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Job
Opportunities
Qualified coders are in great
demand at all levels of the
healthcare system to provide coded
clinical data for reimbursement
and research purposes. As more and
more healthcare organizations and
companies become established in
rural areas of Utah, the job
market in healthcare coding is
steadily increasing. Weber State
University is recognized as the
leader in the state of Utah in the
education of healthcare coders.
The average starting salary for
certified healthcare coders in
Utah is $20,800-$31,200. Starting
salaries for associate and
bachelor’s degree graduates is
significantly higher. This may
vary depending on the region,
workplace and skill level.
"When hiring for coding positions at
my hospital, I require, like most
other hospitals, an RHIT or RHIA,
which are well-respected and
well-known credentials from the
American Health Information
Management Association (AHIMA).
Weber State's Health Information
program is the only one in the state
of Utah which provides eligibility
to sit for these certification
exams. The wide variety of classes
offered through Weber State's
program produces well rounded
students who can perform any of the
numerous job functions in an acute
care facility's Health Information
Department. Beyond that, the
opportunities that unfold with a
degree from Weber State and
successful certification go well
beyond the hospital setting, from
research to consulting, management
to auditing. I value the solid
knowledge gained at Weber State and
I know the benefits of hiring
students of Weber's program."
Tifini Corbin, RHIA
HIM/Coding Supervisor,
Ogden Regional Medical Center
“As a full-time director of
health information management at
Castleview Hospital, completing my
degree was a requirement, not an
option. Living as far away from an
institution as I do, I knew I'd
have to be both flexible and
creative in the way I achieved my
educational goals--and taking
classes through WSU’s distance
learning program was the only
option for me. There have been
times when I had to take a test
online while traveling for work,
or complete an assignment from my
hotel room. If WSU didn’t offer
this program, there’s no other way
I could finish school.”
Peggy Anderson,
Health Information Management
Castledale, Utah
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Employers in the healthcare
coding industry are looking
for candidates who possess
the following skills:
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Ability to multi-task |
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An enthusiasm for learning |
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Ability to work
independently |
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Excellent reading
comprehension |
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Good written/verbal
communication skills |
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Detail Oriented |
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Team Player |
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Ability to adapt to new and
changing procedures |
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Excellent problem-solving
skills |
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Computer Literacy |
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health
professions