As our world continues to evolve, our needs for survival evolve with it. The change in lifestyle and phase of living are proofs on how much times have changed. To keep up with the times and to stay relevant, different industries have learned the necessity to find ways to adhere to these kinds of demands. In these kinds of stipulations, outsourcing has become a reliable solution in providing flexible options even in the field of healthcare.
There is no questioning the importance of healthcare and its pertinence in the survival of humanity. It is great to know that there are different trends that reinforce the quality of healthcare that we are receiving. Moreover, outsourcing trends has kept healthcare a profitable industry by providing access to skilled workforce while reducing staff acquisition costs and training costs without sacrificing the quality of patient experience. But what’s really making medical outsourcing keep up with current times is its smart utilization of medical billing and medical coding services.
Together, these services have been valuable assets to modern healthcare. In medical coding, the description of diseases, injuries, and healthcare procedures are converted into computer codes that are essential in keeping track of the patient’s medical records. These records are vital to today’s medical trend since these records are valuable for diagnosis, preventive care, and treatment. Medical billing, on the other hand, is not just about keeping the medical industry running as a business. Medical billing makes sure that accurate figures are provided to the patients. These will prevent billing errors that often create disputes in medical insurance claims and apprehension on the quality of medical treatment that patients receive.
Realizing how crucial keeping medical billing and coding managed on a professional level, AAPC, previously known as American Academy of Professional Coders, and American Health Information Management Association or AHIMA have set certification standards to ensure the competence in the field. Though the two certifying bodies have a slight difference in the qualifications, both are widely respected in the business of healthcare and are nationally recognized by employers, medical societies, and government organizations.
AAPC has transcended beyond medical coding and now provides training and credentials in documentation and coding audits. There are nearly 103,000 healthcare professionals that hold AAPC certifications in physician offices, clinics, outpatient facilities, and hospitals. AAPC offers certification not just in medical coding and billing but also in medical auditing, medical compliance, and physical practice management.
AHIMA, on the other hand, have long established their goal in mind of improving patient care by establishing clear standards for medical record-keeping through informatics, leadership, information governance, innovation, and public good. It has 71,000 members and offers credentials pertaining to health information management, coding, data analysis, and privacy.
Knowing that there are certifying bodies that uphold the standards of reliable healthcare services, consumers can be assured that they are getting the best out of their healthcare. And with the expected growth of healthcare business in the future, so will roles of these certifying bodies affect the whole landscape of healthcare outsourcing.
