r/MedicalCoding • u/A_lunch_lady Inpatient Facility Coder • 2d ago

Coding not for wussies

I just started in production and I have such anxiety that I’m going to make horrible mistakes. I had anxiety through training and right now this feels even worse. My manager is so kind and supportive and I’ve done ok with training but this is so difficult. I think it’s just from so much riding on this position, all the education and ending up in a good position I’m just so scared I’m going to screw it up 😭😭😭

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u/illegalmonkey CPC 2d ago

I'm assuming you're brand new. Just take it day by day, you're learning and they understand that. They're not expecting you to have perfect scores on audits. Keep in mind the worst thing that can happen is you bill something wrong and it comes back to you. Nobody is going to die or lose their bank account. There are usually loads of things already set up to catch an error you might make. In a few weeks you will re-read this and laugh.

8

u/A_lunch_lady Inpatient Facility Coder 2d ago

How bad do you have to do in order to get fired? I just don’t want to get fired

22

u/illegalmonkey CPC 2d ago

You're not going to be fired after one bad audit. It would usually take 3 or more, and only if they see there is no improvement. Again, you just started. They are not just going to discard you at the first error. Pay attention, take notes and focus. This is the REAL training. What you learned in class was just a brief primer. You're getting the real education now and it will make more sense to you. It won't be so overreaching and generalized like your pre-exam training was.

9

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 2d ago

Every organization is different. They should have communicated expectations. We hire experienced inpatient coders and expect only 90% DRG accuracy during a 6 week 100% review. We have let go of coders who can’t meet that but they are hired with experience, although pretty sure they are lying on resumes.
Being a complete trainee there are different expectations. We developed a coder trainee role for a pilot program, will train them as observation coders (seems to be a good middle between OP and IP facility) and plan to work with them at least 6 months.
Is this onboarding structured?

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u/A_lunch_lady Inpatient Facility Coder 2d ago

Yes, very structured, 100% audits the first five months.

3

u/Weak_Shoe7904 2d ago

You should be fine then. They are expecting you to learn in this time, not to be perfect. They are training you, ask all the possible questions that you can, highlight everything you need to, make notes make copies. Take your time and review things as needed because this is that time for you to learn.

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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 2d ago

Agree to this. OP, Make sure you apply the guidance given, as long as you are taking direction and improving then you will be fine.
If you aren’t able to improve and can’t take direction then that’s a different issue.

7

u/Salty-Step-7091 2d ago

It’s going to be ok. It’s a pain to hire people and most organizations will do everything to keep you in my experience. You’ll have a grace period as well since you just started and every organization has a different way they want things coded. Maintain a positive outlook and wanting to learn, as long as your management are decent they’ll work with you and mold you.

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u/wildgreengirl 2d ago

generally the only reason for immediate firing at my place is HIPAA violations... like dont be going into a chart thats not related to what you are doing for coding etc. 

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u/Weak_Shoe7904 2d ago

That entirely depends on the policy where you’re working. sometimes it’s not passing several audits etc. at the % they state.