 years old this year. Well, probably pretty close to that time. One of my colleagues, some you may know, Faith Marieo, well Faith and I decided that we were going to get our coding certification because we were working for a consulting company at th... |
Hey everybody, I'm Heather Johnson with AAPC and I'm here with Gabriel. I don't want to mess up your last name. Tell me how to say it. Oh, a fom to. And we're we're going to talk about this is our I am AAPC interview. So Gabriel. I don't want to mess up your last name. Tell me how to say it. Oh, a Fante. And we're we'r... |
I will say, like most of my employers, they have been very, you know, into continuing education, pushing employees to get more certifications or education, continuing education. So that's the reason I have so many. And also, every time that I see for one of them I learn a lot. Like it doesn't matter how many years you ... |
which is, I am not very into it. And also I did nursing, of course, but this was my first degree that I really enjoyed studying for. So I'm very proud of it. I'm very happy to accomplish it. First of all, you sound like an extremely qualified individual. That's good for you. You like like school. You said you like sitt... |
what do you find to be the best part and the most rewarding? I think like review charts. I don't know why. But I just like looking for opportunities within the documentation for me, that's fascinating. Like, I really, I enjoy that and I love my work. I also like to train others and also educate like doing webinars and ... |
are you, do you plan to stay where you are or do you have future career ambitions? I would like to go like maybe I'm also teaching but I would like to go like full-time like a full-time professor maybe five to ten years. Yeah I would like that. That's awesome. Would you do that? Do you want to stay in Florida or? Oh, I... |
I think that is something people face, they get kind of stressed out about and spend maybe too much time on one question and not only do theythey run out of time but it can get frustrating and then they kind of get in their head and aren't as successful with the rest of the exam but yeah if you're feeling stressed or y... |
I like beers, I have a couple of beers or, and just, you know, relax and then take the exam in the next day. Yeah, it sounds like if you have studied and practiced, then maybe the night before and the day of, like, you don't just relax a little bit you have the knowledge You know relax your body Okay, and then do you l... |
I think it was president-elect back then. It wasn't vice president at the local chapter in Puerto Rico. So that was my first role within the local chapter and after that it was just everybody was you know like hey Gabriel can you present here can you present in our organization so it was like I think it's very good you... |
Welcome to another edition of I am AAPC. Today we have Taylor King with us and I was just speaking with Taylor before we started recording and saying to her that I've seen you Taylor all over the APC and digital world, just sharing your enthusiasm for your career path in the business of health care. Why don't you tell ... |
so I did that and I didn't know what I wanted to go back to school for. So I talked to his mom and his sister and they both work and coding and billing. And so they kind of told me a little bit about it. And what really attracted me to that realm of HIM was working remotely because I did have kids at this point I was p... |
you've seen me kind of all over lately. I love talking to people. It's not an uncomfortable situation for me at all. So I just really enjoy putting myself out there and putting myself in positions that I'm not used to being in and just growing from that. And yeah, so that's what I, that's how I feel like I kind of tie ... |
that's that's the sense that I was getting from them. There are many different paths you can go down and you didn't know that at first and now you see this. And now here you are a mom with a few kids, and how has this career, this journey helped you provide for your family? Has it been what you thought it'd be? Yeah, i... |
you know, questioning myself in the beginning as a young mom wondering if I'll ever, you know, get up out of that leap of, you know, like paycheck to paycheck. Am I ever going to have more than this? You know, I'm definitely there and that's exciting. And I think that no matter where you are in the industry, if you are... |
but I didn't know what I was doing. So that role, that role isn't necessarily coding. It puts you in, not at all. Okay, they say it puts you near it. Right. Right. Right. Okay. Yeah. So, so I started as a medical records analyst, not coding at all, doing more administrative things and, you know, scanning papers, things... |
whether it be the manager or HR, you know, just making sure that they understand how serious you are about the position, how passionate you are about your career, things like that, that will really put you over the top and show them that you're not just there for a job, you know, you're there for a career. Did you rehe... |
I've helped them go over their resumes. I've guided them in directions of companies that typically hire entry-level coders, how to, I guess, navigate where they want to go in their career, focus on that first, and then focus on, like you said, making a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Maybe rehearsing is good for... |
and I got the job late November. It was right before December started. So about a month later. And how long from, how long were you in that medical records position until you worked as a coder? Seven months. Okay, wow, it's pretty quick. Yeah, yeah, I was there from pretty much December to June of the next year and the... |
reaching out, I believe AAPC has the program where you can reach out to an expert with questions. Yes. If you do have a question, an exam question, things like that, if you have an instructor, if you're going through an actual school, reaching out to them for help or maybe additional study information would be great al... |
you know, if it's something that I'm going to be speaking on, I like to kind of get down to the nitty gritty and use the book again. But when I'm working every day, yeah, I just, I use an encoder. All right, all right, I love it. Okay, now let's talk about where you're at now. So you were in that first coding position ... |
it was 100% work from home. So it was for all remote, you know, and when you get hired, everybody gets put on a different client depending on what you're doing, you know, things like that. So it's contract coding. So I did that until February or March of this year, I think it was. And then I moved into a different posi... |
yeah, so working in denials has become a really big passion of mine, and it goes back to that I like to find the details and figure out what's wrong and solve the problem. So I would really like to see myself go into auditing and compliance. Eventually I would like to get my RHIA and go into management. I am interested... |
my oldest is in school and my younger two kids go to daycare. So they're not home with me and a lot of employers won't allow you to have children at home with you while you work. So keep out of mind if you are interested in remote work. But for me, it's the flexibility. I have one son with some medical conditions that ... |
have a little bit of a crazy mind, so I'm all over the place. And sometimes for me to do one thing for a long period of time is a little bit exhausting so I have to you know maybe I go take a break and throw a little laundry in or something like that but it's not for everybody typically working from home if you're a co... |
you can't, and I do talk about that often with people who are newly certified and I think I can't find a coding job or I can't find a coding job that's remote and it's $30 an hour and I'm like, you're not going to find that as a brand new coder with zero experience. And I shouldn't say you're not, but that would be rar... |
so I, it kind of just clears my mind and it's a place that I could just put my headphones on and listen to music and you know, I just let go of work, I let go of life. It's just my one thing that I do for myself. But I also love to play soccer with my kids out in the yard. We've got probably, we have like 17 acres, but... |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.