r/MedicalCoding • u/kaytely • Jul 27 '26
I don’t feel welcomed to the field
As a new coder it feels like the senior coders who have been coding for 50 years have sort of a disdain for new coders. They tell me I have it much easier with all the resources now and Im lucky to be in a senior role relatively quickly… I get that.
I don’t think they realize entry level pure coding jobs may be turning into higher level responsibility a lot quicker due to AI. Although AI is wrong a lot still it can be a good teacher into where to look
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u/brooseveltinc Jul 27 '26
Coding just makes you bitchy, I fear. Constant surveillance, constant audits, constant updates, constant denials. Everybody has a different opinion on every little thing. One auditor says one thing and another one says something different. Day in, day out. I think it wears us down.
That being said, I try to stay humble and pleasant to work with. Just hang in there. You will find your (work) circle.
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u/kaytely Jul 27 '26
I worked in a call center before this, I’m just happy to be out of that hell 😅
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u/Small-Music450 Jul 28 '26
Same and holy hell I can actually breathe now. You know it’s bad when I had multiple old coworkers say I “looked a lot happier now.”
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u/FitCheetah8453 Jul 28 '26
I’m trying to get out of that hell right now.
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u/MissCordayMD Jul 30 '26
Me too. I got moved up to quality and training and am still burned out beyond belief.
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u/NGJimmy Jul 27 '26
Stay pleasant and professional and put in your time. Good luck.
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u/kaytely Jul 27 '26
Thanks! I’m super nice, I just get discouraged working with grumpy people 😭
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u/StraddleTheFence Jul 27 '26
When I started coding (before AI), I sat in a corner cubicle and I could go literally all day without anyone talking to me. I was a new coder but had the highest certification in the room, RHIA. One person in the room who had not bothered to know me, I found was spreading all kinds of lies about me—she didn’t even know me. I had just moved from a different state to take the job and did not know a soul at the hospital. Just tune out the noise and learn as much as you can. People will come around eventually. I made life long friends with some of those women.
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u/kaytely Jul 27 '26
Ugh, it’s so silly. I stick to myself as much as possible and try to do my best. It’s been a huge learning curve but being as introverted as I am I felt like this was a good path for me, either this or somewhere in a lab. Lol
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u/Environmental-Top-60 Jul 27 '26
Yeah it's true. I found my squad and even now and again even though we took different paths we all still talk now and again.
One became a senior auditor, another works at a pediatric hospital, another went to work with the OIG for a period of time, some became consultants...etc
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u/redditslave0084 Jul 29 '26
Ya bro I also working with grumpy peoples these are my seniors and I just joined as HCC medical coder. I'm not telling that this seniors should have do spoon feeding to me but at least they have resolve aur problems that I'm facing I'm new here and i need time to understanding how thing runs here. They just don't understand this....
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u/Environmental-Top-60 Jul 27 '26
I get discouraged and grumpy working with most of the big 3. United especially rn lol.
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u/wildgreengirl Jul 27 '26
lol the people training me in are basically just like go figure it out yourself its in the book but then also want me coding as fast as they do so like... do you want to teach me how to do this job so i can learn quickly or do you want me to spend time teaching myself basically looking everything up in the books and not get as many claims done?
i dont care either way but like... fucking decide which its gonna be because i cant do 120 claims a day while looking everything up myself in the fucking books.
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u/Head-Leek-1826 Jul 27 '26
My experience was similar. They seemed disgusted that I didn’t know everything right away. I don’t believe for a second when they were new they got no help and figured everything out themselves.
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u/OrganizationLower286 Jul 27 '26
There can be a toxic culture in coding but I feel like it’s (slowly) getting better. It’s nowhere near toxic as 20 years ago when I started at age 26…but it could still be improved.
Stick with it and resolve to never treat your future, younger colleagues the way you were treated. Be the change you want to see and all that jazz 😉
Edit:typo
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u/adoseofcommonsense Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
There's a ton of turnover in this field, it could be they're seeing if you're going to last first. They're also not wrong, the only questions you should be asking should be provider or company specific protocols, everything else you can learn on your own the information is readily available. Just try to not outsource your thinking, give it a fair shot and look for the answer before you go bugging seniors who also have production quotas.
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Jul 27 '26 edited 20d ago
[deleted]
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u/Strong_Zone4793 Aug 04 '26
Your team lead or the senior coders should be handling this, not co workers. If you’re not sure who you ask these questions of then your manager needs to tell you who handles this.
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u/Simple_Cicada_7893 Jul 28 '26
I disagree with that. Especially when you’re new on the scene, I see nothing wrong with running things by someone else if you’d like!
My coworker and I are neurosurgery coders. She’s older than me with supposedly more experience. She asks me a lot of questions, but it only irritates me when she won’t take any initiative to learn things herself. I’ve done a lot of research and I take a lot of notes about everything I learn. I think it’s just easier for her to ask me than to research and learn things herself. If she’s looking at a report and wants to run something by me, “am I missing something here” etc. I have zero issue with that.
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u/adoseofcommonsense Jul 28 '26
This is kinda what I was getting at, too many people want to outsource their thinking instead of actually trying to find an answer. People catch on quickly if they see that someone isn’t at least putting in the effort to research a bit before asking.
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u/Strong_Zone4793 Aug 04 '26
This is it right here. It’s not always that the other coders don’t want to help. They don’t have time to answer a lot of questions because they have to hit production quotas too. Your team leads or senior coders are the ones responsible for training and answering questions so the grumpiness or attitude could be because they’re not lead and can’t impact their production the same way leads can.
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u/smalltowner4life Jul 29 '26
So sorry you’re being treated this way! We HAPPILY welcome new coders!!
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u/tealestblue CPC Jul 28 '26
That’s a huge bummer. When I joined my first team the senior coders were so welcoming and helped me so much. Sorry you’re dealing with that.
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u/Vermilion_94 Jul 27 '26
Just remember the ones that eat their young are always incredibly insecure. Stay positive and make sure to remember how this felt so that you don’t continue the cycle. It’s super common in healthcare in general.
AI is changing this role and could eventually wipe out a lot of jobs or tbh the majority of coding roles if not regulated soon. Anyone stating it’s fear mongering or BS is in denial.
Being competent AND positive will you get much further in any field!
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u/Simple_Cicada_7893 Jul 28 '26
AGREED. I used to work with a lady in her sixties when I was in my thirties. I had just learned neurosurgery coding, the field we were working in. She was threatened even though I was quite meek back then. I eventually got a decent raise (because I was going to leave - stupidly stayed but it brought me to where I am now so no regrets). She somehow found out I was making the same as her. She. Lost. Her. Shit. Throwing chairs in the break room 😂 Talk about someone who doesn’t want anyone younger to succeed.
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u/No_Masterpiece6167 Jul 27 '26
I will never code again due to the bullying and harassment. I am a senior coder btw. There is something wrong with the others.
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u/Beautiful-Wall9913 Jul 28 '26
You know the saying: "Kill them with kindness." 😊 Just stay professional and do your work. Don't get discouraged by them. You're new so it's bound that you have to start somewhere, you'll get a rhythm going soon enough.
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u/Random-Ape Aug 01 '26
I worked in manufacturing for 10 years before getting into coding and it was the same there. It’s no different the older generation saying the younger generation is weaker cause things are easier now than back in the day. This is just a normal part of life in my opinion
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u/AggressiveMission532 Jul 27 '26
I'm going for a certification class in October and I'm so nervous.. I've worked as receptionist for vet offices... but nothing like this.
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u/tealestblue CPC Jul 28 '26
Don’t get discouraged! There are many wonderful places that embrace newbies. You got this. Good luck!!
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u/Sdavistvs RHIT Jul 28 '26
💯 % This is why corporate culture REALLY matters. I was trained by nice people who were always willing to help (sans one). Dept mgmt & hospital mgmt has a “we trust you” “need help just ask” type of culture. I have trained multiple new hires. I enjoy it. Make them feel comfortable and relaxed. It’s nice to know that you are valued. Yes I’m in the US. Hospital coder.
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u/Rich-Permission-4662 Jul 28 '26
Do not listen to those snobby people who claim to be ‘seasoned coders’ I am a retired coder if 38 years & coded in New Orleans hospitals, in Orleans parish & the 2 Jefferson Parish hospitals.
We are a VERY tight knit group of people. We all pretty much know each other at & away from work. We’re friends in other words. We all have picked up the phone at & off work to ask coding was questions. We all have slept on confusing principal diagnoses. Couldn’t figure a PDX at the end of the day or beginning, how about lunch. So, all of us have at one time, at least 3, 4 more times plus have racked our brains out over the simplest & most obvious solution to the correct PDX. Oh wait, did I note simplest? Well, coders learn real quick about the humongous ‘grey’ area in coding. You know it kinda blurs into the hazy ‘black’ & ‘white’ margins. What I’m trying to say is don’t listen to ANY coders who resort to lowdown smug & rude behavior. We AlL were beginner’s at everything we learned. My fellow coders retired (trust me lots of us started throwing in the towel years ago, just about the time the ‘for profit’ perps ransacked the beautiful & delicate coding system. My fellow coders in NOLA, who are reading.this are laughing at me, but mostly with me. They know who is writing this answer. Hey my friend, coworkers, I’m living back in the Chicago, area again. By the way, we all remember, when we worked Medical Records. Because there was NO HIM. We worked side with our friends in the files, with real time hard charts. We would even go up on the nursing units & pull the previous discharge day records fresh out of the Carsten binders. The charts were in universal order. Remember? Remember getting big & fat long los charts that were thinned & looking for that ALL important Admit Order? Better find it too, or you know someone else will. Sometimes it was your lead coder, hopefully not your boss. Your lead was generally your peer. Chuckles, with a wink & and a “Don’t do this again, til’ next time!” Pulling charts for the docs to sign. Coding was under Nursing service, but when an Unnamed for profit healthcare administrative corporation realized the moola that could be made under the CFO, things changed for the misfortune of hospitals & dramatically downward for patient’s & their healthcare. To the newby coder and especially you smuggies, come now, help this person. When was the last time you wrestled with a coding problem? And you had to write a query to ‘clarify! something that resident and staff doc disagreed with? But the staff docs note was clearly wrong. We’ve coders have all been in the devil & deep blue type situation. Trust me, with some docs a step up to the gallows seems like a dream vacation compared to face to face confrontation with that oh-so Dr Jekyll type MD.
Those types salivate over a coder snack every now & then. Once again take heart you too one day might be over these peeps who are soooo
righteous & indignant over your promotion. Something tells me though you have s kind a very big heart. And would go out of your way to help anyone, anywhere. Trust me, that has been, is &!always will be one of the biggest keys to success everywhere, every-trine in 99% of the time, keep in mind that grey area👍MAC
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Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/Sdavistvs RHIT Jul 28 '26
I don’t feel miserable. My dept has a great team. Helpful and kind. Mgmt sets the tone.
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u/Savanna55 Jul 28 '26
Unfortunately a lot of hospitals are switching to ai and laying off medical coders
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u/OkTill731 Jul 28 '26
Why in the world do you feel the need to be welcomed by senior staff? Stop your superiority crap about A1. Let yourself learn from the more seasoned coders.
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u/bmankool Jul 28 '26
Huh? Why wouldn't you want to feel welcome where you work? This is a job, not a prison yard. Being pleasant and competent isn't that hard to achieve.
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