I Prefer Online Code Lookup – Do I Still Need Printed Materials?

Here at Find-A-Code, we will be the first once to recommend online medical code lookup for coders and billers of all skill levels. But that begs the question of whether our users still need printed materials. The answer to that question is really a matter of personal preference. There are both pros and cons to online and traditional printed code lookup.

 

If having access to both online and printed materials is within your budget, we recommend it. Having access to codes through as many resources as possible is a matter of redundancy. If one resource fails, you have others as backups. That being the case, taking a look at the advantages of both online and printed resources might make the decision easier.

 

Online code lookup brings the benefits of modern technology to medical coding and billing. For example, online platforms tend to offer advanced search capabilities that make finding the most obscure codes a lot easier and faster. Some even offer educational resources, including tutorials.

 

Looking up codes online lends itself well to being more accessible and convenient. Coders and billers can look up codes from anywhere, as long as they have a device and an internet connection. Remote work and consultations are therefore more possible.

 

As for updates, online resources tend to update automatically and in a shorter amount of time. You get real time updates in most cases. On the other hand, printed materials are only updated when new editions are published.

 

One last thing to consider is that online code lookup tends to be more affordable. Some online resources are absolutely free while others offer paid access. But even the paid sites tend to be more cost effective rather than investing in a full set of printed documents.

 

Knowing everything that online code lookup brings to the table, you might be wondering why anyone would still invest in printed materials. There are plenty of valid reasons for doing so. At the top of the list is offline access.

 

Let's face it, the internet isn't perfect. Neither are the connections that get us online. A medical coder who relies exclusively on the internet for code research could be in trouble if internet access goes down. Printed documents are always available even when there is no internet.

 

Some medical coders use printed materials for quick reference purposes. For example, it can be faster to quickly flip to a page in a printed manual than go online and search for a code you are already familiar with. If you already know where to find it in the printed material, grabbing your manual and turning to the right page could be faster.

 

Medical coders can also write notes in their printed materials. They can mark pages for easy reference, use their printed materials as educational resources, and more. And for some, the added benefit of less eye strain seals the deal.

 

Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way for medical coders or billers to look up codes. All it matters is that the correct codes be chosen, and that work is done in a timely manner. Accuracy and speed are what count regardless of what a coder or biller uses to get the job done.

 

You might prefer online lookup overprinted materials. Then again, you might prefer working with paper instead of the internet. It is all good. If your budget allows, we recommend both. That way, you have multiple resources in case your preferred resource is unavailable for any reason.