u/Here_for_answers1109

Hey everyone,

I'm currently in an NCRA accredited program with plans to take my ODS-C exam upon completion, of course. I'm genuinely intrigued by the daily assignments and tasks involved in oncology data work and the meaningful, essential role cancer registries play in research, treatment tracking, and public health.

As I look ahead to entering the workforce, I wanted to ask current/experienced ODS-Cs for your perspective on how specialized AI software are starting to shift daily workflows and the direction of the future.

With the majority of the central, daily work being digital and centered on data extraction, initial case finding, and coding, this all strongly signals that tech will eventually handle a larger degree of the routine data processing. From what I've investigated, at least presently, standard setting bodies (like NCRA, CoC etc) still emphasize credentialed human oversight and direct involvement to maintain strict data quality standards. However, as health systems look to maximize efficiency (as does any industry) the day to day functions of an ODS-C are bound to evolve.

For someone entering the field over the next couple of years (by the time I graduate, become credentialed, and am initially hired) I’d love to hear your insights on a few questions.

1. For those already seeing AI or automated case finding in your registries, how has it changed your day to day workload? Has it shifted focus more toward primarily case abstraction, quality auditing, or data validation?

2. What advanced skills, continuing education (degree and/or specialized certification), or specialized directions, (central/state registry reporting, data auditing, management/leadership, specialized informatics, or otherwise, as those were just a few potential directions that came to mind) would you recommend focusing on and potentially pursuing to remain highly adaptable as the industry changes?

3. What aspects of an ODS-C’s skills, such as interpreting complex, ambiguous clinical notes or navigating nuanced, individualized pathology, do you feel are most difficult for automated systems to replicate and/or achieve at high levels of accuracy?

Unfortunately due to a permanent physical disability, a fully stationary career path like this is an absolute necessity for me (I would have pursued allied health ages ago, but careers that aren't guaranteed consistently stationary are quite literally not sustainable short term let alone long term for me :’/), so I'm fully invested in building a resilient, long term career in this industry.

I'd sincerely appreciate any guidance, honest reflections, or advice you can share on how to best position myself for the future of the profession as a whole.

Thanks so much for your time and for those of you who are already immersed in the role and industry for sharing your direct experience!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some grounded, real-world perspective from those established in the HIM field, specifically RHIAs.

To give you my background:

I hold an AHIMA CCA, very recently graduated Summa Cum Laude with a targeted technical HIM degree, and am sitting for CCS-P in July.

Like many recent grads, I am hitting the stark reality of the entry-level coding landscape. Despite the education and credentials, virtually every job posting, including local, hybrid, remote or anything in between, is barricaded by a mandatory absolute minimum 2 to 5 years of direct prior coding experience. The few roles accessible you're even still being considered for as an entry-level candidate are far less targeted very entry level healthcare admin roles, far too many of which don't even require additional credentials, certifications, etc. These of course frequently offer pay scales that are barely above minimum wage, making it incredibly difficult to break into a sustainable career path.

I'm sure I don't need to say much more to those that are already in the same space that I am, whether an established coder, or otherwise credntialed grad where sadly the default barrier is getting that first actual coding job. Obviously not an ideal professional outlook for any career if you're basically hoping for pure luck to finally be considered for and land the role even tier one, that you were targeting all along.

On top of the standard industry barriers, I have permanent physical limitations due to a disability. My medical restrictions require me to be in a stationary environment. I cannot work roles that require prolonged standing, walking, or physical exertion. I could say I wish I wouldve considered what the career outlook truthfully presents once I got to the grad finish line beforehand, but with so many options off the table, due to lack of physical feasibility, I was just stoked to find something that sounded promising that married the security of the healthcare industry with a stationary role. Because clinical direct patient care roles are completely out of the equation for me physiologically, my professional options are naturally limited, and I have to be exceptionally strategic about my career longevity and security.

Needless to say, the current entry-level coding bottleneck is not reassuring. Especially to know that due to the current scope of the job market and standard industry requirements to even get started, knowing I may be faced with only the even less specialized options out there willing to consider me as a candidate with barley above minimum wage compensation, is not the professional trajectory I want to be limited to.

I am looking to make a deliberate professional advancement that yields a genuinely optimistic outlook, and I’m considering applying my 60 AAS credits toward a CAHIIM-accredited Bachelor of Science in HIM to sit for the RHIA board exam.

My strategic logic for this pivot rests on a few key points, and I want to know if the reality matches the theory:

Bypassing the Experience Barrier:

Because CAHIIM programs require a mandatory Professional Practice Experience (PPE)/internship, my goal is to exit the program with direct, high-level administrative facility experience already on my resume to neutralize the "no experience" catch-22.

Shifting to Compliance/Data Governance:

I want to move away from production coding (which is nothing against coding, I actually genuinely enjoy it and it aligns incredibly well with my work style, but obviously that holds little value at the end of the day, landing roles is this disadvantagous) entirely and target Level-1 roles in compliance auditing, data integrity, or EHR application systems, etc. Areas where hospitals and payers seem to actively recruit degreed grads.

Financial and Career Longevity:

I am looking for a track that places me onto a professional corporate salary scale from day one, rather than fighting through heavily saturated clerical pools.

For those of you in the field:

Given my current credentials, physical boundaries, and the results the entry-level market for coding is currently producing, is parlaying my credits into an RHIA track truly the most advantageous move for my situation? Does this pivot genuinely deliver the market security, competitive starting pay, and immediate entry-level hirability that it appears to on paper?

I would appreciate any insights, realities, or specific factors I should weigh as I map out this next goal. I think my consistent 4.0 indicates that I'm more than willing to dedicate consistent effort, I just want to ensure that ongoing effort actually gives anything back. I'm certainly not demanding seasoned/advanced or even mid level titles or pay once I'm an entry level credentialed grad with that Bachelor's and RHIA. I just want to ensure that there're favorable post graduation odds into actually entering into a role extremely aligned if not directly comparable, with appropriate pay to meet the titles it yields.

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some grounded, real-world perspective from those established in the HIM field, specifically RHIAs.

To give you my background:

I hold an AHIMA CCA, very recently graduated Summa Cum Laude with a targeted technical HIM degree, and am sitting for CCS-P in July.

Like many recent grads, I am hitting the stark reality of the entry-level coding landscape. Despite the education and credentials, virtually every job posting, including local, hybrid, remote or anything in between, is barricaded by a mandatory absolute minimum 2 to 5 years of direct prior coding experience. The few roles accessible you're even still being considered for as an entry-level candidate are far less targeted very entry level healthcare admin roles, far too many of which don't even require additional credentials, certifications, etc. These of course frequently offer pay scales that are barely above minimum wage, making it incredibly difficult to break into a sustainable career path.

I'm sure I don't need to say much more to those that are already in the same space that I am, whether an established coder, or otherwise credntialed grad where sadly the default barrier is getting that first actual coding job. Obviously not an ideal professional outlook for any career if you're basically hoping for pure luck to finally be considered for and land the role even tier one, that you were targeting all along.

On top of the standard industry barriers, I have permanent physical limitations due to a disability. My medical restrictions require me to be in a stationary environment. I cannot work roles that require prolonged standing, walking, or physical exertion. I could say I wish I wouldve considered what the career outlook truthfully presents once I got to the grad finish line beforehand, but with so many options off the table, due to lack of physical feasibility, I was just stoked to find something that sounded promising that married the security of the healthcare industry with a stationary role. Because clinical direct patient care roles are completely out of the equation for me physiologically, my professional options are naturally limited, and I have to be exceptionally strategic about my career longevity and security.

Needless to say, the current entry-level coding bottleneck is not reassuring. Especially to know that due to the current scope of the job market and standard industry requirements to even get started, knowing I may be faced with only the even less specialized options out there willing to consider me as a candidate with barley above minimum wage compensation, is not the professional trajectory I want to be limited to.

I am looking to make a deliberate professional advancement that yields a genuinely optimistic outlook, and I’m considering applying my 60 AAS credits toward a CAHIIM-accredited Bachelor of Science in HIM to sit for the RHIA board exam.

My strategic logic for this pivot rests on a few key points, and I want to know if the reality matches the theory:

Bypassing the Experience Barrier:

Because CAHIIM programs require a mandatory Professional Practice Experience (PPE)/internship, my goal is to exit the program with direct, high-level administrative facility experience already on my resume to neutralize the "no experience" catch-22.

Shifting to Compliance/Data Governance:

I want to move away from production coding (which is nothing against coding, I actually genuinely enjoy it and it aligns incredibly well with my work style, but obviously that holds little value at the end of the day, landing roles is this disadvantagous) entirely and target Level-1 roles in compliance auditing, data integrity, or EHR application systems, etc. Areas where hospitals and payers seem to actively recruit degreed grads.

Financial and Career Longevity:

I am looking for a track that places me onto a professional corporate salary scale from day one, rather than fighting through heavily saturated clerical pools.

For those of you in the field:

Given my current credentials, physical boundaries, and the results the entry-level market for coding is currently producing, is parlaying my credits into an RHIA track truly the most advantageous move for my situation? Does this pivot genuinely deliver the market security, competitive starting pay, and immediate entry-level hirability that it appears to on paper?

I would appreciate any insights, realities, or specific factors I should weigh as I map out this next goal. I think my consistent 4.0 indicates that I'm more than willing to dedicate consistent effort, I just want to ensure that ongoing effort actually gives anything back. I'm certainly not demanding seasoned/advanced or even mid level titles or pay once I'm an entry level credentialed grad with that Bachelor's and RHIA. I just want to ensure that there're favorable post graduation odds into actually entering into a role extremely aligned if not directly comparable, with appropriate pay to meet the titles it yields.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m reaching out because I need some even if it's brutal, unfiltered honesty from people currently working in cancer registry. I am trying to avoid making a massive mistake, and I know Reddit is a resource to get the ground-truth reality that college recruiters and Google searches will never give you.

To give you the quick background: I recently graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA from Bryant & Stratton College with an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Reimbursement and Coding. I earned my AHIMA CCA certification back in October, and I am currently studying to sit for my CCS-P this July.

Since October, I have made analyzing job postings and applying for positions my absolute full-time job. I’ve cast a massive, wide net across every major job board, applying not just for coding and billing, but for literally any adjacent clerical, administrative, or entry-level health information role. (I'll be objectively fair and acknowledge my lack of prior healthcare experience is a factor) However, the result? A mountain of rejections, automated ghosting, and other applications stuck in permanent limbo. I thankfully recently accepted and started an entry level Health Info Clerk role at a hospital, and obviously this is still less targeted than what I was trained for, and only just under $20 an hour. It also of course lacks any promised or at least optimistic pipeline into an eventual coding role. I'm learning my current market is saturated in uncertainty and unequal tradeoff, and lack of guarantee to ever secure the role you were pursuing all along, despite the credentials themselves you may hold, and it's sadly just the default current structure of the workforce for medical coding, at least presently. I am currently staring down the grim, universal paradox that I'm unfortunately learning the hard way that every new coding grad is facing right now: “We want you to have the credentials, but we won't hire you without AT LEAST 2 to 3 years MINIMUM of ON THE JOB experience.” Breaking into standard medical coding feels like an impossible barrier unless you get incredibly lucky, or agree to swallow a very bitter pill, limit yourself, and take a near-minimum wage billing role (even that's best case scenario, more commonly, scheduling, or super entry level healthcare admin roles that don't even technically require credentials) that you absolutely hate just to fight for crumbs compensation wise. Along with lack of security or certainty of what those roles will ever turn into.

And for me, "just fighting for crumbs" or working a job I hate isn't purely a mental drain, I'm unfortunately this more limited from persuing a univese of other paths, as it’s a physical impossibility. I am permanently disabled. Close to 10 years ago, I survived a major, acute medical trauma that left me with permanent right-side drop foot (I require an orthotic AFO, and must stretch, be super physically conservative/mindful with my body or im in that much more constant pain) and severe neuropathy throughout my entire right leg.

If I had the physical capability and freedom to choose any path, I would strategically have gone straight into a hands-on clinical role like nursing (RN) or radiology tech, etc. Those fields offer an almost guaranteed, immediate entry-level job right out of school where you're highly sought after and hirable, with a solid salary to match the effort you put into your education. Lately, I've found myself facing the sad reality of my situation, genuinely wondering if I should somehow try to push my body past its absolute physical limits just to trade the physical pain for immediate career stability and high pay. But I’d be lying to myself, and more importantly, I’d be cheating the patients who deserve someone fully capable of handling the physical demands of clinical care, and that's not fair to those who need that skilled care even more than myself.

Because of my physical limitations, my career style unfortunately has to be highly specific, being stationary for long term sustainability. The exact aspect of medical coding that fascinates me is the analytical, independent work. I want to lock into charts, documents, and data, find the key information, and solve the puzzle. I excel at focused, highly independent work or work limited to internal communication. I LOVED everything about medical coding and the hands on scenarios, assignments, and class practice throughout my degree program. On the flip side, I absolutely despise billing. The constant, ongoing external communication between angry patients and insurance companies on top of the much more rapidly diverse task switching is completely counter to my work style and preferences.

This brings me to the Oncology Data Specialist (ODS/CTR) path. On paper, it looks like exactly what I am looking for. The independent, highly analytical chart-review style perfectly matches how my brain works, and it fits my physical restrictions. Structurally, it seems far more promising than coding because hospitals legally must maintain accredited cancer registries to secure their ongoing funding, meaning they absolutely necessitate credentialed professionals to satisfy state and national data demands. Equating to greater immediate and ongoing career sustainability.

I am currently looking closely at the online certificate program through Hutchinson Community College to pick up the core registry modules and the extra A&P credit I need. From what I understand, their built-in 160-hour clinical practicum should help satisfy that "prior experience" roadblock, making a graduate far more universally hirable for an entry-level abstractor position right out of the gate, potentially even bypassing some of the trainee or apprentice titles. (Not that even the trainee and apprtice titles wouldnt still likely be making more than what I am now and be far more highly aligned to the role thats my goal, with a nearly guarenteed pipeline to a standard title tole in a far more reasonable timeframe, just to show you the contrast between my current job market for context)

But what I want to ensure I'm well informed of in advance before pursuing anything, is of reaching the finish line of another program just to find another depressed, vacant job market. I am not looking to step immediately into a top-tier average salary, but I need to know if immediate hirability actually exists for new certificate grads, or if the entry-level market is just as gatekept and restricted as medical coding, or anywhere it may authenticity ally fall in between.

For those who graduated from an accredited certificate program (bonus points if you went through HutchCC): How long did it actually take you to secure an entry-level ODS/CTR role after passing your exam?

Did the 160-hour clinical practicum actually carry weight with employers to bypass the "experience required" barrier on job postings?

Are hospitals actually hiring new grads into entry-level registry titles, or are people still getting stuck doing unrelated healthcare data entry for years just hoping a door opens?

What do the initial, early years on the job actually look like in terms of onboarding and realistic entry-level pay scales versus standard HIM clerical roles?

I'm not afraid of hard academic work or continuous learning...my 4.0 shows I'll put the work in, and the commitment to continuing education is something I understand and am committed to even within my current landscape in medical coding. I just need a strategic career pivot to build on my education where the trade-off actually gives back, is far more promising both hirability and pay wise, secure, and real. I cannot afford to invest more time, money, efforts and hope into a finish line that doesn't exist once you actually get there.

Thank you all so much for any and all feedback that includes the honest, bottom-line truth.