Research review: A comparison of levels of job satisfaction between traditional hospital coders and coders using computerized encoders

Abstract

Computerized encoders that assist medical record department coders in making ICD-9-CM disease and operative code selections have been available for approximately 10 years but there have been no studies to evaluate job satisfaction among coders using this technology. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in job satisfaction between coders who use computerized encoders and those who do not. The Job Descriptive Index was mailed to hospital medical record departments in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, Ohio; the return rate was 93.5 percent. Results indicated that individuals in these three cities coding by the traditional manual method were more satisfied with their jobs than those who used computer technology. The coders in the traditional group were more challenged by their jobs and had more positive interactions with their peers and supervisors. Also traditional coders were satisfied with the pay they received; coders using computerized encoders believed that their pay was inadequate.