Updated 10/24/23
Have you been looking for an entry point into the healthcare industry that doesn’t require direct patient contact? Maybe you want a position that allows you to provide behind-the-scenes support to doctors and healthcare facilities. If this sounds like you, earning a degree in Medical Coding at East Ohio College can be a great choice for your future career.
Continue reading to learn more about East Ohio’s new online Medical Coding program, what you can expect to learn, and the benefits of earning professional certifications!
Why A Degree in Medical Coding?
Medical coding and billing professionals are essential and valued healthcare professionals. These professionals serve as a connection between healthcare providers, their patients, and insurance companies. By opening up communication lines with insurance agencies and other healthcare companies, medical coders can ensure that accurate patient documentation is achieved. In addition, earning an online associate degree in medical coding can provide graduates with career opportunities in a flexible and growing field.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical record management professionals is expected to increase by 7% from 2021 to 2031. Please note that these local needs may differ from national averages. This creation of job opportunities for medical billers and coders is in part due to the aging baby boomer population requiring medical care and those to provide communication between medical facilities and insurance companies.
What You’ll Learn in East Ohio College’s
Online Medical Coding Program
East Ohio College prepares students to perform a variety of medical billing and coding career responsibilities. Students in the East Ohio College online Medical Coding program will gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their careers.
Because medical coders act as a segway between insurance companies and medical facilities, the skills they learn in their education are versatile. These skills allow them to perform various billing and coding functions. Some of the skills students in East Ohio’s online Medical Coding program can expect to learn include CPT and ICD-10-CM coding, health information management and charting, use of alphanumeric codes, billing, medical terminology, and more.
Medical coders are important healthcare team members, and East Ohio College aims to provide its students with an educational experience that prepares them well to enter the workforce. In 18 months, students will complete online instruction and customized lab simulations to practice their coding skills. Toward the end of the program, our career management team will assist students in obtaining an externship with a local employer, where they can gain hands-on experience in a real-world environment. Additionally, as a benefit of the program, the institution will pay for the cost of two attempts to sit for the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)’s Certified Professional Coder-Apprentice certification* exam.
Benefits of Earning Professional Certifications
As a result of completing East Ohio College’s online Medical Coding program, students have the benefit of the Institution paying for the cost of two attempts to sit for the AAPC industry certification* exam. Upon passing the certification exam, graduates will have earned the CPC-A credential. The “-A” will remain attached to the credential until further AAPC requirements are fulfilled to expand your level of expertise as a coder. The apprenticeship status will be revised upon submitting proof of completion, and credentials will be updated to Certified Professional Coder.
Earning industry certifications can help set you apart from others looking to enter the workforce. Completing an education program and earning an industry-specific certification can prove to employers that you possess the skills and knowledge needed to do the job well. Additionally, this can show employers that you are willing to commit the time and take pride in your work, a positive quality in an employee many employers look for.
Get Started Today!
Can you see yourself starting a career as a medical coder? If so, East Ohio College’s online Medical Coding program is a great option! To begin the enrollment process today, contact our admissions team by calling 833-EASTOHIO or Requesting Information.
*Certification is contingent upon passing this industry certification exam. Required/Included in Tuition/Fees. The Institution does not have a reportable recent pass rate (2022-2023 academic year) for the Certified Professional Coders exam because this is a new program with no graduates prior to July 1, 2023. See catalog for details.