Whether you’re supporting inpatient, outpatient, or professional fee services, finding the right balance ensures cleaner claims, fewer denials, and a smoother audit trail. Below are practical, actionable tips to help you streamline your coding without compromising quality.
High productivity means nothing if accuracy suffers—and perfect accuracy means little if claims stall in a backlog. Coding teams that balance both see benefits such as:
Rather than thinking of “speed vs. accuracy,” coders should aim for intentional efficiency—coding smarter, not faster.
Jumping straight into code sets often leads to missed details and sequencing errors. Before coding:
A strong first review reduces rework on the back end.
Many coders fear guidelines will slow them down—but the opposite is true. Guidelines reduce guesswork and prevent time-consuming corrections later. Make it a habit to:
Updating your guideline knowledge is the most efficient way to maintain accuracy at high volume.
Every coder has recurring case types. Instead of looking up the same information repeatedly, create a personalized system:
This reduces mental load and helps you maintain consistency over time.
You can save hours each week by using the tools already in front of you. Consider exploring:
Your encoder is also rich with timesavers—practice searching by synonyms, abbreviations, and key terms for faster navigation.
Coders who follow the same sequence every time build both accuracy and speed. A sample workflow might be:
A consistent process leaves less room for error and reduces cognitive load.
A simple structure that prevents overthinking:
This maintains momentum while keeping accuracy checks built into the process.
Multitasking is one of the fastest ways to lose accuracy. Try working in twenty-five to forty-five–minute focus blocks followed by short breaks. During focus time:
Your accuracy rate will improve purely from fewer mental resets.
High-performing coders treat productivity and accuracy as measurable skills. Keep a personal record of:
This helps you identify patterns—like which case types slow you down, or which guidelines you need to revisit.
Audits slow productivity, but they also provide the greatest insight into improvement. Each time you receive one:
The more completely you incorporate results, the faster you naturally become.
Instead of targeting large volume metrics all at once, break them down:
Small goals create forward momentum and reduce end-of-day stress.
Speed and accuracy are not competing priorities—they are complementary skills strengthened through consistent practice, thoughtful workflows, and ongoing education. Coders who adopt smart productivity habits experience:
With continued learning and discipline, you can build a workflow that supports both precision and productivity every day.
HIAlearn, powered by Health Information Associates (HIA)—a leader in medical coding and auditing for more than three decades—offers a flexible, online education platform designed for today’s coders. With a growing catalog of AHIMA and AAPC-approved coding courses, HIAlearn supports both beginners and experienced coders looking to build confidence, accuracy, and CEU credits.
Courses are available across various coding types including CPT, E/M, ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS, and are designed for multiple specialties including inpatient, outpatient, profee, and CDI.
To stay up to date, coders can explore our Coding Updates hub for the latest ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and IPPS changes. HIAlearn also supports organizations with group discounts and scalable team access, promoting accuracy, compliance, and continuous professional development across departments.
The information contained in this blog post is valid at the time of posting. Viewers are encouraged to research subsequent official guidance in the areas associated with the topic as they can change rapidly.