Benefits of a Medical Coding Profession

If you’d love to have a job that allows you to help people without necessarily working with them on the front lines every day, then medical billing and coding might be right for you. Medical Coders generally don’t interact directly with patients. Instead, they’re in the background, handling patient records and ensuring all the billing and coding aspects of their treatment are handled properly. (Introverts are welcome!)

Here are five other benefits to becoming a professional medical coder:

1. Employment Opportunities

Having the skill set of a medical coder allows you to work in dynamic job markets.  Medical Coding specialist work in hospitals, clinics, physician offices, clearinghouses, health insurance companies, urgent care centers, nursing homes, administrative support centers, and medical laboratories. The list goes on. Are you a night owl? No, maybe a morning person? Or, are you perhaps just the kind of person who likes to be able to work when they want to work? Then you should pay attention here.

Since most of the institutions employing medical billing and coding specialists operate 24/7 – such as hospitals – there’s a need for all kinds of shifts.  

2. Remote Work

It may be time to break out your favorite pair of jeans or sweatpants. Because most of the work done by medical billing and coding specialists is done on a computer, most employers offer the option to work from home for some part of the week.

Whether you’re a young professional who’d like to skip the commute on occasion or a busy parent who’d love to spend more time around their kids, this option is a monumental advantage.

3. Comfortable Environment

People who enjoy wearing a suit, tie, heels, or other formal wear every day to work are generally few and far between. Those clothes are expensive, uncomfortable, and often not too friendly when the heat of summer comes into full force. That’s why working in healthcare can be a fantastic alternative.

Most people working in medical billing and coding are able to wear scrubs to the office every day. Wonder what that feels like? Well, they’re designed for comfort, so that should give you an idea.

4. Career Growth

Nobody likes the idea of getting stuck in a position without any real chances to grow. It can leave you feeling frustrated, stuck, and looking for new opportunities elsewhere. Luckily, getting certified and working in medical billing and coding can put you right in the middle of the entire medical administration field. That means there’s the possibility of expanding your skill set and potentially moving up the ladder to becoming a healthcare administrator one day.

5. Cool Title

You’ll be able to say I’m a “coder.” That just sounds awesome! Software developers use coding languages to write software, while medical coders input correct code sets into software.

If you’re interested in any of these awesome benefits, a medical coding career may be for you.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2019. It has been updated for accuracy, clarity and new information.