What does a surgical coder do?

A surgical coder assigns medical codes for general surgery procedures for medical records and billing purposes. Usually, employers refer to a professional in this coding specialty as a Certified General Surgery Coder. As part of your duties, you look at medical records and information and assign codes for each procedure and diagnosis for each patient. You sometimes contact physicians or medical providers to obtain additional information or verify details about an examination, diagnosis, or surgery. You use coding systems such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Current Procedural Terminology (CPT). Other responsibilities include handling all data according to healthcare privacy regulations.