A medical coder and healthcare reimbursement expert in Baton Rouge, La., aims to increase the number of certified medical coders in her area through her newly launched training program, according to the Baton Rouge Business Report.
Sherie Phillips Thomas, who became a nationally certified coding specialist in 2000, works at the local Louisiana Healthcare Institute, training people to become certified medical coders, according to the article. One of her goals with the institute is to address a shortage of medical coders. With the demand for healthcare services expected to grow, medical coding jobs are expected to also increase by 15 percent in the coming years, according to the report, which cites the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The institute offers an eight-month program that prepares students for a national certified coder exam, according to the report.
Ms. Thomas' program is different from others, the report states, in that she offers hands-on training once students are certified.
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