NAME: RACHEL COON

Job: Physician medical coder, auditor and instructor, My Coding Connection LLC at 216 West Pointe Drive in Swansea (530-1196)

Outlook: "It is definitely going to be a huge need in the future. The computers are only as good as what you put in them."

Physician medical coder and certified instructor Rachel Coon has opened a new office and classroom in Swansea, where she provides medical records services and instruction. Coon consults with physicians and their staff to provide documented compliance and has several credentials form a number of medical organizations. She recently sat down and talked with business reporter Will Buss about her business:

What is a medical coder?

"Medical coding means that when patients have medical services provided, in order for the insurance to pay for it, they have to have codes. So I teach those codes in order to submit the claims to insurance. Insurance people can also get certified, but it's mainly for physician's staff. I do consulting work for documentation compliance and I also go out and instruct physicians. I consult with physicians on how to properly document for compliance."

How long have you been doing this?

"I have been doing it for over 20 years. But over the last five years, I have focused on medical coding. I have done medical billing for years."

Why did you open your office in Swansea?

"I've been in business without an office for over a year and I decided to get an actual office. This office is new since November."

How long have you worked in the metro-east area?

"I've been here for almost 15 years. I currently work at Anderson Hospital as their medical auditor as well. I have worked at Anderson for almost two years, but I worked with Memorial Hospital for a few years."

How did you get into this business?

"My aunt was a nurse and she got me working at the hospital. So I started from the bottom and worked my way up. It was just through experience and then I started getting certifications. I have a lot of certifications in the field."

Is medical coding an emerging field in the medical industry?

"It's been with us, but now that we are transitioning over to EHR, electronic health records, the compliance aspect is more key now in making sure that we are properly coding. So it is definitely going to be a huge need in the future. The computers are only as good as what you put in them."

What do you enjoy most about this job?

"The interaction with people and seeing people succeed because once they become certified, it advances their career."

Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 239-2526.