Struggle No More: Avoiding Wasted Investments In Medical Coding

Time and time again, students text, email or tell me about frustrations they experience with medical coding instruction. They spend thousands of dollars with different instructors or companies and are ultimately frustrated with their investment.

The struggle is real.

Fortunately, there are ways to avoid wasted investments (and pain points) when it comes to medical coding instruction.

Medical Coding Instruction Pain Points

First, a few pain points. Here are some of the most common complaints students have with medical coding instruction:

• “I didn’t learn anything.”
• “The instructor was impatient with me.”
• “The instructor’s teaching skills were not that great.”
• “I didn’t accomplish anything.”
• “I failed the exam multiple times.”

Does this sound like you? When it comes to medical coding, you just need someone who can break down the coding guidelines for you in a succinct, understandable way. The main goals are for you to know the materials and pass the test.

What to Look for with Medical Coding Instruction

If you’re interested in getting your Certified Professional Coder CPC® certificate as soon as possible, you’ve come to the right place. The pain points mentioned above are why I do what I do. I really do get upset when I hear frustrations from students that have spent so much money, so much time on medical coding instruction and all they’ve really gotten back out of whatever course or program they signed up for is a feeling of abandonment, neglect or that they fell for a “bait-and-switch” scheme.

This is why I recommend that before you sign up for a medical coding instruction program (and spend your hard-earned money), there are several things you evaluate when it comes to the instructor:

• Evaluate their speech: Get in front of whoever will be teaching you, whether it’s the Director of Education, the program manager, the program chair or the head of the teaching council. See if the passion is there when they speak. Do they look passionate? How do they speak about medical coding? Are they sincere or are they just speaking superficially? You want to make sure your future instructor feels strongly about providing quality instruction and has a passion for it.
• Evaluate their teaching style: Some instructors are more patient than others. Ask the instructor (or fellow students) about what they typically do when a student has a question. Do they simply tell you to read your book while they are zoned out on their clel phone? Or are they actively helping students out and answering questions?
• Evaluate their passion: Do they breed inspiration in you? Do they have the fire? Are they completely and utterly in love with medical coding? There’s not a better place for a passionate teacher than when she or he is in front of a classroom. The energy the instructor gives off is important and will go a long way toward your learning and confidence in passing the exam.

The bottom line that you want to make sure you are getting your money’s worth when it comes to medical coding instruction. If you don’t, you’re sure to end up frustrated about a wasted investment. That’s why Medical Coding Academy selects teachers who teach with all their heart… and that makes ALL the difference in the world.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in January 2019. It has been revamped and updated for accuracy and clarity.