Frustrated by the Coding Practicum?
Posted on 09.03.2014

You just got through the coding modules. E/M coding almost killed you, but you survived. Now you’re looking back and wondering if you remember anything from the last four modules. At the same time, you are looking ahead at the giant pile of reports to code in the practicum; you may have even coded a few of them. You may feel frustrated, overwhelmed, and possibly astonished at the work it takes to learn medical coding. From someone who has been where you are now, allow me to offer a few words of advice…
PERSPECTIVE
Learning to use your books and apply guidelines has been the focus of the course thus far. Now you get to work on developing a new skill—abstraction. The practicum is composed of authentic medical charts, dictated by actual physicians in patient care situations. This means you will be reading physician-level writing and abstracting the pertinent info for code assignment. Abstraction is definitely a skill unto itself. A huge part of going through each of these charts is learning to identify key words and phrases and turn them into the right codes—this takes A LOT of practice. Don’t expect to be able to get all the codes right immediately!
GRADES
Your scores on the practicum reports are not considered when we determine your eligibility to take the final exam. You need to attempt every report, but you do not need to get an 85% on them like you do on the Unit Tests and Module Exams. This gives you the opportunity to learn from each report by going through the documentation and coding what you can, submitting your codes, and working backward from the codes you missed. This is a valuable way to learn abstraction while simultaneously gaining indexing skills and learning which codes are appropriate for disparate report types.
The practicum component of online medical coding training takes a lot of discipline, but hopefully with these ideas in mind you can move through the reports with a little less stress and, instead, focus on learning from each report.
I’m trying not to beat myself up when on cases I don’t even know where to begin. I know this is a skill that has to be learned with a lot of practice so I’m trying to keep that in mind and not get too discouraged.
I’m right there with ya! I’m hoping it just will click!! I think I’m getting it then forget some codes from the beginning ???? I do feel better not to be the only one! Thanks for posting!
I’m right there with you!
This post likely saved me from quitting all together! I feel rather foolish for having come this far and as one other student says, “not knowing where to even begin” on some of these! I missed a question because I got it partially wrong because I didn’t code for the venipuncture! I looked back afterwards and thought, “why didn’t it occur to me to code that?” There is also the frustration that I don’t know how many procedures are done so I missed choosing those codes as well. I hope this post can encourage the next student to continue on and know that we’ve come this far, there’s no quitting now!
Thank you Careerstep for having this reassuring email article to revive my determination!
I beat myself up when I can get two in a row right, and then the next one will take me six tries before I finally figure out what to code! Glad to know there is frustrating people with me!
I am right there, some of these I cant even get. I definitely know where I have to work on and where my strengths are.
It is so frustrating cause I feel like I need to make 100 on all of them. It is taking me to much time getting through them this way I was glad to read that I don’t have to have perfect scores on them all ugh
It is frustrating for sure. I read and reread and there are times I still miss something that needs to be coded. The explanations do help me learn from my mistakes though. I can then pinpoint those situations that tripped me up in other reports.
Seeing everyone’s post is reassuring to me. I thought that by this point I was supposed to be coding almost every question right one the 1st try and I felt like I was the only one struggling. This really helped. Thanks everyone good luck to all of you
Struggling hardcore as well guys…sometimes it’s a simple mistake like coding order, and others it’s just entirely the wrong code alltogether. Super frustrated, but I keep trudging along. Keep it up. We got this!!
I am on the first portion of the medical coding and billing. I have completed everything with an 85% or higher and it’s still telling me the course is incomplete. Can anyone help me understand?
It will say that the course is incomplete until you finish it.
I had same issue. scores need to be higher on some of the tests in the module. I went back into gradebook and looked at which ones had the yellow bar and retook them…
This was such a blessing to read! I also thought that I should be getting these all correct. The coding order trips me up too! Feeling a little less overwhelmed reading this 🙂 I like the online course, but sometimes it would be nice to just be able to ask an actual person why something is coded a certain way!
I’ve never experienced so many highs and lows with something until I was introduced to coding;-) Comforting to see we are all having similar struggles! Really skeptical about the CPC exam! I am about to start the Neurology section in the practicum, if anyone else is close to that section and wants to work together let me know….without the help in the chat room, that has added another level of frustration as well!!
Suzanne, keep up the good work! You got this! Also, thanks for reaching out and offering to be a study buddy!
Hi Suzanne. A couple more left in Neurology in the practicum. I would love to have someone to throw things out to and give answers as well if I have them.
Hi Naomi, please contact codingsupport@careerstep.com or by phone at 1-888-657-5752 opt 1 then opt 2.
I wish i had seen this when i started the practicum. Lol! Just started the neurology section as well and have been frustrated this whole time. I am glad I am not the only one. 🙂
I’m so happy I’m not alone in being frustrated and completely terrified to finish and take the CPC exam! I’ve been doubting this idea wayyyy too much lately because of this practicum. I feel like I’ve forgotten wayyy too much stuff!
I’ve had to refrain from setting my books on fire a few times lol
oh thank gods I’m not the only one who feels like banging my head on the desk!!! now I feel less discouraged going into the practicum!!
I hear all of you! ????. Ever since I started the practicum, I’ve been asking myself man did I learn anything? Check, recheck and check again. I’m determined! I will pass this exam even if it kills me.
I am so happy I came to this blog. I’m in my practicum too at Cardiology. And I was asking my self the same question too. Sometimes I got it correct 100% and sometimes I have to try 3 or 4 times. I started to pray and I found this page. I will pass this exam too. Good luck everyone and thanks for all the information this really help.
Praying will get us all through. 🙂
Thank goodness for all of you!!!! I’ve always considered myself an intelligent person. HA!!! Am currently on cardiology in the practicum and feel like I haven’t remembered a thing. So frustrating…..
I’m so glad to know that I’m not alone in my frustrations with this course! Some of the things I code don’t necessarily make sense from what I’ve learned, and some appear contradicting. I’m hoping like the rest of you that it’ll just click with me eventually. I’m almost halfway through the practicum and still find myself struggling.
Is there an active chat for our coding course so that we can pick at everyones brains and get more of an insight into the course?
I’d love to pass the course and state exam the first time around instead of prolonging this pain lol
Thanks for your feedback, Ginger. Keep your chin up! Be sure to reach out to your instructors at support@careerstep.com or 1-888-657-5752 if you feel you need any help or even just a little encouragement. That’s why we’re here! You can connect with other students and graduates in the Student and Graduate Community where you’ll find a medical coding forum. Just sign up with your Student ID (if you can’t find that, just shoot us a quick email at support@careerstep.com and we’d be happy to look it up for you) at http://community.careerstep.com. You might be surprised at just how much it can help to have other students to connect with. 🙂 Best wishes.
How did you end up doing Ginger? I am feeling the exact same way right now!
So I completed everything, and took the final exam! Wow got my results back and about lost it, if anyone is having same trouble, sure could use some help studying again, before I have a melt down!
About how long did it take for your post to be published? I still haven’t seen mine pop up yet and I’m not sure why not.
How did the final exam go for you? I may not be the best study partner, but if theres a chat group in career step Id love to be apart of it and perhaps we can all pick each others brains for what they know and help us more
Did you fail the final ? How bad was it ?? I am So nervous I will fail too
I too am concerned. I am struggling with this practicum. I feel like they expect us to be able to code like we have done it for years after taking this program. I am scared to take the final. They say it should take 7-8 hours which for me means I will have to take the full 2 days. very discouraging.
I’m so discouraged. I felt really good about things before I started the Practium. I have 99 pages left and I’m not sure of anything anymore. I’m close to quitting and throwing all material away. I hope I’m not the only one.
Jo Anne, our instructors are here to help you! You can reach them at support@careerstep.com or 1-888-657-5752 if you need help. I would encourage you to call them, that’s what we’re here for. You can connect with other students and graduates in the Student and Graduate Community at http://community.careerstep.com, just use your Student ID to sign up. Email us at support@careerstep.com if you can’t find your ID. Our students have found the forums to be very helpful! 🙂 Best wishes.
Thank you so much. I will contact an instructor today. I woke up with determination
I am totally where you were! I am so tired of coding and at the same time wonder if I know what I am doing. How did you do? Was it worth it?
I am at Internal Medicine and skipped 2 records on cardiology because what the heck was that.. i know it wasn’t advised for us to skip any page but i just could not handle it and feeling really depressed i might have submitted the page more times than I can count.. still dont get it. Glad to know i am not the only one going thru this stress.
Cardiology was a nightmare for me as well. I put in a couple of them into the Instructor Chat and RichB noted that cardiology was difficult for everybody. 😛
I now utilize my student chat room, and instructer chats and I can say with certainty that it’s made a tremendous difference since my last comments. I highly recommend utilizing them and asking any and all questions you have!
Ginger, I’m so glad the student and instructor chats are helpful to you. Thank you for your comments.
Thanks for the post. I nearly had a STROKE, and almost had to purchase a new laptop. I was so frustrated it seemed that I could not get anywhere. I code everyday at me current job but these samples have me beat to a pulp!. I have calmed down not that I know someone out there feels the same. Plus I can afford another laptop.
i’m frustrated that i will have gotten the code correct other than i’m one number off at the end of a code, or i get them in the wrong order. last njite i FINALLY felt like i had the codes right, then 2nd guessed myself and changed the order only to learn i had them right to begin with
aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I can’t count the number of times I’ve done that!! I’m just relieved to know that the scores don’t count. I still want to know what the correct answers are, but I won’t go back and input the correct answers now!! ????
I have been so frustrated by the practicum!! I will be honest and say I have walked away a few times just to clear my head. I use to do abstraction in my old job and what I am picking out and what they want is different sometimes ( I just want to scream).. Thanks for the insight in the article because it helped me to refocus and know there are others with me.
How long does it take to have comments posted?
Seeing this post helps, however; I am confused as to what needs to be an 85 or higher now. This course is nothing like I was told, it has been an uphill battle from the start. (It didn’t help that I had a rough pregnancy and now an infant in the middle of trying to take it.
Shelby,
First, congratulations on your new baby! Second, I’m sorry this program has been a challenge for you. I’m glad this blog post could help. Please make sure you reach out to our Student and Graduate Community! (You can find this community at http://community.careerstep.com. You’ll need to create an account to login; if you’re not sure what your Student ID is, just shoot us an email at support@careerstep.com and we’d be happy to look it up for you.) Many of our students find it helpful to connect with other students who are going through similar experiences.
Best of luck to you!
This program is very thorough perhaps too thorough. It is a lot of information to take in and learn. I can appreciate that they want us to be prepared for the real world but it is a lot. It would’ve been helpful to know that the grades don’t matter in the practicum. It should bein the notes at the beginning of the practicum I shouldn’t have to come to a blog to find that important information out. I am trying to stay the course but am frustrated.
I am so glad to know it isn’t just me! I get so frustrated, I cry. I am so afraid I won’t pass the final or the CPC and I need this. I did coding years ago and medical billing but it seems so foreign to me now. Also, never got certified years ago. I have taken forever to get through this course too, going on two years now as I am a single parent and work fulltime. Half of the reports I get half wrong or I can’t for the life of me figure out how they got the codes they got. It is stressing me out. I feel like if I can’t get this, then how will I ever pass the final or CPC. 🙁 I am not giving up but sometimes I want to. I am almost to the Encoder part.
Can someone please explain to me why I can’t access my final exam? I am confused because I went back and checked I have 85% or higher on all modules and exams, but for the coding practice it is saying I need 85% on all of them. I’m confused because reading this it states you don’t have to have 85% on everyone.
Hi Sam, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve had some trouble getting in touch with your instructors! Are you calling our Student Support team directly at 1-888-657-5752? Even if you can’t get through when you call, be sure to leave a voicemail—we try very hard (and are usually quite successful) at returning all calls within a few hours during normal business hours. We also reply to emails (support@careerstep.com) within 1-2 business days. You can also use our Ask-an-Instructor chat option in our Student and Graduate Community (http://community.careerstep.com). This lets you chat with an instructor in real time. Hope that helps! Best wishes. 🙂
I am completely STUCK on the Orthopedics 10 in the practicum! The only code I have been able to get right is the Z code. I have been able to get through all the other so far but this one has me totally stumped. I cannot even get the diagnosises correct.
Stacey,
I’m sorry you’re having trouble with your course. Our instructors are here to help! You can contact them at codingsupport@careerstep.com or you can call 1-888-657-5752 and select option 1 then option 2. They can help you make sense of it all! (Just as a heads up, our coding instructors can sometimes be hard to get a hold of immediately. If you call and can’t get through, be sure to leave a message. We try very hard, and are usually quite successful, in returning all calls within an hour or two.)
You can also connect with other students in our online Student and Graduate Community http://community.careerstep.com — you’ll need to create an account to login. Our students are great at helping each other.
Best of luck in your studies!
I’m at the beginning of the Billing & Coding, I mean at the beginning; I haven’t even received my books yet. It’s 11:30 pm, so after completing my studies for now I thought I would go look around at what’s available to us, as students. I checked out the Blog and was feeling good about the support that’s available there…until I kept reading. I’ve got tears running down my face! I’m 61 and I don’t think I have a chance in this if the younger people (you know the ones with the newest brains), were sharing things like burning up their books, sabotaging their success or even quitting. I’m sure not all the posts are from young people, but I do imagine they are from many that are younger than me. This is the 2nd time enrolling in this course and I am already considering withdrawing again! I just don’t think my memory is good enough to get through the modules like Neurology! I read so many posts from students who were afraid and/or frustrated during that module. My Advisor didn’t call this afternoon as we scheduled. That didn’t happen so now (after posting about how important prayer is), I’m not so sure that this is the best avenue to take to help me during my retirement, in the upcoming years.
Kim, it sounds like you’re really struggling with this course. I’m sorry to hear that. We have a variety of students at Career Step who come from different backgrounds and experience. You might be interested in this video review of one of our students, Devi, who decided to change careers later in life. https://www.careerstep.com/media-library/devi-chitrapu-testimonial-video
Or you can read Karen Billings story. She decided to change careers and become a medical coder and biller: https://www.careerstep.com/grad-stories/karen-billings
As always, you can reach out to other students in our online Student and Graduate Community http://community.careerstep.com — you’ll need to create an account to login. Our students are great at helping each other.
You can also contact our instructors at codingsupport@careerstep.com or you can call 1-888-657-5752 and select option 1 then option 2. They can help you decide if this is right for you! (Just as a heads up, our coding instructors can sometimes be hard to get a hold of immediately. If you call and can’t get through, be sure to leave a message. We try very hard, and are usually quite successful, in returning all calls within an hour or two.)
Best of luck to you.
Hi Kim. This is the first time I have posted anything here because I did not think reading or posting would help anyone. I like to do it alone. Not a good plan, though. I am 52, going through this course and have a 7 year old I am raising alone. Do not be discouraged. Your brain will get it. I have had more than 2 extensions because I seem to need to take time to try to understand everything. Hang in there and I will pray for you.
Hi Kim. I’m struggling too (I’m 50). I’ve had to buy 3 extensions because of my busy schedule. I found help on YouTube videos when I couldn’t get what I needed on these threads. It was very helpful to actually listen to someone explain and see what they were doing. I recommed the CCO videos. They really helped me get through this course. I’m now only 15 pages from the end and I still get stuck! I hope you are having a better go of it now!
I want to know all the reasoning behind the correct codes (that I don’t get correct) , But I do not have time to slow down to catch them all……. My time is tick tick ticking !!!! I have learned a LOT and know that once Im out in the real world and practicing daily…….It will. get easier…….I BELIEVE !!!
Is there anyone that would help me out on a few questions with in the Infectious Diseases and Cardiology sections. I’m going crazy. Everything I thought I knew seems to be blown out the window with these two particular questions!
Hi,
I know some of these can be tricky. Many of our students find it helpful to connect with other Career Step students in our online Student and Graduate Community. You can find this community at http://community.careerstep.com. You’ll need to create an account to login. If you’re not sure what your Student ID is, just shoot us an email at support@careerstep.com, and we’ll look it up for you.
You can also contact Coding Support at 1-888-657-5752 and select option 1 then option 2. They can help you make sense of it all. (Just as a heads up, our coding instructors can sometimes be hard to get ahold of immediately. If you call and can’t get through, be sure to leave a message. We try very hard to return all calls within an hour or two.)
Best of luck to you!
I finally made It half way through the coding practice and omg wow. I felt so good about the course and getting 100s on practically everything up until the coding practice and now I’m like what I’m confused and feel like I don’t know this and maybe I bit too much I could chew. But I’m staying strong and determined to finish this. I can see the finish line but my brain is so overwhelmed with all these codes and rules and motifiers lol.
Kimberly I am right there with you. Feel free to email me we can maybe help each other.
Yes email me!
My email iskimberlypalma0827@gmail.com
Is this blog correct about the grades?
“Your scores on the practicum reports are not considered when we determine your eligibility to take the final exam. You need to attempt every report, but you do not need to get an 85% on them like you do on the Unit Tests and Module Exams.”
I read that you have to score 100% on the practicum but this blog says you actually do not have to have any set score just as long as you attempt them all?
Which is correct?
Hi Taylor,
Thank you for your question. This blog post is correct, we are not requiring the 85% or higher for the practicum. We only require that you have attempted every case and show a score higher than 0% on all 256 cases listed within it.
Some of our academic partner colleges that use our program for their students do require the higher scores on the practicum. You may have seen posts from students who are enrolled through a partner school that does require higher scores on the practicum.
I hope this helps.
I have completed every case in the coding practicum except 1. Encoder-OP trauma 4. I have tried it 70 times! According to the above article “Your scores on the practicum reports are not considered when we determine your eligibility to take the final exam. You need to attempt every report but you do not need to get an 85% on them like you do on the unit test and module exams.” Everything in my entire program is green now, except that one case. So why is my final exam still locked???
Kristi, I’m sorry you are having trouble accessing your final exam. I have forwarded your comment/question to our instructors so they can figure out what is going on. Someone will contact you shortly. In the meantime, you can reach out to them at codingsupport@careerstep.com or call 888-657-5752.
Email or chat with instructors very helpful understanding how they are coded.
The Career Step Exam is how many questions? How much time do we get? Is it multiple choice and open book?
Hi Linda,
Thank you for reaching out. Your final exam consists of 150 questions, a combination of multiple choice and true or false. The questions cover all modules except Orientation and Computer Fundamentals. It is open book, open notes, and open resources; however, you cannot use the forums, chat rooms, or instructors. You have 48 hours to complete the exam.
I hope that helps, and good luck!
That picture…… me, today.
lol
When I try fifteen different answers, I would think at least I would not get “correct answer is not being provided to you”. How am I supposed to figure that out then? Keep trying for seventy five more times?
Kathy, I reached out to our instructors and Mechelle gave me this response to send you.
Hi Kathy,
I am one of your coding instructors. I am sorry to hear that you are getting frustrated with the coding practicum, but we are here for you. You can reach out to us with any questions you are having. We would love to help you by either sending you some coding hints for the cases or explaining why we have coded them in the ways they are coded. You can reach one of us at coding support by phone 888-657-5752 option 1 and then option 10, or email us at codingsupport@careerstep.com, or schedule an appointment with an instructor with this link.
The practicum is difficult, but we are not expecting perfection. If you are not getting one of them, please reach out to us. These are meant to help you learn, and part of that learning is to seek help when you need it.
Please let me know how I can further assist you.
Mechelle Gilbert, MHA, CPC, CPB
Medical Coding and Billing Instructor
Phone: 888-657-5752
Text: 435-222-7868
codingsupport@careerstep.com
Hi, I just got struck up on page 111 on coding practicum. can some please help me to get through that. i just got only ICD_10 code.
Stuck on Page 66 for a half hour now. Gastroenterology 2.
Need some guidance on what code to sequence first etc. ????♂️
Wil, please contact one of our student support advisors at 888-657-5752, email them at codingsupport@careerstep.com, or reach out to your fellow students in our student forum.
Good luck!
Wow. These replies are exactly what has been going through my head. I just found the email tonight even though it was sent to me a little over a month ago. Seems my spam filter got a bit too exuberant and swallowed it up! Wish I could have seen it a month ago and saved myself a TON of stress. I have been frustrated , angry, and questioning my sanity at getting in to this whole thing. Reading these posts makes me feel better. Still frustrated, but better 😉 I’m almost to the encoder portion of the practicum and am extremely glad to hear that the grading is not the same as the previous portions of the course, although I don’t really like moving ahead without being able to answer and Understand all the questions. I have wanted to contact instructors, but honestly have questions on nearly every case, and wouldn’t know where to start! The handful of cases I have done correctly the first time make me want to frame them and hang them on the wall! I am one of the old folks (58) changing careers and I Will Finish This!! Best wishes to all fellow strugglers.
Hi Stuart,
I am just curious….where are you now with your medical coding adventure? have you taken the CPC or CCS exam? Did you pass?
Help! I’m struggling. I am hoping to find someone in the same section as me so maybe we can work together. Anyone out there? LOL I’m currently on page 244 and can’t seem to get past it. This part has been pretty difficult. I’m really glad to see I’m not the only one struggling with it. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel but boy, oh boy this last bit is a pain.
I am struggling with this! I have quite a few hundreds to as low as 12! I’m so scared of the final exam now 🙁
Anyone finish all of them? I need help on just a few more to take my final! Help!!!
I am so Happy to read this post!!! I thought that my inability to get everything correct meant that I was not going to do well on the final exam or the certification exams. I am almost halfway through the coding practicum and feeling quite frustrated, but better now that I have read this! I decided before reading this that I would just use it as a learning tool and not worry about trying to get everything correct. THANK YOU!!!
I was so thankful that I was not the only person feeling like a lost lamb. 🙂 To those that have advanced on, great work!!! To those of us still pushing through, we can DO it!!!
Well….I now know it’s not just me. Trying to figure out the rationale of the codes can be particularly overwhelming. I’m 55 years old now…had a job as a legal assistant before I had kids. I could draft correspondence and documents back then…..and….I was really starting to think that my brain was seriously deteriorating with age. I really hope I can find a job after this long episode of anguish! I will remain positive! It shall pay off! Very best wishes to all fellow students!
Is anyone stuck on the coding practium section. I’ve been struggling for about 2 weeks now
yes me too, i have reread so many times, it makes me feel a little at ease knowing i am not alone. best of luck to all
Do you guys like take notes as an write them down on a piece of paper and use them or what ? What’s yall technique ? I’m so frustrated with this course
This post has made me feel so much better about struggling with the practicum. I honestly thought I was one of the few having problems. I know that this is another learning situation, but geez, it can sure be intimidating and infuriating. Thank you Career Step for this post!!!! I am finally past the E/M portion of the Outpatient Practicum. It seemed like it took me forever to get past that part. Hopefully I can move a bit quicker now!! Fingers crossed for all of us passing the course with flying colors and passing the certification tests with no issues!!!
I’m getting ready to take medical coding final exam and just read I have 12 hours to take exam instead of the 48 hours I’ve been told previously by a CareerStep rep (and from researching I can only find where it says 48 hours). I’m confused.
I just want to make sure I know how to pace myself correctly
I’m right along with you all, I thought I would never get through the E&M but I finally did only to see it again 😩I’m almost there with only 44 days left and my mind is drawing a blank on some of these things good thing you can look back and refresh 😁gonna be a long night ……..
it can be this complicated in the real world, i spend to much time on one case, lord help us all. it like learning a foreign language 42 days left I am having a little anxiety
OK ,Im so confused right now,,,,,
Ive gotten mixed information about this practicum part of this module and need clarification PLEASE,,
Do all these scores have to be above 85 or will it accept lower because my grade book is showing incomplete for this part so far .