One professional from the American Academy of Professional Coders corrects a perception in a prior article and one patient praises her physician, who was featured in the magazine.
Group Clarifies Its Role in Specialty Coding Credentials
I read with concern your March Medical World article, "Consultant Searches: The Hunt for Help." In it, Richard Blanchette, executive director of the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management, states that a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential "is totally inadequate to evaluate an office employee's knowledge of general surgery coding. In that situation, look to the Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists."
The American Academy of Professional Coders, which has more than 60,000 members, provides opportunities for its 44,000 credentialed coders to obtain specialty certifications, including a certification for general surgery. Through AAPC, evidence of a broad understanding of basic coding concepts must be shown in passing one of AAPC's core credentials before a specialty certification can be achieved. The AAPC's requirements for specialty credentialing remain the most stringent in medical coding today.
Our organization wants to set the record straight and ensure that the medical community has accurate information.
Reed E. Pew
President and CEO
American Academy of Professional Coders
Patient Speaks Out About Doctor of Distinction
A few weeks ago, I was reading Southern California Physician, as I often do, in the medical library at Northridge Hospital Medical Center. I was almost finished when I turned to the last page and got the biggest surprise and enjoyment--the April article on Jeffrey Glaser, MD.
I am a new patient of Dr. Glaser. This absolutely wonderful doctor is in the process of fighting for me because my insurance company said my treatments with him were denied. I had been seeing another provider and changed due to his lack of ethical behavior and standards in multiple instances. Dr. Glaser has spent so much time, energy, paperwork and his own money trying to resolve the insurance problem because he only wants to help me.
His attitude of caring and compassion for patients goes above and beyond. When I was originally choosing a new doctor, Dr. Glaser was not available. He called me back later and talked for a long time with the warmest voice. I decided right after our call that he was going to be my new pain management specialist. As a patient, it is terrific when your MD is as special as Dr. Glaser. Thank you for writing an article about him.
Rene Rothman
Agoura Hills