As a billing and coding specialist, you'll be working with a variety of coding systems to ensure that healthcare providers are properly reimbursed for the services they provide. The three most commonly used coding systems in the United States are the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). ICD-10-CM The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) book is an essential resource for billing and cod ..read more

Anesthesia is a medical procedure that is used to prevent patients from feeling pain or discomfort during surgery or other medical procedures. There are several types of anesthesia that can be used depending on the nature of the surgery and the patient's medical history. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of anesthesia and their uses. Pharmacy technicians may need to know about the types of anesthesia and the drugs commonly used in anesthesia for a few reasons: Dispensing medications: Pharmacy technicians are responsible for filling and dispensing medications to patients ..read more

As a pharmacy technician, you may be responsible for using automated medication dispensing systems such as the Omnicell and Pyxis systems. These systems are designed to help manage medications, reduce errors, and increase efficiency in healthcare settings. How are Automated Dispensing Machines Helpful to Healthcare Staff? Automated dispensing machines are designed to help manage medications, reduce errors, and increase efficiency in a number of ways. Here are some of the ways that automated dispensing machines are helpful: Improved Medication Management: Automated dispensing machines help imp ..read more

If you complete a rotation in a hospital or later on begin working in a hospital setting, chances are that you will see and use what is often called a “tubing system”. The more proper name for these systems is pneumatic tubing systems. These systems propel cylindrical containers through networks of tubes by compressed air or by partial vacuum. They have been used around the world for hundreds of years but are now most often seen and used in manufacturing, hospitals, and banks - like the ones you see at the drive through service! In the hospital setting, pneumatic tubing systems are used to se ..read more

If you participate in rotations; often called an internship, in an inpatient hospital setting for your pharmacy technician program, you will likely hear the words “pharmacist” and “clinical pharmacist”. These two terms are similar, but they do have some differences and as a pharmacy technician, you should be able to differentiate between the two. In short, pharmacists are drug experts and clinical pharmacists are drug experts who take their knowledge and apply it to clinical scenarios. For a new pharmacy technician, this can sound a bit confusing, so let’s break it down just a bit. First off ..read more

Pharmacy technicians can work in a multitude of different settings and one of the most versatile is the inpatient setting. Inpatient pharmacy technicians work in hospitals and mainly serve patients who are admitted to the hospital. Job responsibilities of the inpatient pharmacy technician can look much different than those given to retail pharmacy technicians. Just like retail pharmacy technicians, inpatient pharmacy technicians have a main goal of assisting the pharmacist. One of the largest differences is who you will interact with during your workday. While in the retail setting, your “cust ..read more

What Is a Pharmacy Technician? If you are looking to obtain a career in the healthcare field, a career as a pharmacy technician is a great way to get started! A pharmacy technician is a health care provider who performs pharmacy related tasks while working directly under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist in order to help and support patients and ensure that they receive the best care possible. What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do? All pharmacy technicians are legally required to work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists. Pharmacy technicians assist the pharmacist in maintaining ..read more

Billing & Coding Specialists review and manage a patient’s electronic medical records and assign codes to a patient’s diagnosis as well as procedures the patient has had. A large part of a billing and coding specialists’ role is to make sure that third-party payers are billed correctly so that healthcare providers can get reimbursed. Let’s talk about five reasons to start a career as a billing and coding specialist: 1. The training period is short and fully online If you want to become a Certified Billing & Coding Specialist, you do not need to receive a degree or take classes for seve ..read more

What is a Billing & Coding Specialist? Coding specialists create coded data used by hospitals and medical providers to obtain reimbursement from insurance companies or government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Medical billers then use that coded information to correctly prepare and send invoices to patients and insurance providers. What is a Billing & Coding Certification? A billing and coding certification is a professional recognition of the expertise, judgment and achievement of medical coders. While these certifications may not always be required, they are required in som ..read more

You’ve taken a course, passed your national certification, and obtained your license as a pharmacy technician. Congratulations, you’re ready to begin applying to jobs! But this broaches the question - where do you want to work? Pharmacy technicians can work in many different settings, but retail pharmacy is one of the most common. Let's dig into some of the tasks and daily activities a retail pharmacy technician will encounter on the job. Retail pharmacy technicians work in areas such as Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, Sam's Club, Costco, etc. Retail pharmacies are pharmacies in which the patient i ..read more