CHICAGO — A survey by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Hospital Association (AHA) Central Office
reveals a critical need for qualified clinical coding professionals. At the time for the survey, three out of ten respondents were recruiting for open coding positions and 59 percent had experienced open positions in the past year.

Employers reported real challenges in filling open slots with qualified candidates. Of the 59 percent of respondents who had open coding positions in the preceding 12 months, 76 percent reported having a difficult to extremely difficult time filling open positions. Nearly one in three had positions open for four to six months; nearly a quarter experienced vacancies of seven months to a year.


Though opportunities abound for skilled coders throughout the US, survey results show that healthcare organizations are holding out for candidates with job experience and qualifications. Respondents cited experience as the determining
factor for judging suitability and qualifications for hiring (87 percent). Other factors included interviews (83 percent), credentials (81 percent), pre-employment coding exams (78 percent), and education level (66 percent).

“There are several clear messages from the survey results. Professionals without a clinical coding credential should consider preparing for one of the exams. New graduates who lack experience should seek exposure to hands-on work through
opportunities such as volunteering and internships,” states AHIMA’s Director of Clinical Data Standards, Rita Scichilone, MHSA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CHC.

For job seekers with skills and qualifications, salaries are strong. Those without experience earn salaries in the range of $20,000 to $30,000. However, with two to three years of experience, compensation ranges from $30,000 to $40,000. 51 percent of coding professionals with more than three years of experience earn in the range
of $35,000 to $50,000.

“These salary jumps are a clear validation of the value professional coders bring to their organizations and the career growth that is possible in a short time for individuals with the right mix of knowledge, experience, and certification,” adds Nelly Leon-Chisen, RHIA, Director of Coding and Classification, AHA Central Office.


The “Coding Professionals, Today, Tomorrow and the Future,” was conducted by AHIMA and the AHA Central Office, with support from the American Medical Association. The survey was conducted in May 2006 and respondents were solicited from lists provided by each of the participating organizations. An article based on the survey results can be found at www.ahima.org/emerging_issues/. The full report
is available for purchase at www.ahima.org/store. The cost is $45 for AHIMA members and $95 for non-members.

AHIMA is the premier association of health information management (HIM) professionals. AHIMA’s 50,000 members are dedicated to the effective management of personal health information needed to deliver quality health care to the public. Founded in 1928 to improve the quality of medical records, AHIMA is committed to
advancing the HIM profession in an increasingly electronic and global environment through leadership in advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning. For more information about the Association, go to www.ahima.org.