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What are the Best Places to Find Traveling Medical Coding and Billing Jobs?

Being stagnant in a desk job can be dull and tiresome for many. Having the flexibility to travel and see the world while earning a steady income isn’t feasible in most careers, except medical coding and billing. Travel coders are certified, experienced professionals who receive short-term assignments in different health facilities. Traveling medical coding and billing jobs allow you to visit various medical offices for collecting, analyzing, monitoring, and recording diagnosis codes. According to AAPC, the job outlook for medical coding and billing is bright as the field grows by 21 percent. If you’re looking for the freedom to flutter around the country, here are some great places to find traveling medical coding and billing jobs.

Maxim Health Information Services

Headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, Maxim Health Information Services is a privately held, healthcare staffing company founded in 2001. Employing over 60,000 health professionals nationwide, Maxim is a fast-growing service offering on-site and remote coding support to licensed clinical practices, including VA medical centers. Committed to quality, Maxim won the 2014 Best Practice Award for compliance training from Health Ethics Trust. Current listings for Maxim include travel medical coding and billing jobs. Maxim hires credentialed HIM specialists with at least one year of clinical documentation experience. While visiting cities across the United States, MHIS employees receive competitive salaries and free ICD-10 training.

Randstad Healthcare

Established in 2012, Randstad Healthcare is a medical staffing firm located in Woburn, Massachusetts, with over 600 U.S. branches. As part of the $22.9 billion Randstad Holding NV, the company matches qualified health professionals with over 1,400 facilities nationwide. In 2015, Randstad won Inavero’s “Best of Staffing” Award for talent satisfaction. Certified by the National Association of Travel Healthcare Organizations (NATHO), Randstad offers travel positions from four to 26 weeks. Travel coders receive competitive benefits packages with housing subsidies, travel reimbursement, 401(k) plans, insurance, and bonuses. Getting hired by Randstad will require CPC certification and at least one year of experience.

M*Modal

With over 10,000 employees, M*Modal is a public clinical documentation company serving healthcare providers nationwide from its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. Since 2001, M*Modal has grown to transcribe and code more than 400 million dictation minutes yearly. Last year, M*Modal was among the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s Top Tech 50 finalists. The website reports that M*Modal is presently hiring remote and traveling coders. M*Modal has in-house training to prepare employees for applying ICD-10 codes for its 3,800+ clients. Sign-on bonuses, paid holidays, mentoring, and travel reimbursement are included. Holding CCS or CPC credentials and two years of experience is expected.

These are among the best places to find traveling medical coding and billing jobs. Other great companies include Aviacode, SourceMed, and Healthcare Resource Group. For more opportunities, consider joining the AAPC and searching the job board. LinkedIn groups are also available for recruiting talented coding and billing specialists. Being determined in your research can help you leave your cubicle and land a traveling job.

Want to earn the qualifications for the above jobs? Check out The 10 Best Online Medical Coding Programs and The Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Schools

Which Online Medical Coding and Billing Program is Best?

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The ideal online medical coding and billing program depends on many factors. The most important of them is where your personal and professional aspirations lie. Selecting a certificate, diploma, or associate degree program which best aligns with the amount of time you have to spend pursuing a degree as well as your financial situation is the often the best option for you as you gain the knowledge and experience needed to qualify as a medical billing and coding professional.

Generally speaking, an associate degree program allows room for a solid educational foundation in addition to medical coding and billing courses. General education courses are included within medical coding and billing associate degree programs. These general education courses include the arts, sciences, mathematics, techonology, and introductory college writing. In addition to general education courses, medical billing and coding associate degree programs include courses like anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, date information, legal regulatory issues, medical finance and insurance, diseases of the human body, medical reimbursement systems, diagnostic and procedures coding, electronic medical billing, an externship, and medical insurance, billing, and coding. Certificate and dipolma medical billing and coding programs often do not include general education courses but offer a focused set of classes geared directly to medical billing and coding.

Because of this, certificate and diploma medical billing and coding programs are completed in much less time. When comparing the time investment of associate degree programs to certificate and diploma programs, associate degree programs often require two years to complete while certificate and dipolma programs require only one year. When comparing the financial investment between all three programs, diploma and certificate programs are often less expensive than associate degree programs.

That said, when making your choice, be careful and certain to select only accredited medical billing and coding associate degree, dipolma, or certificate programs to ensure the skills and knowledge you acquire are of high quality. Two well known and recognized accrediting bodies for medical coding and billing education and certification are the Commission of Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Accreditation ensures that the training you receive is up to date and up to par so that upon completion, you qualify for employment. Ultimately it is employer preference which determines hirability. And it’s entirely individual preference which determines the best educational and professional path to pursue when contemplating medical billing and coding programs. To help you on your search, we did the research to find the best medical coding and billing programs.

So get started on your medical coding and billing program training by browsing the following links:

  • 15 Best Remote Medical Coding Training Programs Online
  • 10 Best Medical Coding Programs
  • Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Schools
  • Medical Coding Certification and Specialized Certificate Programs
  • Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Schools

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    Whether you’re a high school grad, career changer, single mom, or returning veteran, medical coding and billing is an in-demand profession to consider. Medical coders are skilled HIT technicians who assign letters and numbers to health records for coding diagnoses and procedures. Medical billers utilize their coded records to file claims with patients’ insurance carriers and get healthcare organizations paid. Medical billing and coding jobs are highly flexible, even offering telecommuting positions for work from home. Joining this healthcare field poised to grow by 15 percent through 2024 will require post-secondary training though. Most employers prefer hiring medical coders and billers with a certificate or associate degree. Since education is key for becoming successful in medical coding and billing, being very familiar with the field’s codebooks is essential for creating accurate health insurance claims. Registering for medical coding and billing training is a smart investment. Certified Professional Coders (CPCs) earn 20 percent more than their colleagues with an average salary of $50,030. Develop the technical skill sets for coordinating the healthcare revenue cycle by attending one of these Top 10 Medical Billing and Coding Schools.

    In this article, we’ll recognize only the best billing and coding schools in the United States for mastering health records management. We began the selection process by surveying the 268 associate-level programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Associate degrees offering built-in or subsequent certificates for medical coding and billing were noted. Extra brownie points were given to coding education programs recognized by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Next, we shortened our lengthy list by judging academic reputation in national rankings. For affordability, we only chose colleges with average undergraduate tuition prices under $25,000 each year according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Other factors considered were professional experience, certification rates, student-faculty ratio, financial aid, and coding practices.

    Without further introduction, we present the

    Top 10 Medical Coding and Billing Schools:

    1. Bowling Green State University

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    Founded under the Lowry Normal School Bill in 1910, Bowling Green State University is a public, research institution located 15 miles south of Toledo, Ohio, with over 17,700 students. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Bowling Green State University is America’s 185th Best University and 103rd Top Public School. Bowling Green’s Firelands College campus in Huron offers a Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) accredited Associate of Technical Study (ATS) in Coding & Medical Billing. The two-year, 64-credit program blends on-site and online courses to satisfy American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) requirements. There’s also an A.A.S. in Health Information Technology.

    Tuition: $4,946 (in-state) or $12,482 (out-of-state)

    Learn more about Bowling Green State University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    2. St. Catherine University

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    With enrollment over 5,000, St. Catherine University is a private, women’s liberal arts institution rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition in Minnesota’s Twin Cities Metro. Given a “B” Forbes financial grade, St. Catherine is ranked the 15th Best Midwestern College by the U.S. News and World Report. In the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health, ladies can pursue the A.A.S. in Health Information with a Coding Specialist Certificate. Holding Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) accreditation, the 70-credit program features clinical lab and professional practice application. St. Catherine graduates have an above-average Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) exam pass rate.

    Tuition: $24,144

    Learn more about St. Catherine University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    3. Alfred State College – SUNY

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    Sitting in the rolling hills of New York’s Southern Tier, Alfred State College – SUNY is a public, state-funded technical institution educating over 3,500 students in 50 fields. The U.S. News and World Report ranked Alfred State as the North’s 19th Best College and 14th Top School for Veterans. Alfred State has offered an online Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) accredited A.A.S. in Health Information Technology and American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) approved Coding and Billing Specialist Certificate. Both programs include a 160-hour practicum in an acute care hospital. Graduates had a 100 percent employment rate in 2014.

    Tuition: $8,057 (in-state) or $14,617 (out-of-state)

    Learn more about the Alfred State College SUNY’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    4. Keiser University

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    Attracting more than 18,000 diverse students, Keiser University is a private, non-profit institution headquartered in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida, since 1977. With dual Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Commission on Accrediation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM) accreditation, Keiser is ranked the 36th Best Southern College by the U.S. News and World Report. At the Lakeland, Pembroke Pines, Tampa, or online campuses, Keiser students can pursue an A.S. in Medical Administrative Billing & Coding. Consisting of 60 credits, the two-year program prepares graduates for taking the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) credentialing exam. Students practice their ICD-10, CPT-4, and HCPCS coding in externships across South Florida.

    Tuition: $17,664

    Learn more about Keiser University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    5. Ferris State University

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    Endowed for $40.2 million, Ferris State University is Michigan’s ninth largest public teaching institution serving over 14,700 students in Big Rapids and 19 off-campus locations. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, Ferris is ranked the 61st Best Midwestern College and 15th Top Public School by the U.S. News and World Report. The College of Health Professions awards a CAHIIM-accredited A.A.S. in Health Information Technology with certificates in Coding Specialist or Cancer Information Management. The 77-credit program offers on-site and online courses before a final summer internship.

    Tuition: $10,970 (in-state) or $17,562 (out-of-state)

    Learn more about Ferris State University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    6. Weber State University

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    Established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1889, Weber State University is a public, co-educational technical institution enrolling over 26,600 students in Ogden, Utah. Ranked 77th Regionally by the U.S. News and World Report, Weber State offers more than 250 academic programs. Students could pursue the CAHIIM-accredited Associate of Applied Science in Health Information Management and/or Healthcare Coding Certificate. Health Information Management courses are available online for completing the 10-course certificate in four semesters. Weber State graduates achieve an average starting salary of $34,000.

    Tuition: $5,321 (in-state) or $14,235 (out-of-state)

    Learn more about Weber State University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    7. Dakota State University

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    Located in rural Madison, South Dakota, since 1881, Dakota State University is a public, tech-centric undergraduate institution serving more than 3,000 students. The U.S. News and World Report crowned Dakota State University the 92nd Best College and 30th Top Public University in the Midwest. Following CAHIIM guidelines, Dakota State confers a 12-month Health Care Coding Certificate, A.S. in Health Information Technology, and B.S. in Health Information Administration. Courses are delivered online or in Sioux Falls for AHIMA credentials. Each program includes one to two semesters of professional healthcare experience.

    Tuition: $7,974 (in-state) or $10,556 (out-of-state)

    8. Washburn University

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    Formerly called Lincoln College, Washburn University is a public, co-educational higher learning institution founded in 1865 and educating over 6,900 students in Topeka, Kansas. Awarding over $70 million in financial aid, Washburn is named the Midwest’s 92nd Best College by the U.S. News and World Report. With CAHIIM accreditation, the School of Applied Studies offers a Health Information Coding Certificate and A.S. in Health Information Technology. Reporting a 100 percent satisfaction rate, the one-year and two-year programs are primarily online. Professional experience is coordinated in students’ local communities.

    Tuition: $6,350 (in-state) or $14,222 (out-of-state)

    Learn more about Washburn University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    9. Idaho State University

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    Celebrating its 115th anniversary, Idaho State University is a public, doctoral-granting research institution that’s educating over 15,500 students yearly in Pocatello, Meridian, and Idaho Falls. Offering over 30 health-related disciplines, Idaho State University was declared America’s 216th Best Public College by Forbes. The College of Technology offers a 38-credit Intermediate Technical Certificate in Medical Coding. Each spring, online cohorts are admitted to satisfy AHIMA’s Certified Coding Specialist requirements. Credits seamlessly transfer into the CAHIIM-accredited A.A.S. Health Information Technology and B.S. in Health Science programs.

    Tuition: $6,784 (in-state) or $20,182 (out-of-state)

    Learn more about Idaho State University’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    10. Peirce College

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    Nestled in Philadelphia’s Center City District, Peirce College is a private, non-profit institution offering career-focused education to over 1,800 full-time students. Known for its accelerated seven-week format, Peirce has America’s 79th Best Online Undergraduate Programs according to the U.S. News and World Report. Either online or on-campus, Peirce students could pursue the CAHIIM-accredited A.S. Health Information Technology and Certificate in Medical Coding. Graduation requires passing a HIT professional practice experience. With a student-faculty ratio of 12:1, the curriculum progress through ICD-10 and CPT outpatient coding. Students can also join the Health Programs Student Association (HPSA).

    Tuition: $14,184

    Learn more about Peirce College’s Medical Coding and Billing Programs here.

    Related Links:

    10 Best Online Medical Coding Programs

    10 Best Places to Find Work From Home Medical Coding and Billing Jobs

    One of the biggest perks to entering the medical coding and billing field is the possibility of telecommuting from the comfort of home. Billers and coders are able to access medical records via secure Internet connections to work from virtually anywhere. Finding remote positions can be ideal for maximizing family time while lowering commuting costs and stress. Whether the job is part-time, full-time, or per diem, medical coding and billing specialists can make good money from a home office. According to PayScale, the average annual salary is $35,374. Many companies are expanding their workforce with certified coders and billers, but remain cautious of scams out there. Consider the following 10 Best Places to Find Work From Home Medical Coding and Bill Jobs from reputable companies who often list work from home medical coding and billing jobs.

    1. Maxim Health Information Services

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    Located in Gardena, California, Maxim Health Information Services belongs to one of the largest medical staffing companies in the United States. Since 2001, MHIS has worked with the country’s healthcare facilities to improve electronic patient records with outsourcing solutions. The Better Business Bureau has given Maxim HealthCare Services an A+ rating. Short-term and long-term remote medical coding jobs are available with ICD-10 training. Employees at Maxim Health Information Services receive competitive pay and full benefits, including dental and 401(k). There’s even room for advancement into medical coding supervisor positions.

    Check out Maxim Health Infomation Services’ Remote Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    2. Humana

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    Ranked on the Fortune 500 list, Humana is a giant health insurance corporation headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, with over 13.8 million medical members. It’s estimated that at least 10 percent of Humana’s 49,000 associates telecommute from home. According to Computerworld, Humana is among the “100 Best Places to Work” in America. The company also scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. Remote medical coding and billing jobs are frequently posted for candidates with CPC or CCS-P credentials. Humana also hires virtual coding educators who have five or more years of experience.

    Check out Humana’s Remote Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    3. Aviacode

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    Aviacode is a popular medical coding and billing contracting firm in Salt Lake City that employs around 850 certified medical coders remotely nationwide. Founded in 1999, Aviacode has been named among Utah’s 50 fastest-growing companies. The company serves approximately 8,800 physicians across 61 medical specialties. Aviacode boasts that they’ve generated over $50 million in medical coding revenue. Work from home positions hire 1099 independent contractors for 15 to 40+ hours per week. For hire, Aviacode requires candidates to pass the ICD-10 Proficiency Assessment through the AAPC.

    Check out Aviacode’s Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    4. Precyse Solutions

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    Partnered with nearly 4,000 healthcare facilities, Precyse Solutions is a leading clinical data management company based in Roswell, Georgia, since 1998. Some notable clients include Fairmont General Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center. Precyse Solutions has been awarded the HIMSS Gold Corporate Member Award. Precyse’s Coding Team consists of approximately 375 certified medical coders living in 41 states. For positions, applicants must have AHIMA credentials and two years of work experience. Each hired coder will receive full orientation and free online training from Precyse University to learn the integrated PrecyseCode platform.

    Check out Precyse Solutions’ Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    5. Medical Record Associates

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    For the past 30 years, Medical Record Associates LLC has grown into one of America’s largest health information services organizations. Based in Quincy, Massachusetts, MRA contracts with around 500 employees nationwide to provide full-suite HIM solutions. Flexible, remote jobs are available for medical coding and cancer registry. MRA serves hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and other healthcare providers who outsource their HIM department. Medical Record Associates offers work from home employees well-rounded benefits, including paid holidays. To apply, candidates must have RHIT or CPC credentials with a 95 percent accuracy rate.

    Check out Medical Record Associates’ Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    6. Altegra Health

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    Altegra Health is a privately held, national company that provides end-to-end reimbursement solutions. Based in Weston, Florida, Altegra Health has over 25 years of experience partnering with diverse healthcare providers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Affiliated with the AHIMA, this reputable company has over 5,000 employees both on-site and from home. There are current hiring opportunities for remote certified coders who have at least one years’ experience applying ICD-9-CM codes. Altegra Health pays remote coding professionals by the chart and follows strict QA standards. Specialties are offered, such as oncology and behavioral health.

    Check out Altegra Health’s Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    7. Conifer Health Solutions

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    Based in Frisco, Texas, Conifer Health Solutions is a successful health information services firm with over 30 years of experience and 800+ medical clients. Conifer’s 14,500 team members aim to provide value-based solutions that drive clinical and financial performance. It’s estimated that their services process over $29 billion net revenue annually. Conifer Health Solutions debuted at #66 on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers” in 2016. Coders are currently being hired for work from home opportunities with competitive $3,000 sign-on bonuses. Jobs for billing specialists and cancer registry consultants with at least two years of experience are also open.

    Check out Conifer Health Solutions’ Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    8. LexiCode

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    Established in 1981, LexiCode is a high-quality coding and billing consulting service that’s a subsidiary of SourceHOV. From its headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina, LexiCode employs around 300 HIM professionals with benefits packages. In 2014, the company was declared a “Best in Category Leader” by KLAS Enterprises LLC. LexiCode has previously advertised $10,000 sign-on bonuses for inpatient and outpatient surgery coders. Full-time and part-time remote jobs are frequently available, but applicants must hold RHIT or CPC certification. Holding a two-year associate degree will fulfill the experience requirements. LexiCode declares a special mission to employ military veterans too.

    9. Anthelio Healthcare Solutions

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    Anthelio Healthcare Solutions is a large healthcare technology company in Dallas, Texas, that provides revenue cycle management services for over 63,000 physicians. Anthelio supports annual revenue above $67 billion for over 60 million patients. The business’s 16-year dedication to excellence lead to being ranked #1 for HIM outsourcing solutions by Black Book. Anthelio Healthcare Solutions’ cutting-edge technology was also featured on FOX Business. Medical coders and billers can find remote HIM processing jobs. Anthelio generally only requires three months of relevant experience, but active CTR or CPC credential is necessary.

    Check out Anthelio Healthcare Solutions’ Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    10. The Coding Network

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    The Coding Network only hires remote, independent contractors to provide HIPAA-approved coding solutions across 55 physician specialties. Since its founding in 1995 by Mark Babst and Neal Green, TCN has grow to over 650 coders working across the United States. Based in Beverly Hills, California, The Coding Network is affiliated with the Healthcare Billing & Management Association (HBMA). More than 500,000 charts are coded by TCN staff each month! To apply for telecommuting work, candidates must be AAPC or AHIMA certified with 3+ years of experience. Passing a specialty coding proficiency exam is part of the hiring process.

    Check out The Coding Network’s Medical Billing and Coding Jobs here.

    Medical Coding & Billing Salary Comparisons

    Top Medical Coding Schools

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    Medical coding and billing jobs are increasingly popular for individuals seeking entry into an in-demand healthcare industry. Medical coders use ICD or CPT codes to translate patients’ diagnoses, tests, and treatments into numerical digits for reimbursement processing. Medical billers review this information to file insurance claims and collect payments from the carrier. Both jobs are essential for keeping healthcare organizations profitably paid for their medical services rendered. But are medical coding and billing specialists paid handsomely too?

    Medical Coding and Billing Salaries

    On average, medical coding and billing jobs bestow an annual salary of $40,430. This is equivalent to a mean hourly wage of $19.44. Different job titles in this diverse field provide varying income levels though. According to Salary.com, the average base salary for medical billing clerks in the United States is $34,121. Medical coders reap mean annual salaries of $38,463. .Medical records coding technicians can expect an average salary of $48,909. The salary range for medical coding and billing goes from $24,190 to $61,400 and up. Let’s explore how important factors like work setting, state, and education can affect salary.

    Median Salaries Based on Workplace

    Collecting a healthy salary in medical coding and billing can depend on which healthcare organizations you apply to. The AAPC shows that workplace size plays a pivotal role in determining the dollar signs on your paycheck. Coders and billers employed at mid-sized practices with 11 to 49 physicians earn the lowest at $44,870 on average. Solo and small group practices with under 10 doctors give average yearly salaries at $45,722. Larger hospitals provide sizeable average income jumps to $47,773 (outpatient) and $50,925 (inpatient). Multi-site health networks gift the biggest average earnings at $51,389 per year.

    Medical coding and billing positions can see pay increases or decreases based on type of healthcare facility also. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that ambulance services offer an average annual wage at $28,930. Skilled nursing facilities have below-average income potential at $37,550. However, medical coders and billers in specialty hospitals reap a mean salary of $43,060. Jobs with the federal executive branch grant $47,520 on average. Medical coding and billing specialists working for dentist offices bring home a mean yearly salary of $41,430. T hose who teach college students in academia have a high mean wage at $45,210.

    Salary Potential by Location

    How much you’ll make as a medical coder or biller will vary greatly based on where you live and practice. Salary averages by location show that the top-paying place in the United States for medical coding and billing is the District of Columbia. Jobs here earn an annual mean wage of $69,290! Following behind Washington, DC, are New Jersey, Alaska, and California where the average salary for medical coders and billers is $60,310, $52,040, and $48,590 respectively. States in the South typically have the lowest income level. For instance, medical coding and billing professionals in Louisiana make just $32,390 on average.

    Medical coders and billers can find increased earning potential in certain cities too. In 2015, the top-paying metropolitan area was Newark, New Jersey, with an annual mean salary of $66,710. A close second went to San Jose-Santa Clara where coding and billing specialists earned an average income of $62,270. Other high-paying metros were Oakland, San Francisco, and Silver Spring at $58,830, $55,480, and $54,740 respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, some metropolitan areas have little room for salary growth. For example, medical coding and billing jobs in Davenport, Iowa, deliver an mean wage of $29,380.

    Salary Increases with Education/Experience

    Paying college tuition for a degree or certificate in medical coding and billing will prove fruitful. Employees with no college education typically start in the bottom 10th percentile with income under $29,130. The AAPC proves that studying pays off because coders and billers with an associate degree earned an average of $46,815. Technicians who had a four-year bachelor’s on their resume unlocked a mean salary of $54,552. Having higher education will also prepare you for assuming more advanced titles. For instance, those who assume leadership responsibility as medical billing managers earn $84,096 on average!

    Coders and billers with past years of experience in the fast-paced healthcare arena are rewarded with higher salaries. Starting salary for trained medical coding and billing specialists with zero to one year of experience is around $32,000. After you get five to nine years under your belt, salary hikes to over $42,500 on average. Professionals with more than 15 years of coding and billing experience make a mean of $56,667 annually. From there, salary usually increases by 5 percent for every five years of additional experience.

    AAPC Certification for Salary Growth

    Medical coding and billing workers who take the extra effort to earn certification from the American Association of Professional Coders are rewarded with above-average salaries. The AAPC 2015 Salary Survey found that that certified members averaged a 2.6 percent pay increase. Certified Professional Coders (CPCs) obtain a mean wage of $51,454 each year. Certified Outpatient Coding (COC) specialists make a mean yearly salary of $58,822. The highest income average belongs to Certified Physician Practice Managers (CPPM) who bring home $64,666 per year. Having two AAPC credentials sparks a median salary of $58,399.

    Investing your time into building a medical coding and billing career can pay off in spades in today’s market. It’s predicted that the healthcare sector will require more coders and billing specialists to organize a surplus of patient data. Increased medical demand will ignite faster-than-average job growth by 15 percent for over 29,000 new jobs through 2024. The AAPC also reports that unemployment rates have decreased by 0.5 percent for certified members in the last 12 months. Now that you’re more aware of salary comparisons in medical coding and billing, you can maximize your earnings in this rewarding healthcare profession.

    What is a Medical Coding and Billing Career Like After Schooling is Complete?

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    Finishing the requirements for a certificate or associate degree in medical coding and billing is only the beginning. Now’s the time to begin applying for positions and testing your skills. Your job search likely won’t be long because the demand for medical coders and billers is high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment in the health informatics field will grow faster-than-average by 15 percent through 2024. Healthcare providers can’t be reimbursed and remain profitable without medical coding and billing specialists. Here’s what this in-demand job will entail after graduation.

    Daily Responsibilities

    Medical coders and billers oversee crucial steps in the reimbursement process to keep the revenue cycle flowing. Medical coding specialists will carefully review patient files in the electronic health record system. By following the doctor’s notes, they’re able to assign numerical codes to the diagnosis and treatment provided. Coders flip through resource books to determine the right CPT or ICD-10 codes for each patient service. Every cost, including lab tests, consults, medications, and treatments, gets coded. Medical coding specialists often talk with physicians or nurses to clarify any unclear patient information.

    For medical billing jobs, the daily duties will differ. Medical billers collect the records that have been coded to turn treatments into invoices. They assign financial values to patient services and submit insurance claims to the proper carrier. Billing specialists interact with the insurance company’s representatives to get claims processed. If coverage isn’t available, medical billers will send out bills to patients and follow up until they’re paid. When claims are denied, they also spearhead the appeals process on behalf of patients. Some medical billing specialists assume basic accounting roles by drafting accounts receivable reports.

    Typical Work Environment

    Medical coders and billers work behind the scenes in office cubicles for healthcare organizations. Most of their day is spent sitting at a desk, typing on the computer, and speaking on the phone. The desks of medical coding and billing specialists are often stacked with reference materials, claims forms, and patient files. They work independently because paying attention to detail is essential for accuracy. Direct patient contact isn’t common unless they must answer invoice questions from an uninsured individual. Medical coding and billing jobs are usually full-time with normal 40-hour weeks from nine to five, but part-time scheduling is offered too.

    Virtually all healthcare organizations depend on a medical coding and billing team. The majority, around 38 percent, are employed in state and private hospital systems. Medical coders and billers also work in physician offices, outpatient centers, clinics, specialty hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and managed care organizations. Others work on the opposite side of the claims process for health insurance companies. Experienced coders could work for government agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Although it’s important to beware scams, some medical billing and coding jobs are remote for working from home.

    Career Advancement

    Since medical codes and insurance laws continually change, schooling never really stops in this profession. Becoming certified is the best way to advance your career. The American Academy of Professional Coders offers the industry’s certifications. The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential is available to those with two years of coding experience and 36 continuing education units. There’s also the Certified Professional Biller (CPB) and Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) designations. Experience can lead to advancement in other avenues too. Coders can eventually become medical records technicians, coding managers, clinical data analysts, and health information directors.

    Building a career in medical coding and billing provides many benefits without a long trek into higher education. Graduates of online or on-campus training programs will utilize state-of-the-art software technology to coordinate patient payments. The career path offers an average yearly salary of $40,430, or $19.44 per hour, with room for advancement. Medical coding and billing jobs place workers at the helm of keeping healthcare systems profitable and cost-effective.

    25 Universities Affiliated with Top Teaching Hospitals

    Teaching hospitals play several very important roles in American society. Not only do they serve to train future generations of healthcare workers, but they also provide a significant portion (38%) of hospital charity care and 28% of all Medicaid hospitalization, according to the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). More specifically, the AAMC reports that 90% of their member teaching hospitals provide AIDS services, whereas only 14% of non-teaching hospitals do. The following list shows the impact of AAMC-member teaching hospitals:

    • 78 percent of all burn care units center beds
    • 63 percent of pediatric ICUs
    • 82 percent of all ACS-designated level I trauma centers
    • 68 percent of surgical transplant services
    • 52 percent of Alzheimer centers
    • 39 percent of the nation’s neonatal ICUs
    • 21 percent of cardiac surgery services, often for the most seriously ill heart patients.

    Source: AAMC.

    Obviously, having a high-quality teaching hospital affiliated with a medical college is necessity for some healthcare students (e.g., medical students, nursing students, etc.) and a bonus for others (e.g., medical coding and medical billing). There are nearly 5,000 hospitals/ medical centers in the United States, some of which are teaching hospitals. (AAMC member hospitals make up only 6% of American hospitals.) We’ve assembled a list of 25 American universities and colleges which have singular affiliations with teaching hospitals. That is, the hospitals selected here are each only affiliated with a single medical school, although the school may have affiliations with multiple health systems. In some cases, hospitals are run by the school and/or partially staffed by school faculty.

    NOTES:

    • Hospitals were selected on a number of factors, including inclusion in “top hospitals” lists from US News and World Report, Thomson Reuters, SK&A and Healthgrades.
    • Ranking order of the universities/ colleges listed here is approximately by decreasing number of licensed hospital beds available in a teaching hospital affiliate.
    • Bed counts are a approximate, combined from multiple sources. (In the case of different values for a hospital, the larger available value is used.)
    • The main teaching affiliate for selected colleges / universities is listed, and occasionally a 2nd or 3rd teaching hospital is mentioned.
    • University or school of medicine Web site link is in each entry heading. Main teaching hospital link is at the end of each entry.
    • Teaching hospitals do occasionally change their academic affiliations.

    25. Rush University Medical Center

     rush

    View of the east tower of the Rush University Medical Center. (source)

    Rush University, located in Chicago, IL, was founded in 1972. Rush’s endowment as of FY 2013 was about $500M. In the area of health subjects, it has Rush Medical College, the College of of Nursing , College of Health Sciences and a graduate college. Rush Medical College is one of the first in the midwest, and the nursing college is top-ranked in various lists.

    Rush’s teaching hospital affiliate is Rush University Medical Center (RUMC), also located in Chicago, and which includes the Bowman Health Center, a rehab facility. RUMC is having over a billion dollars invested in renovations and also construction of new facilities. The center has ranked well in various categories of U.S. News and World Report (USNWR) 2010 top hospitals list, especially in orthopedics and neurology/ neurosurgery.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Rush University Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 676
    Hospital founded in: 1837
    Hospital location: Chicago, IL

    24. Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

    upenFront entrance of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. (source)

    The University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, PA, was founded in 1740 and is one of nine original Colonial Colleges. U Penn’s endowment for FY 2013 was $7.74B. Heath-related schools include medical, dental, nursing, and biomedical.

    U Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine (aka Penn Med, founded 1765) is also in Philadelphia. It is a top recipient (#2, 2012) of NIH (National Institutes of Health) research awards and is #4 on US New’s top medical research schools 2012 list, as well as #11 in the same year for primary care. The school took on its current name in 2011 thanks to a $225M contribution by Raymond G. Perelman — the largest donation given for a medical school renaming (David Geffen gave $200M to UCLA).

    The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) was founded by Penn Med in 1874, and is reputedly the oldest university-owned teaching hospital in the USA. It ranked #7 in US News’ 2014 top hospitals list. HUP has a fleet of helicopters as part of their Level I trauma center, to serve injured patients in parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

    Penn Med also has other medical facilities including other top teaching hospital affiliations. One is with the 317-bed Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (founded in 1871), also in Philadelphia, PA, and which houses Penn Med’s Orthopaedics and Opthalmology departmeents. Another is with the 515-bed Pennsylvania Hospital, founded by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, the first hospital in the U.S., and which also has the first surgical amphitheater and medical library.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
    Hospital website
    # beds: 776
    Hospital founded in: 1874
    Hospital location: Philadelphia, PA

    23. Baylor College of Medicine

    bayNight view of O’Quinn medical tower at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. (source)

    Baylor College of Medicine (BCM; founded 1900) in Houston, TX, is entirely focused on health sciences, with a number of different medical schools, including a grad school — several of whose degree programs have ranked well in various “top medical school” lists, including Beckers Hospital Review (overall) and U.S. News (nurse anesthesia and others). It reputedly has one the lowest tuition rates amongst private U.S. medical schools. BCM has been independent from Baylor University (in Waco, TX, and founded 1845) since 1969. BCM’s endowment as of FY 2013 was nearly $874M.

    BCM has a teaching hospital affiliation with the 864-bed Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC), also in Houston, and founded in 1945. Since its 2013 purchase by Catholic Health Initiatives, the health system is named CHI St. Luke’s Health System, and the “Baylor” is dropped from the center’s name (although BCM is a joint owner). BCM itself is located in the Texas Medical Center (TMC), said to be the largest of its kind in the world. The 29-story O’Quinn Medical Tower that is part of St. Luke’s is 477 feet tall and reputedly the third-tallest hospital in the world.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    St. Luke’s Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 864
    Hospital founded in: 1945
    Hospital location: Houston, TX

    22. Virginia Commonwealth University

    vcuVCU Medical Center, Medical College of Virginia Campus. (source)

    Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), located in Richmond, Virginia, was founded in 1838, originally as Medical College of Virginia (MCV), although its current name is from a merger in 1968 with Richmond Professional Institute. It is designated as a “very high research activity” university and received over $250M in research funds for FY 2011. VCU’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $1.33B.

    VCU’s teaching hospital affiliation is with its own 865-bed VCU Medical Center, which serves VCU’s several health-related schools (medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and allied health professions). Both the VCU health-related schools and the hospital have ranked well in various “top schools” and “top hospitals” lists. The hospital has ranked nationally for Nephrology, Pediatrics: Nephrology, Rehabilitation, Cancer and others.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    VCU Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 865
    Hospital founded in: 1968
    Hospital location: Richmond, VA

    21. University of Connecticut / Health Center

    connMain entrance to the Hartford Hospital. (source)

    The University of Connecticut (UConn), located in Storrs village in Mansfield, CT, was founded in 1881 as Storrs Agricultural School. UConn’s endowment for FY 2013 was $1.33B. UConn is a public research university that has medical, nursing and dental schools.

    The University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Center was founded in the 1960s. The 137-bed John Dempsey Hospital opened in 1975, is used as a teaching hospital, and also serves patients for cardiology, cancer, maternal fetal medicine and more.

    Additional teaching hospital affiliations for UConn include the 867-bed Hartford Hospital, found in 1854, and the 617-bed St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, founded in 1897. Hartford is an acute-care hospital with high regional rankings in various US News lists. It has a hyperbaric chamber, a Level I trauma center, and has a helipad and helicopters for air service. St. Francis is an acute-care hospital with a formal affiliation with the Jewish-faith Mount Sinai Hospital — the first such of its kind in the U.S.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Hartford Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 867
    Hospital founded in: 1854
    Hospital location: Hartford, CT

    20. University of North Carolina, School of Medicine

    uncN.C. Memorial Hospital and N.C. Children’s Hospital at the Carolinas Medical Center, University of North Chapel Hill. (source)

    The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, founded in 1789, is considered the oldest public university in the U.S. UNC Chapel Hill’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $2.38B. It is a highly-ranked public research university with a top-ranked, well-funded medical school that offers degrees in Doctor of Medicine, Master of Public Health and other specializations.

    One teaching affiliate is the 874-bed Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, founded in 1940. Carolinas has a Level I trauma center and has been well-ranked for its Orthopedic program. It conducted it’s first organ transplant (a cadaveric kidney) in 1970, and it’s first heart transplant in 1986.

    Another teaching hospital affiliate is the UNC Health Care system, founded in 1989, which has five hospitals under the UNC Hospitals alone, including the NC Cancer Hospital, NC Memorial Hospital and NC Children’s Hospital, all on the UNC campus, and with new complex to open in 2015. UNC Hospitals currently have a combined 800+ beds, a Level I trauma center and an Air Care service.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Carolinas Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 874
    Hospital founded in: 1940
    Hospital location: Charlotte, NC

    19. University of Minnesota Medical School

    uminUniversity of Minnesota Medical Center. (source)

    The University of Minnesota has multiple campuses, with the oldest (U of M) being in the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, founded in 1851. The Duluth campus (UMD), founded as the Duluth Normal School in 1902, becoming part of the University of Minnesota system in 1947. U of M’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $2.76B. The U of M and and UMD together share the University of Minnesota Medical school, and one option is a medical scientist program. The UM system also has programs for Pharmacy, Nursing, Dentistry and Public Health.

    The 874-bed University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis was established in 1997, along with the U of M Masonic Children’s Hospital, but were preceded by the U of M Hospitals and Clinics. Center services include primary care, emergency care, organ transplants, childbirthing, pediatrics and others. Surgeons performed the world’s first open-heart surgery in 1952 on a four-year old patient. The center is staffed by both university and community physicians.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    University of Minnesota Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 874
    Hospital founded in: 1997
    Hospital location: Minneapolis and Duluth, MN

    18. University of Florida

    uflorPatient Services building of Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. (source)

    The University of Florida, based in Gainesville and originally founded in 1853, is a Public Ivy with a Very-High Research designation (for land-, sea- and space-based research) and a top-15 public university ranking (U.S. News, 2013). UF’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $1.36B. It has a colleges for medicine (established 1956), nursing (also 1956), pharmacy, public health, dentistry and “health and human performance.”

    For teaching hospitals, one affiliation is the J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center, which has the 882-bed UF Health Shands Hospital, established in 1956 and which is on campus. US News has it ranked in the top-50 for various adult specialties, including Cardiology and Heart Surgery, Nephrology, and Pulmonology, plus high marks for Cancer, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Geriatrics and more. It also ranked in the top-50 in US News for various Pediatric specialties, including #14 for Diabetes and Endocrinology.

    Another teaching hospital affiliation is the 695-bed UF Health Jacksonville, found in 1999 and part of the University of Florida’s Jacksonville campus. This hospital roots actually go back to 1870. Services include a proton therapy facility, and a Level I trauma center.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    UF Health Shands Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 882
    Hospital founded in: 1999
    Hospital location: Gainesville, FL

    17. Wake Forest University, School of Medicine

    wakeBowman Gray statue in front of Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. (source)

    Wake Forest University (WFU), originally established in Wake Forest, NC, in 1834, moved to its current location of Winston-Salem in 1956. WFU’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $1.06B. The School of Medicine was established in 1902 at the original location of Wake Forest University, in the town of Wake Forest, North Carolina, moving in 1941 to Winston-Salem and becoming the Bowman Gray School of Medicine — now simply the WFU School of Medicine. The very selective school, in terms of admission, is highly ranked by US News, ranking in 2013 at #51 for primary care and #49 for research, as well as well-funded (top third) by NIH.

    The teaching hospital affiliation for WFU is the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (WFBMC), established in 1997 but with history going back to 1902. It is located off-campus in downtown Winston-Salem. WFBMC includes the 885-bed North Carolina Baptist Hospital, used for teaching, as well as the Brenner Children’s Hospital. WFBMC achieved top rankings in US News’ 2014 list of best hospitals for Cancer and three other areas, as well received high rankings for several other areas including Cardiology and Heart Surgery. The center also made Becker’s Hospital Review top 100 hospitals 2014 list. The center has a Level I trauma center and a helicopter service.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 885
    Hospital founded in: 1902/ 1997
    Hospital location: Winston-Salem, NC

    16. Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

    nwesrView of the old Prentice Women’s Hospital building, part of the Northwestern Memorial Hospital group of buildings. (source)

    Northwestern University (NU) was founded in 1851 and is located in Evanston and Chicago, in the state of Illinois. It has a reputation as a top research university and as of FY 2013, was in tenth place for endowments — at approximately $7.88B — amongst nearly 850 American universities and colleges assessed by NACUBO.org. It also has top-22 rankings nationally and top-28 rankings globally on various 2013 and 2014 lists published by Forbes, US News, Times Higher Ed, and others.

    NU’s medical school, the Feinberg School of Medicine, is located in Chicago and ranked 18th in US News’ 2014 list of top medical schools. It was established in 1859 as part of Lind University, becoming independent in 1863 and affiliating with Northwestern University a few years later. The current name comes from a $75M donation in 2002, which itself was preceded a $17M (1988) and $10M (1996) donations from the Feinberg family for a cardiovascular institute and a clinical neurosciences institute, respectively.

    One teaching affiliate hospital is 897-bed Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), established in 1966, in Chicago. NMH ranked #6 in 2013 and #10 in 2014, on US News’ list of top American hospitals. Some of the specialties it ranks for are neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and diabetes and endocrinology. It has top-17 ranks in a number of other areas as well. Researchers at NMH filed 70 disclosures of inventions in 2010 alone. Trials in progress include AIDS, cancer, diabetes and other clinical research — over 2,000 studies as of 2010

    Other teaching hospital affiliates include the 288-bed Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, used for pediatric education, and the Prentice Women’s Hospital (the old building is pictured above).

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Northwestern Memorial Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 897
    Hospital founded in: 1966
    Hospital location: Chicago, IL

    15. Rutgers University/ New Jersey Medical School

    rutgHackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack New Jersey. (source)

    Rutgers University in the state of New Jersey was founded in 1766 as Queen’s College and is one of the original nine Colonial Colleges. Rutgers, a Public Ivy, has not one but three major campuses, but the flagship campus is in New Brunswick, NJ, and additional campuses and facilities, all in New Jersey. Rutgers endowment as of FY 2013 was ~$783M.

    The university has a number of health-related schools and colleges, including the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, School of Nursing, School of Dental Medicine, School of Public Health, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey Medical School and others. The latter two are graduate medical schools and were acquired as part of a 2013 merger with UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey). These and the other schools/ colleges are in different locations in New Jersey.

    The New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) was originally founded in 1970 as Rutgers Medical School as part of the university, though it was was split off in 1971 by the state Governor’s office. Even before this, in 1952, the university’s Selman Waksman received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his part in discovering over 20 antibiotics, including one used to cure tuberculosis.

    One teaching hospital affiliate of NJMS is the 900-bed Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), originally founded in 1881 and located in Hackensack, NJ, in Bergen County. HUMC offers tertiary and healthcare services for New York City and parts of New Jersey and was the first hospital in the country to receive a Magnet award for Nursing excellence. In addition to being a state-designated children’s hospital, it also offers cardiac care and surgery, as well as geriatric services and a stem cell transplantation program. Other services include a Level II trauma center and a helipad.

    Another NJMS teaching affiliate is the 478-bed Saint Peter’s University Hospital (SPUH) in New Brunswick, NJ, founded in 1907. It is a state-designated acute care children’s hospital and has one of the United States’ largest maternity services. SPUH has won four Magnet awards for Nursing Excellence.

    For the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS), one teaching affiliate is the 519-bed University Hospital in Newark, NJ, founded in 1882. It has a Level I trauma center

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Hackensack University Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 900
    Hospital founded in: 1881
    Hospital location: Hackensack, NJ

    14. University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

    unialaRecreation Center at University of Alabama, Birmingham (source)

    The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) was founded in 1969 –with roots going back to 1936 — and is part of the University of Alabama System. The university is in the top-20 for federal funding. UA’s combined endowment as of FY 2013 was $1.05B.

    UAB School of Medicine, also located in Birmingham as part of the campus medical center, has its roots in the Medical College of Alabama, founded in 1859. The school has top-20 ranked specialties, including AIDS and internal medicine. The School of Nursing is also well-ranked, as are some of its programs. The School of Medicine has an early acceptance program, EMSAP, which guarantees entry into the school after graduation to undergrads who are accepted. It also has a Medical Scientist Training Program, one of only a few dozen in the country, which is funded by NIH grants, and which has the option to earn an MD and PhD, with free tuition and a stipend.

    One teaching affiliate of the School of Medicine is the 908-bed UAB Hospital, found in 1945 and which is part of the UAB Health System (UABHS). UABHS and UAB Hospital are located in Birmingham, AL, on the UAB campus, adjacent to other hospitals (affiliated but non-UAB), which are off-campus in the Birmingham Medical District. Teaching specialties include internal medicine, neurology, radiology and others. The hospital itself has a Level I trauma center. The hospital and many of its physicians have made it to various “top hospitals/ top physicians” lists, and the hospital earned a Consumer Choice award for 2005-6.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    UAB Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 908
    Hospital founded in: 1945
    Hospital location: Birmingham, AL

    13. Loma Linda University School of Medicine

    lomView of the Loma Linda University Medical Center from the South Hills. (source)

    Loma Linda University (LLU) in Loma Linda, California, was founded in 1905 and is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. LLU’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $648M. It ranks #11 of 1,017 schools on the PayScale.com list of starting salaries after graduation. LLU has a number of health-related schools, including for medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, public health and allied health professionals.

    The School of Medicine was established in 1909 and is also located in Loma Linda. The School has a total of 21 departments, fourteen of which are clinical and four intermediary (including public health and preventive medicine). Admission preference favors applicants of the Seventh-Day Adventist faith, and clinical rotations for junior and senior years are at the Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC).

    The LLUMC was established in 1905. It is a Level I trauma center that has two helipads for air service, and the 11-story main tower is visible from many parts of the San Bernadino-Riverside-Ontario region east of Los Angeles. LLUMC has an emergency room that specializes in snake bites and an infant heart transplant program. The transplant program is part of the 275-bed Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, a Level I trauma center that serves four counties in southern California.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Loma Linda University Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 922
    Hospital founded in: 1909
    Hospital location: Loma Linda, CA

    12. Georgetown University School of Medicine

    georgeGarden view of exterior of Washington General Hospital at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. (source)

    Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., was founded in 1789 and is affiliated with the Catholic and Jesuit faiths — reputedly the oldest such institution in the U.S. Georgetown’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $1.29B. The university has had many notable alumni, including politicians, heads of state, royalty and others. Georgetown has a number of health-related schools, including for medicine and nursing.

    The School of Medicine (SoM) was founded in 1851 and has ranked well in US News’ yearly top medical schools lists. The university and the non-profit MedStar Health have partnered since 2000, which added seven hospital affiliates in Washington, D.C., and nearby Baltimore, MD, to supplement the existing Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC), which is located on campus.

    One teaching hospital affiliation that resulted from the partnership is the 926-bed MedStar Washington Hospital Center, founded in 1958. It offers variety of services including primary, secondary and tertiary care, and is a Level I trauma center with air ambulance service. The center’s specialties include cancer, neurosciences, burn treatment and others.

    Another teaching affiliate, on campus, is the 609-bed MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, founded in 1898, which houses the (Vince) Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, amongst others that cover specialties including neurology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, and living-donor liver transplants. The hospital received a Magnet award in 2004, and ranked for over a dozen specialties in US News’ 2001 best hospitals list.

    Due to reasons of faith, the center and the hospital do not perform abortions.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    MedStar Washington Hospital Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 926
    Hospital founded in: 1958
    Hospital location: Washington, D.C.

    11. Thomas Jefferson University, Sidney Kimmel Medical College

    thomjThomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. (source)

    Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) in Philadelphia, PA, was founded in 1824. TJU has a number of health-related schools and colleges, including for medicine, nursing, pharmacy, population health and health professions. The medical school, formerly known as Jefferson Medical College (JMC), was founded in 1824. It was renamed to the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) thanks to a $110M donation in 2014 by Sidney Kimmel.

    SKMC has nearly 30 departments covering a wide range of specialties, from Anesthesiology to Urology. It claims “more living graduates than any other private medical school in the nation”. As well, nearly one in four applicants to medical school in the U.S. apply to JMC/ SKMC. (For example, there were over 10,000 applications for the 2012-2013 Academic Year, according to the university’s annual report for that year.)

    One teaching affiliate is the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, founded in 1825. It is an acute care facility with a Level I trauma center. The parent organization, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (TJUH), has a total of 957 beds and services in five locations. Other teaching affiliate hospitals include Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience and Methodist Hospital.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 957
    Hospital founded in: 1825
    Hospital location: Philadelphia, PA

    10. USF Health, Morsani College of Medicine

    sofloTampa General Hospital. (source)

    The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, FL, was founded in 1956. It is one of three institutions in the USF system, and ranks highly for a number of factors, including being a very high research university, research funding, research expenditures, number of patents granted (over 1,400), ranking for the School of Nursing (in terms of funding received by NIH in FY 2012) and more. USF also ranked 40th in Forbes’ “top 100 best buy colleges” list in 2012, and in the Princeton Review top 75 “best college values” 2014 list, as well as for various rankings in multiple other lists. USF’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $364M.

    USF has a number of health-related colleges that together comprise USF Health, including the colleges of nursing, pharmacy, public health, medicine and others. The Morsani College of Medicine is a grad school, founded in 1971. Specialties across USF Health include research into prosthetics, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and others. Morsani/ USF Health also has a three-story medical simulation center used for training.

    One teaching hospital affiliate is the 1,018-bed Tampa General Hospital (TGH), situated on the Davis Islands and opening in 1927. It is a Level I trauma center with helicopter service and has a number of specialties including orthopedics, urology, parathyroid surgery, head and neck surgery, neonatal intensive care, amongst others. Awards include getting Magnet status in 2005, winning the Consumer’s Choice Award several years in a row, and earning a top-50 ranking nationwide in US News’ 2012 best hospitals for adult specialties. It is a Level I trauma center with helicopter service.

    Another teaching hospital affiliate is the 981-bed Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest in Allentown, PA, via USF’s SELECT program. Specialties include cancer treatment, kidney transplantation, and burn treatment, amongst others. It is an Adult Level I and Pediatric Level II trauma center.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Tampa General Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1018
    Hospital founded in: 1927
    Hospital location: Tampa, FL

    9. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

    casewesyCase Medical Center and Lerner Tower.jpg (source)

    Case Western Reserve University (CWRU or Case), located in Cleveland, OH, is the result of the 1967 merger between Western Reserve University (founded 1826) and Case Institute of Technology (founded 1881). Case ranked #37 in US News’ 2013 list of top national universities. Its endowment as of FY 2013 was $1.68B. Notable health-related divisions include the School of Medicine (CWRU SOM/ CaseMed), the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, and the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

    CaseMed has roots back to 1843 as the Medical Department of Western Reserve College, aka Cleveland Medical College. It is currently a graduate school of Case and received a #23 ranking in US News’ 2014 list of top medical schools in the U.S. for research. Of the 16 Nobel Prizes won by Laureates affiliated with Case (as alumni or former or current faculty) between 1907 and 2004, inclusive, eight are in physiology/ medicine, including for research on diabetes and polio. Two U.S. Surgeons General are alumni, and another is a director of the CDC. Two other alumni are the second (1852) and third (1854) women to earn a medical degree in the U.S. In addition to various MD degrees, CaseMed also has a Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).

    One teaching hospital affiliate for CaseMed is the 1,032-bed University Hospitals Case Medical Center, founded in 1866. The center covers a number of specialties including orthopedics, radiation oncology, cardiovascular surgery, human genetics and others. The center includes the 244-bed teaching facility Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, ranked #2 in 2008 for neonatal care by US News, and other facilities.

    Another teaching affiliate is the 861-bed MetroHealth System, founded in 1837, which is a Level I trauma center with an air ambulance service. MetroHealth also has a burn unit. CaseMed has additional teaching hospital affiliates, including the 1,200-bed Cleveland Clinic, which has its own Lerner College of Medicine.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Case Medical Center/ University Hospitals of Cleveland
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1032
    Hospital founded in: 1866
    Hospital location: Cleveland, OH

    8. Harvard Medical School

    massMain entrance of the Massachusetts General Hospital. (source)

    Harvard University, located in Cambridge, MA, was founded in 1636. It is not only the oldest higher-learning institution in the U.S., it is at or near the top in many rankings lists of schools worldwide. Harvard’s endowment ($32.3B for FY 2013, $30.4B for FY 2012) is said to be the largest of any academic institution worldwide, and was the largest in the U.S. for 2013.

    Harvard has many notable alumni: U.S. presidents, billionaires, Rhodes Scholars, Nobel Laureates and more. Of the over 170 Nobel Prizes awarded to people in some way associated with Harvard, over 50 of prizes were award for the “Physiology or Medicine” category. Harvard has more than four times as many medical as non-medical administrative staff.

    Harvard Medical School (HMS), founded 1782, is located in the Longwood Medical Area, along with the dental and the public health schools. HMS has so far been a permanent fixture at #1 for medical schools ( research) on the US News medical schools list. HMS is the third-oldest American medical school. U Penn/ Pereleman at #24 in this list, founded in 1765, and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, founded in 1767, are older.

    The main teaching hospital affiliate of HMS is the 1,057-bed Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), founded in 1811, making it the third-oldest American general hospital. It ranked number one nationwide in US News’ 2013 list of top hospitals, but dropped to #2 below Mayo Clinic for the 2014 list. Services include obstetrics, pediatrics, neonatal intensive care and others. It is a Level I trauma center with a helipad and air service.

    A second teaching affiliate hospital is the 793-bed Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), founded in 1980. Another teaching affiliate is the 631-bed Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), founded as Deaconess in 1896. Both BWH and BIDMC are Level I trauma centers with helipads. HMS has nearly 20 teaching affiliate hospitals/ centers in total — many of which have multiple affiliations with other academic institutions, so are not listed here.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Massachusetts General Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1057
    Hospital founded in: 1811
    Hospital location: Boston, MA

    7. Duke University School of Medicine

    dukeSouth building of the Duke University Hospital. (source)

    Duke University, located in Durham, NC, was founded in 1838 in Trinity, NC, as Brown School, and eventually relocating to Durham in 1892 while named Trinity College. Duke ranked #18 in the Times Higher Ed (THE) 2014-15 national list, and #25 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) 2014-15 worldwide list. Its endowment as of FY 2013 was $6.04B. The university tied for 8th place on US News’ 2014 best colleges (national) list, and had other high rankings from nearly a dozen other lists.

    In terms of health-related disciplines, Duke has a school of medicine and a school of nursing. These schools, along with Duke Clinic and various hospitals comprise Duke University Health System. (There is also a graduate medical school in Singapore that is a partnership with National University of Singapore.)

    One teaching affiliate hospital, is the 938-bed acute care Duke Medical Center/ Duke University Hospital founded in 1925. It received nearly $300M in funding for 2013 from the NIH. The hospital is a Level I trauma center with a helipad. The hospital and the schools of medicine and nursing were created as part of a donation from James Buchanan Duke (after whose father the university itself is named).

    Duke Health also has three other hospitals in its roster: Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital. Combined specialties include treatment services for cancer, heart, spine and back, lung disease, children’s health, OB-GYN and others.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Duke University Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 938
    Hospital founded in: 1925
    Hospital location: Durham, NC

    6. Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

    johnsJohns Hopkins Hospital – listed in the National Register of Historic places. (source)

    Johns Hopkins University (JHU), founded in 1876, is located in Baltimore, MD, and has campuses in Maryland state and nearby Washington, D.C. JHU’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $2.99B. Notable alumni and other affiliated people include over 30 Nobel Laureates, one of whom was also a U.S. President (Woodrow Wilson) and was the first Laureate for JHU. Half the original donation from entrepreneur philanthropist Johns Hopkins that founded the university went to founding Johns Hopkins Hospital. The $7M bequest was the largest philanthropic gift in the U.S. at the time.

    JHU ranks at the top of the list of receipt of federal R+D funds, and the School of Medicine ranks first for receipt of extra awards from NIH. The JHU School of Medicine (JHUSOM, founded 1893), together with the School of Nursing and Bloomberg School of Public Health comprise Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (JHMI) Campus. JHUSOM’s alumni and faculty have collectively won 15 Nobel Prizes in the category of “Physiology or Medicine.” JHUSOM ranked #3 in US News’ 2014 list of top medical schools for research.

    One teaching hospital affiliates is JHU’s own 1,148-bed Johns Hopkins Hospital, founded in 1889. A seminal book of medical practices was written at the hospital by internist Sir William Osler, a founding professor and physician of JHUSOM. The hospital held US News’ #1 spot for best hospitals (Honor Roll, 2014-15) from 1991-2011. In 2012, it lost it’s #1 spot, regained it in 2013 and lost it again in 2014, this time to the Mayo Clinic (first time at #1). The hospital has also ranked high or at the top for research funding from the NIH. It is a Level I trauma center, Adult and Pediatric. Top-ranked specialties include geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, urology, and numerous others received #2 to #6 rankings by US News in recent years.

    Another teaching hospital affiliate is the 550-plus-bed John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (JHBMC), which went by other names in the past, including Francis Scott Key Medical Center. It was founded in 1773 as Baltimore City Hospitals. Services include neonatal intensive care, a burn center, geriatrics and others. JHBMC is a Level II trauma center with a helipad.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Johns Hopkins Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1148
    Hospital founded in: 1889
    Hospital location: Baltimore, MD

    5. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    icahnView from New York’s Central Park of Mount Sinai Medical Center. (source)

    The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), located in Manhattan, NY, was founded in 1963 as the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) as part of Mount Sinai Hospital, which is now part of Mount Sinai Health System.

    ISMMS’ predecessor MSSM was previously affiliated with City University of New York (CUNY), who administered the medical degrees of MSSM students. As of 1999, MSSM became affiliated with New York University (NYU; #4 in in this list) via the merger of their respective health system. However, they kept operations separate from NYU School of Medicine, and the merger ended in 2003. In 2010, MSSM became accredited and were able to grant their own medical degrees. In Nov 2012, MSSM announced a change to ISMMS, thanks to American businessman/ investor Carl Icahn, who donated $200M. A number of buildings and labs were also renamed in his honor.

    Carl Icahn also contributed to ISMMS’ teaching affiliate hospital, the 1,171-bed Mount Sinai Hospital, where he is a trustee. Mount Sinai, founded in 1852, is one of the oldest teaching hospitals in the U.S. and the second Jewish hospital in the country. It was ranked nationally as a top hospital by US News for 10 specialties on their 2014 top hospitals list. The highest three specialties are geriatrics (#2), gastroenterology and GI surgery (#9) and a tie at #10 for cardiology and heart surgery, and in ear, nose and throat.

    Mount Sinai has had many milestones in its history, including a number of medical discoveries, and being first to describe certain medical conditions which were later given a name, as well as first to use certain medical procedures.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Mount Sinai Hospital, New York
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1171
    Hospital founded in: 1852
    Hospital location: Manhattan, NY

    4. New York University School of Medicine

    nyuNYU Langone Medical Center, northeast view across 30th Street. (source)

    New York University (NYU), located in downtown Manhattan, New York, was founded in 1831 and claims to be one of the largest private universities in the U.S. NYU also has satellite campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. Health-related schools and colleges at NYU include dentistry, nursing and medicine.

    The NYU School of Medicine was established in 1841 but with history dating to 1837. NYU was for a time affiliated with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) via the merger of their health systems in 1998, though that ended in 2003. (See #5 in this list). NYU SoM ranked #19 in US News’ 2014 best medical schools list, and of the 36 Nobel Prizes awarded to people variously affiliated with the school, 12 prizes were in the category of “Physiology or Medicine.” Four Nobel Laureates are associated specifically with NYU SoM.

    NYU SoM is part of NYU Langone Medical Center, the teaching affiliate hospital, founded in 1841. Langone was previous known as NYU Medical Center, but was changed after a $200M donation from Kenneth and Elaine Langone in 2008. The center has three hospitals that combine to a total of 1,232 beds. This includes the 705-bed Tisch Hospital. Some of the center’s specialties include cancer, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and children’s services. Also at the center are the Hospital for Joint Diseases, and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. The latter is the first such university-affiliated center in the world focusing only on rehabilitation medicine research and training.

    Another teaching affiliate hospital is the 1,200-bed Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, founded in 1736 — the United States oldest public hospital. It has 861 beds for general use and 339 for psychiatric use. It is a Level I trauma center with a helipad. Bellevue has a long relationship with NYU, with clinical instruction for the school of medicine starting at the hospital in 1847. Bellevue formed its own medical college in 1861, and merged with NYU’s medical college in 1898.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    NYU Langone Medical Center
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1232
    Hospital founded in: 1841
    Hospital location: New York, NY

    3. Washington University, School of Medicine

    washuView of Barnes-Jewish Hospital across Jefferson Lake in St. Louis. (source)

    Washington University in St. Louis, MO, (WUSTL) was founded in 1853. WUSTL’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $5.65B. The university has achieved a number of top rankings on various lists for both the United States and the world, including a #7 position on Princeton Review’s (PR’s) 2012 “best value private colleges” list and #2 in PR’s 2014 list of best college dorms. It has previously held a #4 ranking in terms of NIH funding.

    The Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) was founded in 1891. WUSM has ranked as high as #2 in US News’ list of top medical schools (2003,2004), and has a #6 spot in US News’ 2014 list of top comprehensive medical schools. It claims 17 Nobel Prizes through various affiliations with winners, of the 22 prizes for the university.

    WUSM is part of the WUSTL Medical Campus, aka Washington University Medical Center, which also includes two teaching hospitals –which are staffed by WUSM’s Physicians and Nurse Practitioners — and a number of centers and institutes.

    One teaching affiliate hospital is is the 1,252-bed Barnes-Jewish Hospital, a merger of two hospitals — one founded in 1902, the other in 1914. Barnes has been on US News’ honor roll of best hospitals for many years, taking #17 in the 2014 list. It has also ranked well for a number of specialties, including pulmonology, urology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, ophthamology and others.

    The second teaching hospital is the 258-bed St. Louis Children’s Hospital, founded in 1879, and which serves parts of six states. It covers all pediatric services and has numerous advocacy programs for nutrition, fitness, safety and more. The hospital had performed 410 pediatric lung transplants as of year-end 2013 (since 1990), and 18 heart-lung transplants in the same period.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Barnes-Jewish Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1252
    Hospital founded in: 1902
    Hospital location: St. Louis, MO

    2. Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

    southesThe Broward Health Medical Center. (source)

    Nova Southeastern University (NSU), founded in 1964, has its main campus in Fort Lauderdale, FL. NSU claims the status of eighth-largest non-profit private university in the United States, in terms of enrolled students (over 28,000). It’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $6.7M. It is designated a “high research activity” university, and is one of 37 in the country to receive the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation.

    NSU’s health-related schools and colleges include osteopathic medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry and allied health. NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSUCOM)was founded in 1979, in Davie, FL., as part of Southeastern University. (The latter merged with Nova University in 1994 to form NSU.) The college offers a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), an M.P.H. (Master of Public Health) and an M.S. (Master in Biomedical Informatics). Options are a combined D.O./ M.P.H. program or a combined D.O./ D.M.D. (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry).

    NSUCOM’s teaching affiliate hospital is the 1,529-bed Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with Broward General Hospital founded in 1938, now known as Broward General Medical Center. Broward Health is a Level I trauma center. Specialties include stroke treatment and liver transplants.

    The Chris Evert Children’s Hospital is also part of Broward Health and has a pediatric trauma center and intensive care unit. Other pediatric specialties include allergy/ immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, pulmonology, otolarynology, neurosurgery, plastic surgery and more.

    NSUCOM has numerous other hospital affiliations, mostly across Florida but also in Alabama and New York states.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Broward Health
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1529
    Hospital founded in: 1938
    Hospital location: Fort Lauderdale, FL

    1. Yale University School of Medicine

    yaleAerial view of the Yale-New Haven Hospital. (source)

    Yale University, located in New Haven, CT, was founded in 1701. It is the third oldest of the original nine Colonial Colleges and is an Ivy League school. Yale claims to be the first American university to grant a Ph.D., in 1861. The university’s endowment as of FY 2013 was $20.78B. It is ranked #3 in US News’ 2014 list of top national universities.

    Amongst the health-related schools at Yale are medicine, nursing and public health. Yale School of Medicine was founded in 1810. It ranks as #7 in US News’ 2014 list of top medical schools for research. Degrees offered are an MD/ MPH and MD/ MHS (Master of Health Science). There are also other combined degree options, including a MD/PhD and a MMSc (Physician Associate), MMSc/ MPH, as well combinations with management, divinity, and law degrees. Over 4,000 students competed for 100 spots for the class of 2016.

    Yale School of Medicine has a number of teaching affiliate hospitals. The main one is the 1,541-bed Yale-New Haven Hospital (YNHH) in New Haven, CT, founded in 1826 — one of the largest hospitals in the world. YNHH also serves Yale School of Nursing students for education, and has Magnet status for excellence in nursing. YNHH ranked in US News’ 2014 list for 11 adult specialities, including #7 in diabetes and endocrinology, and #11 in psychiatry.

    The bed count at YNHH includes the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital, and Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. The Children’s Hospital ranked in US News’ 2014 list for seven pediatric specialties, including #3 for diabetes and endocrinology, and #18 for gastroenterology and GI surgery.

    Additional Hospital Information:

    Yale New Haven Hospital
    Hospital website
    # beds: 1541
    Hospital founded in: 1826
    Hospital location: New Haven, CT

    10 Best Online Health Informatics/Health Information Management Bachelor Degree Programs

    10Nearly half a decade ago, Congress passed legislation known as the Affordable Care Act, which promised not only to expand healthcare coverage to the uninsured, but also to increase the efficiency and online availability of key health procedures and records. Part of the law required digitizing patient health records and treatment histories so that they could be easily shared and accessed online. That part of the legislation was one of the first that went into effect and since 2010, hospitals and smaller clinics have been rapidly working through patient files to digitize these records through advanced healthcare information systems portals. They’ve been performing this task with the help of health informatics professionals who are specially trained to work with hospital software and patients’ records, with both technological expertise and a working knowledge of healthcare privacy laws.

    Thanks to the push to make all patient records available electronically, the health informatics and information management field is expected to grow at a 22 percent rate through the end of the decade. According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, that growth rate represents “much faster than average” overall job growth, with more than 41,000 new positions expected to be added between 2012 and 2022. With increasing average salaries year over year, and no expected lull in demand for those who have mastered healthcare privacy laws, regulations, and software applications, it’s no surprise that so many schools offer a health informatics major.

    With job growth rates at 22 percent in this industry and a rising demand for professionals who can manage health information systems and data entry, it’s no surprise that many schools across the country are developing stronger programs in health informatics and health information systems. The 10 programs listed here are among the best in terms of quality, affordability, and individualized attention, for students across the country. Since many options are available to students, a few online programs stand out as the best options for those pursuing this career. That’s why we have created the following 10 Best Online Health Informatics/Health Information Management Bachelor Degree Programs:

    1. University of Wisconsin

    wis

    The University of Wisconsin is one of America’s most prestigious public institutions, commonly referred to as the one of the country’s “Public Ivies.” In a ranking based on overall cost, quality, and the status of student outcomes after graduation, the University of Wisconsin ranks 24th in the world, 18th in North and South America, and within the top 15 schools in the United States. In order to be considered for admission to this program, which results in a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Systems, students must have completed at least 60 credits of undergraduate coursework in the field at a local community college or through another online institution. Upon admission, students will choose from one of two concentrations, either in health information management or health information technology. A total of 20 classes are required, with four of those classes considered concentration-eligible electives. Tuition is $5,205 for residents and $13,330 for non-residents.

    For more information about the University of Wisconsin’s Online Health Information Systems Bachelor Degree Program, go here.

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    3. University of Cincinnati

    cinc

    Few schools in Ohio have achieved the level of recognition afforded to the University of Cincinnati, which consistently ranks as one of the most affordable, prestigious, and rigorous institutions in the state. As an inherently urban, public institution, the University of Cincinnati also ranks as one of the most diverse student bodies in the country. Through its online program, the school encourages interaction through discussion boards, group projects and presentations, webcam lectures, and more. The health information program is one of the school’s fastest-growing, and is structured in a completion format. All students considered for admission to UC’s health information management program must have completed at least two years of study in the field at a community college level. Upon admission, they’ll take either 20 or 21 courses that will allow them to complete their studies and earn a B.S. in in the field. Internships are required of students in the UC program, and may be arranged by career services professionals though the school’s online portal. Tuition for the University of Cincinnati’s Online Health Information Management Bachelor Degree Program is $26,334 per year.

    For more information on the University of Cincinnati’s Online Health Information Management Bachelor Degree Program, go here.

    4. DeVry University

    dev

    DeVry is one of the oldest institutions offering distance education, having innovated in this space when distance learning involved mail and telephone correspondence. Today, DeVry has developed its own, customized online access portal for its courses. These courses thrive on discussion board posts, teleconferencing between groups of students, and video or slide lectures uploaded by professors. The school has received top marks from the likes of Consumer Reports and U.S. News and World Report for its innovative online technologies and it’s affordability at just $365 per credit hour. The school’s Healthcare Informatics Program is offered as a concentration within the larger health information management major, and yields a Bachelor of Science degree upon completion. Because this program is a concentration within a broader major, it is not considered a “completion” degree. Instead, students can take all four years of undergraduate coursework in pursuit of this concentration.

    For more information on Devry University’s Online Healthcare Informatics Bachelor Degree Program, go here.

    5. Walden University

    wal
    Walden University was actually established by two teachers in the 1970s, in large part to help working adults start or complete their college education in a number of fields. Health information management was added to the college’s list of programs only recently, but has grown dramatically since its inception. The school earns praise for its instructional quality and individualized student attention, and typically ranks as on of the top 80 online universities in the United States. Plus at only $280 per quarter hour, Walden offers one of the most economical means of completing your online degree. The B.S. in Healthcare Management program is unique among online options, in that it uses a quarter-based system instead of semesters. A total of 181 credits are required by the program, of which 135 can even be transferred in from other schools.

    For more about Walden University’s Online Healthcare Management Bachelor Degree Program, go here.

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    7. Colorado Technical University

    ctu
    Colorado Tech’s online programs are usually ranked in the top 10 options nationwide for members of the military, thanks to accelerated course completion schedules and compact sessions that begin every eight weeks throughout the year. The school is also nationally recognized for its innovative distance learning technologies, its focus on practical experience through simulations and required internships, and its overall affordability compared to many other online schools. The HIM program at Colorado Tech focuses not only on health informatics and information management, but also on business-related fields like management, economics, accounting, and human resource management. As a result, graduates of CTU are prepared for a variety of careers in the fast-growing healthcare and business industries across the country. Plus, the cost of your entire degree averages around $30,225 in tuition for the full program.

    For more about Colorado Technical University’s Online Healthcare Management/Healthcare Informatics Bachelor Degree Program, go here.

    8. Western Governors University

    wgu

    Western Goveror’s University (WGU) was founded by a coalition of 19 governors from the western part of the United States in 1997 and has seen steady growth ever since. The school requires constant contact between students and professors, typically via in-person phone calls and occasional webcam sessions. This helps students master the material at hand and also ensures that students are complying with university policies relating to attendance and academic honestly. The school is one of the few nonprofit schools for online students and as such invests its money directly into improvements to the online learning system, financial aid, and learning materials. Students who enroll in the B.S. in Health Information Technology will quickly learn the most common patient records software used in today’s hospitals. They also will learn the legal, ethical, and regulatory statutes that affect how they perform their job. The program will also teach basic management, human resources, and communications skills to students, and will test their computer proficiency during the first year of enrollment. Tuition is $3,250 per term with the option to accelerate studies to save both money and time.

    For more about Western Governor’s University’s Online Health Information Technology/Health Informatics Bachelor Degree Program, go here.

    9. Southern New Hampshire University

    snh
    Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is perhaps the only university in the world that shares something with Apple, HBO, and Netflix: The university is consistently ranked as one of the most innovative organizations on the planet by major business publications. SNHU ranks among the top 50 most innovative schools and companies worldwide according to Fast Company and offers students a superior value thanks to its accelerated programs, innovative courses, and attentive professors who oversee small class sizes compared to other online schools. SNHU’s B.S. in Health Information Management covers basic patient software systems, the fundamentals of healthcare information systems and information technology, and the laws and regulations that govern patient care, privacy, and recordkeeping. It also introduces students to healthcare management, business and interpersonal communication, public speaking, business law, and human resources topics, creating a well-rounded program. Tuition at SNHU is approximately $960 per course plus additional education related expenses.

    For more about Southern New Hampshire University’s Online Health Information Management Bqachelor Degree Program, go here.

    10 Best Online Masters in Health Informatics/Health Information Management Degree Programs

    top1Changing demographics and the ever-evolving nature of the health care system has created a great number of exciting career opportunities for qualified professionals.  The field of medical billing is one of them and it is only poised to grow in terms of the number of people it will likely employ.  Since medical billing began as an interface between patients and insurance companies, it has come to encompass numerous facets of how health care is run on both a day-to-day and a larger, industry-wide basis.  To help interested parties find the best possible school, we have compiled a list that evaluates each school based on the credential programs it offers, the degrees it can award and the relative rigor and subsequent real-world preparation of its curriculum.  Interested applicants should carefully evaluate potential options based on what specific path they would like to pursue.  Each degree program offers a different emphasis within this rapidly growing and developing field.  A candidate who wishes to specialize in more pragmatic infrastructural matters may choose a different program than a candidate who is intrigued by the potential of specializing in the means of innovation itself.  In each case, these brief summaries of each school’s offerings should help to point candidates to the best program for their current and future needs.  Without further delay, here are the 10 Best Online Masters in Health Informatics/Health Information Management Degree Programs:

    1.  Arizona State University

    asuon

    With 34 credits needed to achieve accreditation with an emphasis on “Master of Healthcare Innovation,” Arizona State University believes in creating a comprehensive curriculum that helps students prepare for future innovations in the field by studying aspects of technology, system design programs, change theory, and entrepreneurship among others. S tudents from a wide variety of backgrounds including finance, journalism, nursing and engineering, are encouraged to apply.  This program receives such a high ranking in part because it encourages progressive, forward-thinking, instead of rote learning, enabling participants to prepare for a career, not merely a temporary job.  The cost of the online program is $768 per credit hour.

    For more information about Arizona State University’s Online Masters Program, go here here.

    2.  Boston University

    bosto
    With ten courses needed to achieve certification, Boston University’s Online Master of Science in Health Communication offers students the opportunity to explore and focus on the nuances of communication among multiple systems and types of work environments.  The program, which can be completed in under two years, takes into consideration the changing nature of both physical and infrastructural environments.  For those students who wish to develop the skills needed to effectively communicate with the public and the media, this program is an excellent way to begin learning the needed skills.  An awareness and mastery of ethics, as well as a background in fundamental communication tools, are integral parts of the curriculum.

    For more information about Boston University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    3.  University of Tennessee

    uniten
    For those students who wish to focus on the management of information within a medical billing context, the University of Tennessee offers an online masters program that delves into the intricacies of both in-house decision making and interdepartmental coordination.  The relationship between various governmental agencies, including regional and national databases is explored, as well as the development of more effective data management and sharing within particular institutions.  The program is rooted in the notion that students will encounter a rapidly changing and chaotic world when they decide to put their degree to use.  Therefore, all the courses emphasize an approach that enables them to make rapid but sound decisions in terms of data management within a variety of different environments.

    For more information about the University of Tennessee’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    4.  Drexel University

    drexunion

    The psycho-social nature of the health care industry and the inherent issues that result form one of the fundamental tenets of Drexel’s online master degree program.  Here, students immerse themselves in a series of courses that allows them to conceive of the vast political and infrastructural landscape of health care as it is, not as many wish it to be.  This pragmatic approach, which is vested in the idea that excellent communication skills and a thorough understanding of complex systems enable people to pursue careers in a variety of fields, is geared towards those who wish to undertake a collaborative yet easily implementable educational approach.  However, the program does not take a defeatist approach towards realpolitik, but rather an inclusive one. Students are encouraged to master the world and then make changes to improve its processes.

    For more information about Drexel University’s Online Masters Program, go here .

    5.  Kaplan University

    kapl
    Kaplan’s program takes a more technology-oriented approach towards medical billing. Here, students begin with a fundamental understanding of the linkage between information science, computer science, and health care.  The degree is also open to those who wish to expand on previous experience in the health care field, especially health informatics professionals who would like to sharpen and more specifically apply the basic skills they’ve picked up in the field.  This emphasis on combining real-world, learned skills with the potential of integrating new approaches and concepts is ideal for students who are invested in the health care industry as a long-term career choice.  Existing professionals will appreciate the directnesss and applicability of the offered courses.

    For more information about Kaplan University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    6.  Regis University

    re

    Regis’ program is tailored specifically to professionals who already have experience in nursing, healthcare administration, and other medical experience and wish to understand the new realities of medical billing and data management.  Doctors who may have years in the field but only a few minutes of computer experience will benefit from this course of study, which aims to demystify the complexities of the process while simultaneously introducing helpful techniques to keep professionals abreast of the latest changes in the industry.  Professionals may select a particular emphasis, including studies in business management, medical practice management, and administration and program direction.  The program has a core requirement of 36 credit hours, which are evenly split between HL Specialization requirements and core requirements.

    For more information about Regis University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    7.  Walden University

    walden
    Although Walden welcomes the uninitiated into its comprehensive and practical degree in Health Informatics, medical professionals will find this program to be particularly useful in terms of developing their data management skills.  The program is rooted in the notion that a fuller understanding of how data management works enables medical professionals to contribute better holistic care in all areas of their practice, whether they have an individual business, or are part of a massive hospital system.  Students will find that the program integrates real world scenarios with abstract conceptual explorations of the reach and influence of technology and the effects of data tracking and management.  This focus helps professionals interact with their patients in a way that does not neglect the human element of patient care, yet simultaneously helps them create a better and more efficient process for dealing with a large number of patients.

    For more information about Walden University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    8.  Herzing University

    herzing

    Herzing approaches healthcare from the vantage point that it is not only one of the most rapidly expanding fields in the United States, but also likely one that will grow in complexity both from an administrative and ethical standpoint.  The sheer number of professionals involved, combined with the wide geographic span and different cultural norms and expectations, makes this field both dynamic and incredibly challenging.  To prepare students for entry into what will undoubtedly be a fast-moving and demanding field, the program emphasizes the development of management skills.  This enables program participates to effortlessly segue into becoming a Director of Development or a Chief Executive Officer.  In this sense, Herzing’s program is perfect for those students or professionals who envision themselves in a governance role, and wish to master the skills necessary to see that career path through.

    For more information about Herzing University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    9.  Southern New Hampshire University

    snh
    Understanding how to effectively motivate, manage, and coordinate a business in healthcare is a course requiring an ample amount of study and background.   Southern New Hampshire University offers its students the opportunity to study the intricacies of psychology and management while also interacting with other students and teachers via special live conferences and meetings.  This aspect of the program is vital for students who wish to understand how the complexity of human interaction fundamentally changes the dynamics and environment of any business, but especially one with as many nuances and potential challenges as those based in health care. The University is ranked highly in part because of its extensive credentialing in the MBA field. This solid business understanding will enable those who participate in the program to approach any healthcare situation with confidence and capability.

    For more information about Southern New Hampshire University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    10.  American Sentinel University

    amer
    The 36 hour health informatics degree offered by American Sentinel enables students to quickly adapt to real-world scenarios, including the need to effectively present complex data to both technologically savvy and non-savvy groups.  The program also emphasizes the notion of concise analytics across a wide variety of data sets, which is a vital skill in what is predicted to be not just a growing field, but an intensely complicated one.  By understanding how to relate to a wide swath of stakeholders, students will quickly become invaluable members of any team they join by providing the translation between deeply technical, possibly obscure data formats and newer, more accessible platforms and tools. Although technology exists nearly everywhere in the world, those who can effectively interpret it, especially in a time-sensitive health care situation, are expected to be among the most wanted new professionals in this industry.

    For more information about American Sentinel University’s Online Masters Program, go here.

    What if I Want to Expand My Education Beyond My Medical Coding and Billing Certification?

    expAt this moment in time, the health profession is undergoing some major changes and improvements, and one of the areas that is most exciting is information management. Every hospital, no matter how small, now must manage a truly enormous amount of information for each patient. Sometimes, this information has to do with bill payments, and sometimes, this information is actually designed to preserve a patient’s life. If you are someone who has already completed their medical billing and coding training and interested in expanding your knowledge within the medical profession, a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management might be the degree program for you!

    Coding and Billing and More

    When you are interested in medical coding and medical billing, you already know that there are certifications that are designed to give you the skills that you need. However, if your interests in this area go beyond simply doing the tasks themselves and towards building the systems that they rely upon, you should take a look at Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management. A bachelor’s degree in this program allows you to take the next step when it comes to data management, and in addition to helping you rise in the system, it can open you to a whole new way of looking at your work.

    Logical Progression

    For many people, a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is the next logical step. This degree is one that is increasingly chosen by people who have already earned an active RHIT certification or who have completed a degree in Health Information Technology. This is something that can increase your earning potential, and it provides you with more of the challenges that you have come to love. Other people simply have a deep interest in information protection and management, and this allows you to use your skills in an essential and exciting way.

    Employment Opportunities For Individuals with a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

    When you are looking at obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, you should also be looking ahead to the kinds of career opportunities available to you post graduation. For example, many of the jobs that you can secure will naturally be centered around hospital work. In addition to the medical coding and billing positions that you will be qualified for, you can also take management positions as a system manager, an information department director or a clinical data specialist. Essentially, you will be in charge of curating the information that a hospital is responsible for maintaining. It will be your duty to not only protect it, but also to make sure that it is available. You might also be put in charge of marketing initiatives or informational programs that will make the system clearer to others.

    On top of that, you will also find that you are qualified to work in public clinics and private physician offices. A little further afield, if you decide that you have a passion for the way that data systems are set up, you might find that you are invested in taking positions with IT and software vendors, or even with insurance companies or the government. Depending on your level of expertise and experience, you might also find yourself working as a consultant.

    Necessary Classes

    When you are looking into a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management, you may wonder what kind of classes you have to get the degree. Though the classes will vary from university to university, you will find that some of them are very common. For example, you will likely need to take classes on data security and on financial management, where you make sure that the system works with the budget that it is using. You’ll also find that you need to take a functions and services class, where you will look at what the system you are going to be managing really provides, and you will also likely be taking a quality management class, where the system’s quality assurance is discussed. You may also find yourself drawn towards classes on statistics and research, especially if you have an interest in the healthcare’s data system on an architectural level. As you progress further with this degree, your interests will be sharpened and you can find classes that best suit your needs and your interests.

    Is a Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management what you have been looking for? Many people are drawn to the coding and billing fields yet find they wish to expand their educational foundation and career prospects. Often these people embark on completing training within Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management programs to do just that!

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