| Credit market meltdown, bailouts, stock market | | | | instead of working as an employee. Hence, the |
| crash, and hurricanes. That about summarizes | | | | future of jobs in this field is fantastic. |
| the financial disaster happening in the US in 2008. | | | | WHAT ARE MEDICAL CODERS |
| So what's a working stiff to do? Those who still | | | | Medical coders are specialists in the health |
| can, should think about recession proof careers | | | | information field. They organize and evaluate |
| and jobs. | | | | patient records for accuracy, collect, prepare and |
| Recession proof jobs are so essential to our | | | | analyze statistical data, code diseases and |
| society that we cannot do without them. One | | | | operations for insurance purposes, and in general, |
| such job are medical coders. Why? Two major | | | | provide quality control. |
| things happening in our society: people living | | | | POTENTIAL HEALTH INFORMATION |
| longer and more are being born. Take note that | | | | TECHNICIAN AND MEDICAL CODER SALARY |
| the baby boomers (hippie generation) are retiring, | | | | The median annual income for health information |
| yet their parents are still alive. Older folks need | | | | technicians was $28,030 in May 2006, according |
| medical attention whether preventive or actual | | | | to a survey conducted by the National Bureau of |
| medical care. So they're making regular visits to | | | | Labor Statistics. The highest earner made more |
| clinics and hospitals. | | | | than $45,260. |
| Also, in 2007, a record high of babies were born, | | | | HOW TO BECOME A CERTIFIED MEDICAL |
| a number not seen since the baby boom years. | | | | CODER |
| Although experts have not yet disclosed the | | | | Medical coder schools offer classes in health |
| sources for birth, one thing is certain, these babies | | | | information technology, medical terminology, legal |
| will require care. They will also be visiting clinics and | | | | training, anatomy and physiology, statistics, and |
| hospitals for proper care. | | | | computer science. |
| It will be up to medical coders and other health | | | | Generally, those who finish their medical coding |
| information technicians to accurately record these | | | | education will receive an associate's degree. It is |
| visits for computer access and readability. | | | | best to become a Registered Health Information |
| Additionally, medical transcriptionists have the | | | | Technical through certification by the American |
| opportunity to work from home. They usually | | | | Health Information Management Association |
| receive their assignments from an agency or | | | | (AHIMA). Medical coder courses and preparation |
| directly from a hospital or clinic and take it home | | | | classes for the AHIMA certificate are available as |
| to complete. | | | | traditional and online classes. |
| Another great thing with medical coders is that | | | | More information on becoming a certified medical |
| they can negotiate their own contract directly | | | | coder and other recession-proof jobs are available |
| with a clinic or hospital as a freelance contractor | | | | for reading. |