A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
MEDICAL CODING/ANDREWS VERSUS ALLIED
Posted: Aug 28, 2015
Hi fellow MT's:
Been stuck in the 20 year MT rut! I have been researching medical coding and with our background from doing OP notes for 20+ years, think this may be very helpful finishing this course. I have done lots of research and am very impressed with Andrews School (owner being a 20 year MT herself). I have talked with her extensively. However, the Allied school is less time and half the cost and this mom is on a BUDGET. I really an leaning towards paying for Andrews but wanted to see if anyone else was headed in this direction? My hospital of years was outsourced to a company which I am presently employed with. I am "waiting" out this 6 month period with my hourly wage from hospital but KNOW the conditions with editing line rates, etc.
I do know the inpatient and outpatient coding is KEY. Also, prep for examinations, etc.
Any information is appreciated!
I would go with the one with the reputation for successful graduates with both CPC and CCS - Clear choice for me
[ In Reply To ..]Find out which one has graduates that have passed both CPC and CCS exams and go with that one, because from what I've heard, I'm pretty sure only one of them does that. Good luck with your new career.
It really depends - xx
[ In Reply To ..]on whether you want to get a job at the end of your training.
If you just want to take a course to fill in some time, then by all means go with the cheapest option.
If you want to use the training provided by the course to get a job, then you will need to get the best training available.
If you feel the cheaper course provides training equal to the Andrews course, there's your answer. If you feel it doesn't provide equal training, well, there's your answer again.
Budget coding - sm
[ In Reply To ..]So, when you shop, you must buy the 8 oz package of cheese for $2.49 instead of the 16 oz for $4.50, because 2.49 is cheaper. It costs less, so it must be a better buy, right? And if one of your kids has to eat plain bread because there were not enough slices of cheese to go around, that's ok, too, right?
Sometimes things cost more because they contain more.
If you want to see the coding content of that course, look at the book they use. Amazon carries it. See the table of contents. Or, you can go with what they say about the exams you can take. Here it is:
"Allied’s Medical Coding Online Exam Prep is designed to prepare you to pass the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) certification exam and become a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) or Certified Professional Coder—Apprentice (CPC-A)."
That is ONE exam, the CPC. That is outpatient coding only.
Didn't you say you recognized the need to learn both inpatient and outpatient coding? Where is the inpatient coding? Is it in that book? I did not see it.
A package of outpatient cheese = $2.49.
A package of outpt + a package of inpt cheese = $4.50. All of your kids can eat, too. Which is a better buy? (Note that 2.49 x 2 = 4.98.)
Purchasing cheese - You get what you pay for
[ In Reply To ..]Well, let's say a person needs a new car. Are you going to buy a 20K Honda or a 100,000 Tesla? They both do the same thing, get you from point A to point B. Some people have to work with a budget. Buy the 8 ounce package of cheese and cut the slices in half. Better yet, buy a brick instead of the processed slices for the same price and it will be an even better value. Maybe a person wants to begin as a CPC and obtain the other credentials at a later date after gaining some experience instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars on exam fees all at once, which is something else to consider.
I would hate to be one of your kids! - LOL!
[ In Reply To ..]What you expressed in your post is exactly the type of thinking I was referring to ... the failure to grasp that one item is not a better buy just because the price is less. If the quantity in the package is half as much, you actually end up paying MORE in the long run, because that 8 oz package cost more than half of the other.
It is not "budgeting" to buy two 8 oz packages of cheese for 4.98 instead of one 16 oz package for 4.50 -- it is foolish.
But, that is the exact kind of thinking that matchbook schools have always preyed upon. They did it in MT and now do it in coding. As long as people only look at the price tag and not the content, they will continue to be ripped off. It is impossible to change their thinking.
The problem with the plan you propose ... starting with the CPC and adding on later ... is that it is relatively difficult to get a job with just the CPC-A and no experience. You know only one-third as much, so you are limited to the jobs that involve only that one-third, and employers will be reluctant to hire you. You would probably have to take a low-paying billing job in a doctor's office. After years there, you can take another course and have yet another -A cert, which you can't get a job in because you have no experience. And on and on you go.
It is the stingy "budget" cheese thing all over again. You end up paying a lot more and you starve yourself just like you starved your kids of nutrients with half portions of cheese.
Others, though, do the math and see that getting all the training and the certs up front costs less in the long run. They aren't limited to office jobs, but can compete successfully for inpatient coding jobs, including remote ones. They can do that even without experience because they have the right credentials. With a better, higher-paying job, they quickly recoup what they spent. They are actually budgeting wisely.
Everyone survived - You get what you pay for
[ In Reply To ..]When we ran out of cheese we put peanut butter or tuna on our sandwiches. Having more than one choice is also a good thing.
Go for quality or you may never be able to pass an employment test - Quality Wins in Coding Training
[ In Reply To ..]There are thousands of unsuccessful coding graduates out there who will tell you they wish they had gone for quality instead of the easy, cheap way, because now they have nothing to show for the money or time they spent. Quality really does win in coding training.
How much is Andrew? - Career Step is $4000 ?
[ In Reply To ..]I have 2 years left til 62..... Coding would have been a nice start 8-10 years ago, but transcription was still a good income back then
Cost - Consider your age
[ In Reply To ..]At 62 it would depend on how many more years you intend to work as to whether or not you want to pursue coding. I think Andrews and Career Step cost about the same, but you are probably looking at several months to a year to complete the program plus a certification exam process (mandatory for employment) plus trying to find a job, which can be difficult after a certain age. If you plan to work 10 more years or so it might be worth pursuing.
Age, coding and Andrews - Effie
[ In Reply To ..]I just turned 60 in June and just started Andrews in June... My goal is to be in a coding job by my 61st birthday. I talked to Linda and Glenda about my age and the field of coding and what my chances are of finding a job.. and I feel good about it.. but mostly I feel good about taking such a positive step to move towards a new career goal, instead of being a transcription victim. Taking control of your life is so important, regardless of your age.
Effie - Age matters
[ In Reply To ..]How long are you planning to work? I'm 61 and making plans to start cutting back with full retirement at 65. I hope you get a coding job, but unfortunately employers do look at that and don't want to hire and train employees who are only going to be around for a few years. Of course Linda is going to paint a rosy picture; she wants your signature on the dotted line.
People are working longer these days. - I know I am
[ In Reply To ..]Good for you that you get to take full retirement at 65. Not everyone has the rosy picture you have. Please don't take such a condescending attitude toward those of us who will be working well into our 70s and who knows, maybe beyond that if health allows. It's actually more possible with remote jobs than it used to be when everyone had to work in a small office and wanted to only work people their own age. Nothing is easy, but some of us don't have those rosy little life scenarios that you have, so give us a break.
Rosy little life scenario - Age matters
[ In Reply To ..]Effie, I am single and my life has been far from rosy. I started working as an MT when I was 19 and never planned to work until I dropped. I started a new job at 58 and have experienced the age issue first hand, and I also know that employers look askance at anyone who doesn't plan to stick around after they are hired and trained, but I guess you'll find that out when you start the interview process. I work with people half my age and that is what it is. I'd retire at 62 if I could afford it, personally I'm sick of office politics (I don't work at home) and want to enjoy life a little while my health permits. I do have a nest egg because I saved my money. I could work into my 70s but it is something that I choose not to do, even if I am poor. Coding is hard and challenging, so good luck to you. Don't judge me or put me down because I didn't make the same choice as you, you don't know anything about me to assume that my life is rosy.
please check past posts... I ... - Effie
[ In Reply To ..]never said a word about your life being rosy.
Lots of people have had worse lives then I have. I consider myself very lucky.
age of retirement - Effie
[ In Reply To ..]I am planning on working until I am 70m although full retirement could happen at 66 legally. I do not have lots of money put away to fund a long retirement, my mother is 87 and still going strong, and her mother died at 97.
I was a single mother and even during the good days of Transcription I worked 2-3 jobs to provide for my kids. Then I helped them as they started out in careers and after the death of one child raised her two sons and they are just now getting out on their own. I make half the money now then I did 15 years ago, and so thats that. I need to work. I also want to work. I don't want to spend hours sitting in an empty house with nothing to do.
I have friends and neighbors who are retired and it is - driving them crazy
[ In Reply To ..]Retirement is not always emotionally rewarding. Not everyone has a skill they can do after their employer has kicked them out under their forced retirement rules. That's a definite advantage of remote careers.
Effie, good for you - Age matters
[ In Reply To ..]You want to work, I don't. You know, you don't have to sit around with nothing to do. There are a lot of volunteer opportunities and other things for retired people to do. You must have hobbies or interests outside of work, enjoying time with your family, etc., etc. I want to volunteer at the humane society and library, garden, and take classes where I don't have to think too hard, I've always wanted to be a literacy tutor. I knit and like to garden, all things that I don't have much time for when I am working full-time. Maybe I'll get a job as a dog sitter or driving around delivering auto parts, a no-brainer job sounds good to me. If you thought about it, I bet you'd realize that you don't need to "sit in an empty house with nothing to do." I never experienced the pay cut that you did, and I'm sure that would affect my decision to continue to work. Good luck with your coding education.
if I ... - Effie
[ In Reply To ..]win the lottery, I would be retired in a heartbeat. I would travel the world and read thousands of books... but... being poor sucks.. I will work as long as possible to keep from being poor.
I just landed a new job last month.. hired by a company that could care less how old I am as long as I can do the job. Thankfuly, I can still do the job.
Andrews is $4500 - Coder
[ In Reply To ..]Andrews is $4,500. It includes both inpatient and outpatient coding, taught separately, and has AHIMA-certified CCS instructors. It uses reference-quality, industry-standard textbooks, which are included in the price. They teach to the CCS, not just the CCA, and they graduate students who can and do pass it on graduation--they do not require two years of experience or additional on the job training. Their students also pass the CPC about 2/3 of the way through the program.
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