If you are considering a career in the medical administration field, perhaps you are wondering if there are other career options besides the typical medical billing and coding specialist positions. Although these two options are the most popular, you might be interested in another career within the healthcare field where you can put your medical billing and coding education to good use.
With additional education, you may be interested in becoming a medical auditing specialist or clinical data specialist. Or, perhaps you are interested in a medical transcriptionist or a medical and health service manager’s position. Whichever career you choose, your online medical billing and coding background will help prepare you.
A medical auditing specialist primarily is responsible for checking the work of billers and coders to verify the validity of the billing and coding process. A medical auditor must have special certification to show that they are qualified to do such, which is obtained by passing the Certified Professional Medical Auditor exam. Most employers require three to five years of billing and coding experience to qualify as an auditor. Obtaining an online bachelor’s degree in medical billing and coding is useful, as well, for securing an auditor’s position. The average salary of a medical auditor is $52,486 annually, depending on experience and education.
The clinical data specialist is responsible for making sure that the computer-generated data that is being used is correct and accurate while overseeing that the process of compiling patient information meets the standards of the healthcare industry’s billing and coding system. This position is most often performed in larger clinics or hospitals where high patient volume is present. A bachelor’s degree may be required. The typical salary for a clinical data specialist varies between $54,694 – $71,897 annually, depending on education, location and size of facility.
A medical transcriptionist transfers a doctor’s dictation into a computer program to create a patient record. Occasionally, an employer will require an associate degree or in most cases, at least a certification in the field of medical transcription is required. Most transcription certificate programs take nine months to a year to complete. You will need to be familiar with medical terms and anatomy, as well as, the technical requirements related to the transcribing process. The average pay for a medical transcriptionist is $35,720 annually, depending on degree of education.
Medical and health service managers typically require an online bachelor’s or master’s degree in a healthcare related field, in addition to previous work experience in a healthcare facility. Service managers in this position usually work for hospitals, nursing homes or government facilities. The average salary for a management position in the healthcare industry varies between $84,270 – $144,000 annually, depending on experience, education and facility location and size. Job duties include the supervision of administrative employees, department and institution financial management, staff scheduling and addressing patient care matters.
As you can see, if you wish to continue your education and further your career in the healthcare field, there are certainly several to choose from, however, the online medical billing and coding program is an excellent starting point. A career in billing and coding will familiarize you with procedures and regulations, as well as, anatomy and physiology, in order to prepare you for other related careers. If you would like to learn more about medical billing and coding, check out our top 20 accredited online schools offering medical billing and coding programs.