system.AndrewsSchool.com

Our policy is that WE DO NOT DISCUSS OTHER SCHOOLS, good or bad, but we will DEFEND against misinformation whenever necessary.

When potential students ask us to compare ourselves with another school, we let them know we'll be glad to tell them what WE do and how OUR program works so they can make the comparisons themselves. I also add that it's tacky and unethical for one school to talk about another school, so we don't do it.  We also make it clear that there are NO RULES for students, graduates, and potential students. They can ask anything they want. The rules only go for the way schools reply to those questions.

Something else that annoys me -- the claim that we "handhold" our students. Like that is something bad, you know? I hadn't seen it in a while, but it popped up in a Facebook post recently.  I don't want to repeat the exact phrasing, but you get the point. 

I have to sit on my hands to keep from shouting that it isn't handholding… it's instruction! 

With what sounds like what must have been a derogatory remark, makes me wonder what the other training centers/schools are like.  Do they not help their students? Frankly, if we students are experiencing handholding, I never thought about it in that term, but without these instructors holding my hand to help me across the rough puddles, I would have failed every exam. So ladies, thank you.

Donna G

I agree, Peggy. I saw that comment, made several times on there, and I found it annoying too, as if caring about our students was a BAD thing.

I think my favorite thing that happened in all this was when several people called AHIMA when the school said, "Call AHIMA and see what school they recommend." knowing that their school donates huge amounts of money to AHIMA and they are on that list of schools (that pretty much all teach to the CCA level).

One person asked if you had a school that teaches to the CCA level and one that teaches to the CCS level, which would you go with, and the answer was, I know I'd go for the CCS personally.

Two other people let me know that they had called AHIMA and were told, "as long as the program offered the required course work, after completion I would be able to sit for the CCS exam."

I'll type out some of the things so all of you can see specifically what was said.

One person said that they told her that they and Andrews were the best in MT training, [They never were. It was always Andrews and M-TEC that were known to be the best, and there wasn't a 3rd place winner on that.], that there were LOTS of jobs now in medical transcription, more jobs now because speech recognition didn't work out well.   My comment: Yes, lots of medical transcription jobs that pay practically nothing and consistently run out of work. We all know that some of the employers are just plain abusive  and have cut the pay to a ridiculous amount. While there are a few decent MTSOs, they are becoming fewer and further between.   So that tells me that they will tell people whatever they think they want to hear, even when they know it just isn't true.

Some of their 'Talking Points' with Misinformation  from E-Mail They Send to Potential Students:

"Andrews is really new to the coding training and their course isn't yet proven."  [Andrews School was founded in 1989 and started teaching coding almost immediately. Actually, I remember that first coding student very well. She was an RN and immediately got her CCS after finishing our brand new course way back then.  Not a bad start!!!  :)

 "The fact that they say that their course will prepare you for the CCS exam is against AHIMA policy, only 2  year associates degree programs can say they prepare you for the CCS exam. [NOT TRUE according to Eligibility Requirements on AHIMA's own web site. Several potential students CALLED AHIMA and were told that if the course covers the required material, their graduates can take the CCS exam.  We do, and our graduates can - and they do --- successfully - LOTS of them.]

"I don't believe they have any if any graduates" [We do.]  "I have no idea who wrote Andrews coursework"  [Highly-credentialed, talented, SUCCESSFUL Medical Coders helped me develop the curriculum.]  "Andrews advertises that some of their graduates received remote coding jobs but they don't mention any partnerships or specifics, I'd be cautious on that. [The down-side to 'Partnerships' is very high. We have colleagues and friends who hire medical coders, but we don't 'Partner' with them in ways that limit where our coding graduates go to work and how much they are able to make.  THEIR partnership situation is not working very well. Only a few elite graduates get a chance at it and they are often kicked out down the line. If they decide to leave on their own, they have to pay back a large amount of money for the 'training' the 'partner' gave them. That's not a good situation. I wouldn't do it that way.  [They WARN people about us in almost every e-mail they send to potential students]   One student who got that letter asked them why their students were less prepared than Andrews graduates for the CCS or not at all prepared - and why.  They didn't like that. At least one other person wrote back and told him that anyone who did their research would know that the things he said weren't true.

I've had talks with some of their students and graduates, very nice people. We've exchanged e-mail and phone calls. They are not happy with the false information that is being sent out by their school. Some of them wanted to go to Andrews but were told they couldn't for some made-up reason. For example, they have said more than once (falsely) that Andrews doesn't take Military Spouse 'MyCAA' students [We do take MyCAA students.] or other excuses that fit the moment.  Those students are now very vocal about the fact that they would have gone to Andrews if they could choose over again.  Some of them are currently satisfied with the training they are getting there, but are afraid that recruiters will be turned off by the way the sales people there are misinforming people. They don't have to worry about that if they can get credentials, test, and interview well. The credentials will speak for them. The employers really like to see those credentials. If they can't get either a CPC or a CCS with the ability to test well for employers, the name of the school won't help, of course.  Credentials and ability to pass employment tests greatly increases job options and income potential.

Linda, as I said in my response to the note from Peggy, I am very thankful for the hand-holding.  I couldn't do this on my own without the type of care and strong support your instructors share with us.

Although these snide remarks are hurtful, think of it this way. Someone out there (the school that is producing the snide remarks) has a concern that someone else (Andrews School) is doing a better job so they feel compelled to make cutting remarks.

Would it be helpful for your students and graduates to respond in a positive way on that same facebook page.  Nothing negative, especially nothing negative about the accusing school because we don't want to perpetuate nor sink to that level, but just a note expressing positive things about Andrews.  

I doubt if you would want to campaign for this; you shouldn't be put in that position.  However, we students and graduates can stand up for Andrews.  It would be interesting to see what kind of response we get from this last paragraph.  I'll be the first one to say I'll go to bat for Andrews.  

Donna G

I can't find Jobs for American Coders on Facebook.  Can someone tell me how to get there?

Sheryl, I had an impressively difficult time finding it! Linda had to send me a link, and even then I struggled with it.  Several people have told me that you can find it by typing exactly this… JOBS for American American Medical Coders.  You will need to be added to it by the moderators, too.  

 If you would like, I can ask Pam to add you, and that might make it easier for you to get there.

Thank you, Peggy.  I would appreciate it if you would do that.  I tried copying and pasting your words to FB, but I still have no luck.  It is so strange.

Donna, it is kind of snide! It seems to be something else, too ... manipulation.

It has been going on for years. I remember the same thing happening in the late 90s. There was an internet board called MT Desk, which always had discussions about schools. Every time someone from Andrews mentioned the excellent instruction and instructor attention that they had received in MT, someone from another school would counter it with "Well, if you need handholding, I guess that was a good choice for you. I don't feel that I need someone hanging over me every minute of the day telling ME what to do. I don't need someone making my decisions for me."  They presented it as a kind of neediness.  

 Everyone needs to choose the school that suits their personal style, but I wonder how many people get pressured into the wrong program because they feel that Andrews is an admission of weakness or neediness.

I don't think it should be called hand-holding. I think it should be called one-on-one instruction, and what could be better than that? Andrews students have a choice of asking for one-on-one instruction when they feel they need it, or they can choose to navigate the coursework on their own (if they are just flying through and understanding everything, LOL). With one-on-one instruction, Andrews instructors (who are certified medical coders, which is also important) are able to personalize or explain the lesson so that the individual student can understand. Everyone has a different learning method, and one-on-one instruction addresses this. In addition, I think that students will ask more questions on a one-on-one, personalized basis, rather than in a group setting. When students ask questions and they are given the correct answers, by certified instructors, they are able to learn the material. 

Are some people (or schools) just this naive or misinformed about their competition, or do they have to stoop this low in order to grow student enrollment? False statements by a person or a company in a written form is libel, and is grounds for a defamation lawsuit.  You could have a lawyer draw up and send the person or company a "cease and desist" letter. That would get someone's attention.

Would you email your Facebook screen name to andi@andrewsschool.com?  Just realized that we need that in order to get you added. I searched for your name, but there were too many to figure out which one was you!

Fortunately though, we are not lacking in students.   <glug, glug, glug>  (That's me drowning in work.  :)

Linda, that's a good problem to have :D

It is a shame to think that there is false information out there that may be causing people harm. I feel it is very important to do extensive research before making life-changing decisions. I feel The Andrew School's reputation speaks for itself, and I believe I made the right choice.

I agree Teri Ta.  I personally researched Online Medical Coding programs for well over a year!  I wanted to see what program spoke to ICD 10 Coding as this was to be in place in Oct 2014 and then put off til Oct  2015.  I spoke to a few program liaisons about their program specifics and pass rates on certification exams.  To which some could not even give me answers.....how do you not know how your students, program succeed or fail?  I spoke with AHIMA director of education with regards to what they as the leader in the standards for this profession had to offer.  And I can say the one person, the one program that not only answered all my questions  and concerns in detail, was Linda Andrews herself, and The Andrews School.  I am in Module 1 and I have been nothing but impressed with the professionalism in which Linda, Glenda, and Melissa thus far, have conveyed to me in questions I have asked.  They have all made me feel as if my quest for knowledge is important to them and no question is dumb.  I too believe I have made the right choice.

Hi Linda,

"Handholding" and the comprehensiveness of the material covered are two of the primary reasons that I chose this school over some other cheaper options that are out there.   

Let me explain.  Coding is a new enterprise for me.  I do not have a lot of background knowledge, prior experience, or frames of reference to provide a platform for integrating an entirely new discipline.  

Therefore, a certain level of "handholding" will be required for me to have a reasonable chance of success at this endeavor.  

While I may be light on coding experience, I do have an advanced degree in education and a decade's worth of experience as an instructor.  The simple truth is that most of us (well over 80%) are kinesthetic learners. That means we learn best by being shown while we do it ourselves. Generally, with some movement involved and a multisensory approach, information tends to embed longterm.  Hence the phrases:  "learn by doing"  and "like riding a bike".  We can often recall and demonstrate knowledge that was learned in this way years later with little or no prompting.  

What some would call "handholding" is in actuality a time tested, data driven, research proven instructional best practice.  

I am very thankful for instructor Melissa's excellent "handholding" thus far and hope that I can continue to find a high degree of it as I delve into future modules.

At the risk of sounding co-dependent, I would love to see more "handholding" for certain sections. I would love to see some webinars or videos that show an instructor coding example problems while speaking aloud and explaining the rationale for the choices that are being made.  This stuff is hard for us newbies and I want an education that is thorough and comprehensive so that I have the best chance of obtaining licensure followed by professional success in a new career.

So, thank you for the “handholding” and keep up the good work.

I appreciate all of the comments above more than you know.  Yes, Richard, we realize that this is tough stuff!  I often tell people who are about to enroll with us (because I'm the worse sales person in the world, a fact that many concur with...) that there are points in this course when they will want to throw ME out the window along with their INSTRUCTORS, their BOOKS, and theier COMPUTER.  Then, they will conquer those challenges and move on. When they hit the next roadblock students sometimes tell me that they didn't feel a need to have a MELTDOWN because they remembered how they got through the last tough part. 

These tough parts set us apart from most other schools. It's the reason our graduates tend to pass employment exams.

Richard I hear your recommendation for the webinars and videos. We have considered them for years and will never stop considering them.  There are a number of reasons why we don't do it, not because I wouldn't want to, but because things move so fast that the ones you see online are often obsolete, although the students are not yet familiar enough with coding to realize this, and it would make the course cost more, plus I don't have anyone who is willing to go on camera.  :)  That's only a LITTLE bit of a joke.   I appreciate the fact that you care enough to make the recommendation. It is greatly appreciated.