4 Ways Medical Coders Can Help with Patient Reviews

Reviews are a tricky issue for any business. Good reviews are great for business. Bad reviews obviously have the reverse effect, but they also cause untold amounts of stress for business owners.

This is even true for industries that are designed to help people, such as healthcare. Many reviews are tied to insurance issues, however, which begs the question: can medical coders and billers make any impact on patient reviews?

We think so. Here are four ways we’ve identified:

1. Have a positive mindset.

They say life is one percent what happens to you and 99 percent how you react to it. Positive attitudes can go a long way. When was the last time you made a positive difference by treating your daily job requirements like they’re a negative thing? answer: you haven’t! Focus on the fact you have a job and it will reflect in your production and abilities. Learn to smile!

2. Treat all patients with respect.

So many patients leave negative reviews for an interaction they had with a staff member who wasn’t their doctor or nurse. Every member of the healthcare team can have an impact on patient experience, so try to treat each and every patient with respect. Reviews impact the company as a whole, which includes you and your position.

3. Improve your coding and billing skills.

Improving the accuracy of your medical codes and insurance billing codes can go a long way toward improving patient reviews. Patients get angry when they are billed in a way they perceive as incorrect. Try to be as thorough as possible with your coding and billing and make sure you memorize as much as you can. There are medical coding flashcards available, as well as other certifications that can expand your skillset.

4. Help physicians and nurses when you can.

Physicians and nurses have a lot on their plate and it’s always possible they can be having a rough day and take it out on a patient, leading to a negative review. Try to ease their burden by being as helpful as you can. This could be something big like getting a new skill or certification, or it can be as simple as smiling and greeting them in the morning.

If you’re interested in more advice like this, be sure to join our Facebook group for medical coders and billers. Click the image below to join!