Clinical Coder for NHS

[claretandamberforever]

I know this is a long shot but is anyone a clinical coder? Or does anyone know someone who is one.

Somehow I have managed to blag an interview for a trainee coder position. I've looked into what the job entails and I am confident in my ability that I'd be able to do the job.

However there isn't many personal testimonies around on the net, and I'd love to know if people enjoy their job.

Thanks if there is anyone who can help

Band 2?! That is atrocious. I would expect basic office skills for band 2 and consider myself lucky for that, tbh. Band 2 is incredibly low for a coding post, training or not. They are 3 (4 once exams completed) in my local Trust (I don't work there anymore but used to work in the office next door to the coders).

The person spec and job description should tell you what they need from you but tbh, for band 2 it should be pretty basic, skills wise with an understanding of the confidential nature of the work (obv you were bound by all that as part of your dental nurse work so you can demonstrate that), the ability to work to deadlines and sound, accurate record keeping skills (again, presumably your dental nursing included recording the treatments too - the nurses do at my surgery, anyway). Also your transferable skills from life as a long term carer - time management, compassion, patience and tenacity are valid too. If your mother has been ill and accessed hospital care, you also have an idea of the patient journey through healthcare which is what you record as a coder (the billable bits, anyway ).

Good luck.

Thanks for that SqueezyCheeseWeasel.
:-)

Tbh, you should be more than qualified ??

Hello Sipa,

Thank you for your inputs in this thread.
Could you throw some light on pay scales for clinical coders please. I mean, beginners, specialist etc.

Also in NHS, other companies would be great.

Many thanks in advance.

You can see the pay scales/bands on coder ads on the NHS jobs site, biziguy

www.jobs.nhs.uk

Here's info on the 2015 Agenda for Change pay scales/bandings

I am a clinical coder of four years now based in the North West. Most trainee positions up here start at a band 2. In my current trust, trainees are a band 2 until they have completed their standards course (roughly 3 months) and then they are promoted to a band 3. It is recommend that you spend 2-3 years coding before you take your NCCQ exam to become accredited, after which you will become a band 4 accredited coder.

I passed the NCCQ exam in September 2014 and was made a band 4 from my results date in December. I have since been made a band 5 mentor since May and I'm looking at becoming an auditor in two years time which is a band 6 at my trust.

It seems that coding departments around the country are undergoing restructuring at the minute, so it's possible to jump through the bands fairly quickly if you put the work in

Hi,

This thread has been dormant for a good while, but as I am in the exact same boat as most people who have written here I thought I'd try and revive it.

I've got an interview for a trainee position, band 2 (it being in the North West, like the last person writing here had said).

I have two small children at home so wanted to ask - is it possible to train / work as a clinical coder part time? Or am I wasting everyone's time by going to the interview?

Hi Ribb, yes it is possible to train/work part time as a coder. I have been doin the job here in North Yorkshire for over 10 yrs and a lot of my colleagues work part time or job share after they have had kids to make it easy to juggle work and home and they seem to manage without any problems. Have you had any experience in the medical field or any medical background ? Would def make the interview less stressful and fairly easy. You didnt mention when your interview was but best of luck.

Hii!! I've got an interview for the position of clinical coder...Need some tips as I really want this job..Also, part of interview process that says: short test in anatomy and physiology, and applicants to look up codes using standard manuals.

Does anyone have any idea what it would involve exactly..??

Help Pleaseeeee..!!!

Thanks.

Hi gitnc, I dont know if you have had your interview already but knowing basic anatomy and phys would make it easy like knowing the names of some bones, parts of various body structures and how they function and these can be found if you just did a google on them. Coders use coding books/manuals in their work but I dont think they should ask someone who has no previous experience to do such an exercise as its unfair unless they are looking for applicants with some experience. Again, all NHS trusts are different with regards to what they are looking for in new starters.

I would say read and get to know a lil basic anatomy and phys and express that you are interested in everything medical related, like with every interview, its how confident you protray yourself that can better your chances. Hope this helps, good luck.

Thanks alot for your post..It's quite helpful..It My interview is due this Thursday..so I've got some time for preparation. I really want this job.. I am just worried about looking up the codes in the manual as I have no experience of it at all..I m just hope that my interview goes well now.. !!

Hi I've been a coder in the NHS for almost 20 years now. Basically you have to know anatomy & physiology fairly well and be prepared to go on regular courses to learn ICD 10 (the World Health Organisation Classification for diseases) and OPCS 4.7 (Classification for procedures/interventions).
Main duties are to accurately assign alphanumerical codes linked to disease/illness and procedures, from looking at patients case notes. Unfortunately you get to record everything, some notes can be distressing to read others not so bad - on the whole a brilliant insight to learn a new skill whilst bringing revenue for the NHS (all coding is linked to national tariff).
Anyone who is interested I would recommend to apply for the particular post advertised.. it's a wonderful career.

Hi, I have an interview soon. Can anyone recommend any books or online resources for Anatomy and Physiology? They have told me they will also ask a statement question and test my attention to detail. Any ideas on how to prepare for these and what questions they could ask me? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Hi, I've just applied for a band 3 training coder post at a trust here in the North West, I currently work as a band 3 secretary in the oral surgery department at the hospital and thought it sounded interesting and for a trainee post I felt I met the criteria. Hoping to be shortlisted at least - good luck to you for your interview! Can't help with the books or anything but I'll be following this post 😉

If you're still looking for anatomy and physiology resources, Bounless biology is good, as is Khan Academy. Others are Ivy Rose Holistic and teachpe.com

Boundless

Hi Clinical Coders.

I work in the technology space and implementing digital systems to assist individuals with manually intensive workflows.

I recently got interested in this NHS Coding problem after a personal experience and I am investing time to develop a system that could help Clinical Coders and Health Boards process more records, faster and more accurately. I have access to a Health Trust who has agreed to review anything I create.

If you can spare 5 minutes to tell me about your work life it would be much appreciated, please click on the link to answer few questions:

jklondon.typeform.com/to/vHPiLM

Sam

Hi Clinical Coders.

I work in the technology space and implementing digital systems to assist individuals with manually intensive workflows.

I recently got interested in this NHS Coding problem after a personal experience and I am investing time to develop a system that could help Clinical Coders and Health Boards process more records, faster and more accurately. I have access to a Health Trust who has agreed to review anything I create.

If you can spare 5 minutes to tell me about your work life it would be much appreciated, please click on the link to answer few questions:

jklondon.typeform.com/to/vHPiLM

Sam

Hello, can anyone help me please!

I have recently been shortlisted for a clinical coder post in the health service in Northern Ireland. Would anyone have any idea what type of questions I may get asked?

Hello, can anyone help me please!

I have recently been shortlisted for a clinical coder post in the health service in Northern Ireland. Would anyone have any idea what type of questions I may get asked?

Hi all,

I would like to introduce myself as Aruna, am currently working as a medical secretary/receptionist with a GP based out of London.

I’m a CPC (Certified Professional Coding)clinical coder and have 2.8 years of experience in clinical coding from a healthcare company based out of India. I came to London in April 2015 and am looking forward for volunteering opportunities in clinical coding in UK.

I would like to know if there are any potential opportunities with any NHS trust for trainee clinical coder job. Please let me know if there any opportunities with any other practices that you all may be aware of.

Coding which i did in India was with ICD 9 CM/ICD 10 CM and CPT (current procedural coding) but UK NHS follows OPCS 4.7 .This makes difficult for me to get into coding.

I would like to know is their any trainers available where i can get trained with OPCS 4.7.

Please need some advice to get into NHS trust for Clinical coder position.

Hi all, these posts are very informative.
This is an area that I have always been interested in and had no idea how to access it.
Does anyone have any contact information as to how I can align myself with a Trust to become a trainee coder?

All suggestions welcomed and many thanks in advance.

hi all. I am a medical graduate looking fora career in clinical coding, am I taking a right step, is clinical codermthat difficult to cope?
I have an interview shortly for trainee job. they said there will be an aptitude test what is it exactly. can some one guide me please. is there anyone who changed their career from medicine to coding . thank you

@Greatmum10 this is two years on but I dropped out of medicine and have just got an interview/aptitude test through to be a trainee clinical coder. Did you go for it? I’m not sure if it will be for me after reading this thread. I wasn’t expecting it to be as intense and stressful as this thread has made me think it will be!