Archive for the ‘Interventional Radiology’ Category
Medical Billing And Coding Certification Options
Once you have completed your medical billing and coding education, it would be wise to get at least one of the certifications available for individuals in this field. Employers love to see certifications because it shows that the person they are considering hiring has at least a basic level of knowledge in the field. Most certifications require you to pass an exam and then either retake the exam or take continuing education courses in order to keep your medical billing and coding certification current.
The majority of the certifications available are administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Sometime, we have to buy a new AC and the price is quiet expensive. But don’t worry, you can apply payday advance Those who have completed a Bachelor’s degree are eligible to test for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification. Those who have completed an Associate’s degree can test for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification.
AHIMA Certification
The most entry level medical billing and coding certification option available from AHIMA is the Certified Coding Associate (CSA) certification. This does not require the coder to have a lot of experience. Once the coder has a bit more experience, they can then try for the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or Certified Coding Specialist – Physician Based (CCS-P) certification through taking an exam. There is also a CHPS (Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security) credential for those who are more advanced coders.
Board of Medical Specialty Coding Certification
Medical billing and coding certification is are also available from the Board of Medical Specialty Coding. Those with at least two years of coding experience can qualify for the Specialty Coding Professional (SCP) certification, and those with three to five years experience can qualify for the Advanced Coding Specialist (ACS) certification. There is also a Home Care Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D) certification available through this organization.
AAPC Certification
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers four different options for medical billing and coding certification as well, depending on the area where you work. You are usually required to have two years work experience, but those without this can get Apprentice Certification status upon passing the required exams for the certifications. The certifications are Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H), Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P), and Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC).
PAHCC Certification
Finally, there is also a Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCC) that offers certifications for those who are involved in specialty coding. The options include Cardiology (CCCS), ENT (CENTCS), Family Practice (CFPCS), Gastroenterology (CGCS), General Surgery (CGSCS), Internal Medicine (CIMCS), Obstetrics & Gynecology (COBGCS), Orthopedics (COCS), Pain Management (CPMCS), Pediatrics (CPEDCS), Podiatry (CPODCS), Pulmonology (CPCS), and Urology (CUCS).
Life Isn’t Fair, Even If Medical School Is
Dad: The World isn’t fair
Calvin: I know, but why isn’t it ever unfair in my favor?
Calvin and Hobbes
Doctors look at the world differently, an under-appreciated fact that is key to understanding health care reform. For most people, the world is a pretty unfair place, with success being only tangentially related to talent or intelligence. Although such things matter in the business world, less quantifiable attributes such as the ability to please others, personality, grooming, and luck, are at least as important.
Medicine is different. Although not perfect, the ascent up the ladder of success for doctors may be the most fair of all professions. Aptitude, hard work and dedication pretty much guarantee advancement, no matter what your personal qualities. Superior grades and board scores in college results in admission to medical school, where commitment and endless hours of study guarantee admission to good residencies and eventually jobs.
Manners, wardrobe choices, the ability to motivate others, and golf skills, are not particularly important. For the most part, medical school and residency admissions are based on clearly defined, quantifiable measurements often lacking in other professions. Personality quirks and deficiencies are often overlooked (or not noticed). One can achieve substantial success in medical school and residency with limited social skills. Frequently the training is so time-consuming that other aspects of personality and life experiences are poorly developed.
Needless to say, the fur starts to fly when these physicians interact with the outside world. Hospital administrators, insurance company executives, politicians and patients could care less whether you did your residency at Harvard or University of Toledo. The malpractice attorney does not care whether you can quote two or three papers from the latest journal.
Previously ignored concepts like personality, grooming, and self-promotion start to matter far more than hard work and intelligence, and some doctors are caught short.
Many doctors can appreciate the issues and adjust. Others never make the transitions, and become alienated, disillusioned and resentful. They expected the world to remain a fair place, as it has been in their training. It is not surprising that some become to feel entitled and greedy, as the referenced article addresses.
A main reason doctors are losing the health care reform battle is that they don’t understand the rules. Doctors were trained to value integrity, sincerity, evidence and truth. Such totems are considered na?ve and laughable by the cynical politicians and businessmen who view the medical industry as a cash cow to be led to slaughter.
Like it or not, these same politicians and businessmen control the purse-strings, and doctors will have to learn how to deal with them, something they don’t teach in medical school.
Top 10 Industry Associations in Radiology
The following top 10 industry associations in radiology come from a list of countless professional organizations for radiologists. There are associations, boards, colleges, institutes, registries, societies and other professional organizations across the country, throughout North America and all over the world. The following top 10 are among the most relevant and popular in the United States.
1. American Board of Radiology: The ABR has a mission of serving patients, the public and the medical profession by certifying that its members in the U.S. “have acquired, demonstrated and maintained a requisite standard of knowledge, skill and understanding essential to the practice of diagnostic radiology, radiation oncology and radiologic physics.”
2. American College of Radiology: The ACR has 34,000 members including interventional radiologists, medical physicists, nuclear medicine physicians, radiation oncologists and radiologists.
3. American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine: The AIUM is a source for ultrasound accreditation, affiliation, continuing education, job searches, networking and more.
4. American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: The ARDMS has been promoting quality patient care and safety through certification and continuing competency of ultrasound professionals since 1975.
5. American Society of Radiologic Technologists: The ASRT represents the medical personnel who perform diagnostic imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments with a mission of advancing the profession and enhancing patient care.
6. International Society of Radiographers & Radiological Technologists: The RSRRT has national societies and individual associate members dedicated to their mission of “representing the practice of medical imaging and radiation therapy technology by promoting the highest achievable standards of patient care and professional practice.”
7. Radiological Society of North America: The RSNA has been committed to excellence in patient care through education and research since 1915, with more than 40,000 members.
8. Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: The SDMS has been advancing, educating and promoting members and the diagnostic medical sonography community since 1970.
9. Society of Nuclear Medicine: The SNM, an international scientific and professional organization, has been promoting the practical application, science and technology of nuclear medicine since 1954, with 16,000 current members.
10. Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound: This society was founded to advance the field of ultrasound with physician membership, journal publishing, scientific research and patient resources.