A medical coder is a valuable member of the healthcare team.

Also called “coders,” these skilled professionals are trained to analyze medical and healthcare records. Using their knowledge and training, they assign specific codes to the care and treatment a patient has received from a healthcare provider and/or health facility.

Medical coding is extremely important in creating an accurate medical billing statement, which is also called a medical claim. The patient’s medical claim should give a true and detailed listing of exactly which services and treatments are being submitted for payment.

In addition to medical billing, these healthcare professionals are also valuable in many other settings.

The medical coder can serve in a variety of roles, including (1):

– government agencies

– public education

– research positions in medical and health services

– epidemiology research (which is the study of how often illnesses occur among different groups of people, and why the illnesses occur)

– private and international healthcare agencies

Coding requires a tremendous amount of knowledge and attention to detail.

For example, in the hospital setting, it’s necessary to review the entire chart of patient care. Assigning the proper codes to the patient’s care and treatment means that these professionals must have a thorough knowledge of medical terminology, and a good understanding of how patient care and treatment are documented.

Because computers are routinely used to store patient information, medical coding also requires knowledge and skill in computerized data information management.

In the past, almost all medical billing was done on paper, or what we call “hard copy.” However, that’s no longer the case. It’s becoming more and more common to send medical claims to insurance companies and other payors electronically.

Of course, a patient’s medical record contains highly personal information; including not only details of the medical care and treatment, but also personal information related to identity–such as date of birth and social security number.

Because of the sensitive information the medical coder is reviewing, it’s necessary for this healthcare team member to follow the highest ethical and professional guidelines.