Remote medical coding, also known as off-site medical coding, is one of the more common careers allowing employees to work from home. Medical codes are specific codes associated with certain diseases, medical diagnoses, medical procedures, or specific indications after results from bloodwork or X-rays are examined. These codes are universal and used for a number of different purposes, namely statistical analysis, medical billing, and insurance determinations, and it is the job of a medical coder to locate and insert these codes properly based on the information they are given. Remote medical coding allows medical coders to perform this work online, from their own homes, often after they receive daily or weekly work from a physician or hospital.
In order to be qualified to do remote medical coding, it is generally necessary to attend a training program and receive certification, which can usually happen in a few months. Once one is a certified medical coder, it will ideally be easier to find jobs. Some people will begin working in medical coding on site at a doctor's office or hospital, and after a good work ethic is demonstrated, may be offered the option to work from home doing remote medical coding online. As long as the individuals can keep up with any changes in coding practices and terminology, as well as insurance regulations, working from home in this manner can be quite effective.
Remote medical coding, along with various types of transcription, is one of the most common work-from-home careers. As long as the work is completed on time and to a high standard of quality, individuals may work at any time of day or night, and there are very few overhead costs. A reliable internet connection and good computer are required, but individuals who do this job may generally rearrange their schedule to take days off, and even work in their pajamas.
Typically, someone who is doing remote medical coding will receive a certain amount of documentation per week that needs to be converted into the proper codes in order to bill the patient and the insurance company. This often means receiving physician's notes or results from certain medical tests, so an understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology is required, as well as the ability to be discreet and to respect the privacy of patients. This type of job has a learning curve, but once one has mastered the various terms and codes used in medical coding, it can be a very steady career.