Dr. Rohit Dutta – MTI College Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Rohit Dutta is the clinical instructor for MTI College’s healthcare department, which includes the medical assistant certification program, the medical billing and coding professional diploma program, and the phlebotomy certification program. Dr. Dutta has worked at MTI College for one year, and has a total of four years working in higher education overall. Prior to MTI, he was a professor at the Sacramento Ultrasound Institute. Dr. Dutta earned his M.D. degree from Crimea State Medical University in Simferopol, Ukraine, in 2003.

Originally from India, Dr. Dutta credits much of his successful career to his family — a long line of doctors who instilled in him a passion for medicine.  For over 100 years, his family in India has operated a medical practice that was initially started by his grandfather and is now run by his father.  After completing his own medical studies in Ukraine, Dr. Dutta returned to India to begin his career. There, he began specializing in internal medicine as a physician at Cheema Medical Complex & Hospital, where he worked in the operating room (OR) and assisted in the vaccination program. Dr. Dutta next obtained a position at Tata Nursing Home. In addition to his continued work in an OR setting, he also worked in pediatric care and conducted medical care checkup camps.

Dr. Dutta ultimately left his position at the nursing home to move to the United States to further develop his career and to be with family members who had already immigrated here. He obtained a position at the UC Davis Medical Center as a radiology assistant.  Over the five years he spent in this position, Dr. Dutta performed many critical, hands-on medical tasks (including evaluating the need for auxiliary life support, oxygen, and suction, as well as checking the status of IVs, pleurovacs, and vital signs during and after transport) — but his skill set also broadened to include a more cohesive focus on patient care, proper safety protocols, and even processing of patient care paperwork through data entry and substantial research.

It was also during this time that Dr. Dutta started feeling an itch to pass on the knowledge he had accumulated throughout both his educational and professional experiences. “Sharing knowledge and helping students is something I truly like. It is something you feel good about when you share your knowledge and skills with somebody so they can succeed in their life.” With that notion in mind, Dr. Dutta obtained a position as an instructor at the Sacramento Ultrasound Institute. For three years, Dr. Dutta taught various courses in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, vascular science, and medical terminology.

In 2016, Dr. Dutta chose to come to MTI College. “This is a very good place to work. You have independence and freedom to work with the students. The community is really good and enjoyable.” He currently teaches Laboratory Assisting I and II. These courses cover the administration of various clinical procedures and tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), spirometry, nebulizer treatments, various types of injections, and blood drawing. Dr. Dutta recommends patience to students who want to get through these classes successfully: “Sometimes, the student wants to do the procedures but needs more time and more attention.”

Another thing students should keep in mind is the learning curve they’ll face when they graduate and start their careers. Dr. Dutta finds students tend to struggle initially in their first positions with things like using medical codes, making progress notes and even taking blood pressure. “Basic things are more difficult,” he notes, adding that such challenges are normal and part of the young medical graduate’s professional growth process. And although students should be accepting of these challenges, they should also take them very seriously. For example, Dr. Dutta notes, it is imperative that students starting off in the field immediately learn and strictly comply with rules of medical hygiene, and be always alert and aware of “how to stop the diseases from going one place to another place, and from one patient to another patient.” Other significant foundational skills noted by Dr. Dutta include “how to use proper gloves and how to use proper septic techniques. Also, proper disposal of shots and how to use the garbage cans properly.” These may seem like simple tasks but are vital in keeping everyone safe and healthy.

Aside from skills students learn throughout the program, Dr. Dutta encourages them to develop a personal touch when it comes to interacting with patients. “You need first to clear your mind. You have to be willing to help other people. It’s not about the money; it’s about helping people.” Dr. Dutta has always been genuinely concerned for the well-being of his own patients and notes that this makes all the difference. “Always be present and there for patients, if they need any kind of help.” For example, he explains, if a patient becomes anxious or nauseous as a result of having to have blood drawn, it is important that the health care professional not simply focus on drawing the blood, but be supportive to  the person in all respects. “Be there, put on the gloves, offer them the trash can or vomit bag, and help them,” explains Dr. Dutta. Small gestures make big differences.

Dr. Dutta has the same depth of passion for teaching his students as he did for treating his patients. His teaching philosophy is to really get to know his students. “Know what they are struggling with,” he explains. Just as is so often the case in practicing medicine, “If you know the problem, then you can solve it. Some people want to do well, and are really good, but need a particular type of support. Maybe someone needs a bit more time, and that’s fine.” Dr. Dutta’s job is to prepare well-equipped professionals for the medical field, and he takes that responsibility very seriously. “This is going to be your profession,” he tells his students. “Sharpen your skills. You want to enjoy your profession, so do things the right way.”

Outside of his career, Dr. Dutta loves time at home with his family. He has enjoyed much travel with his wife, but that interest took a back seat two years ago when the couple happily welcomed triplets! Family time certainly keeps Dr. Dutta busy, but he still makes time for his other hobbies, including cooking, reading, biking, swimming and camping. But of course, he still always has time for his students. When asked what he is most proud of within his career, Dr. Dutta replied, “What I learned my whole life, what I studied … I am using it and giving it to the students. And they are successful. That makes me happy.”

To achieve similar success, Dr. Dutta urges his students to  “always be focused in your life, and be open all the time to learning new things. There is no end to education. I still learn things every day. Things in the medical field change overnight. You learn things each and every day, your entire life.”

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What Does a Certified Medical Coder Need to Know about Medicine?

Medical coding is the heart of the healthcare industry. It keeps doctors and nurses on track and organized, and shows in clear terms a patient’s medical history. One slip-up with an improper code could be big trouble for a patient. You wouldn’t want to mistakenly code a lymphoma (cancer) for lipoma (benign fatty tumor) because you didn’t know the difference. This is just one example of why it is essential for a person with a medical coding job to have a sound understanding of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and pharmacology.

When you study in MTI College’s Medical Billing and Coding certification program, you learn the important skills you need to work as a healthcare professional – including the basics of anatomy and physiology. A requirement for a medical coding job is receiving an ICD-10-CM/PCS certification. Here’s why you need to have a basic medical background.

ICD-10 universally classifies and codes all diagnoses, symptoms and medical procedures. The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), is an organized way of telling the entire story of a patient’s care and encounter with a doctor and/or hospital. According to the World Health Organization, which created the ICD in 1948, it is the gold standard for reporting diseases and health conditions. The universally accepted codes that you, as a medical coder, use make it easy to share and compare patient medical information among various hospitals, regions and providers. They also ensure that the procedure that is billed makes sense with the diagnosis. For example, if you code a bee sting diagnosis as a justification for an x-ray, it’s likely the claim would be rejected. You don’t want a clerical error on your part to result in patient harm. If you indicate that a patient with a known allergy to penicillin received that drug for an infection rather than Bactrim, it could prove disastrous.

Various codes correspond to various bodily systems and procedural locations. You need to understand anatomy, physiology and pharmacology so that you can accurately enter the codes that apply to specific procedures, diagnoses and treatments. These codes are so highly detailed that they even indicate on which side of the body the procedure is being done. In addition, your understanding of basic anatomy and physiology will help you categorize the different bodily systems (e.g., respiratory, muscular, skeletal, circulatory, etc.) involved.

Medical coding is extremely specific. In addition to learning ICD-10 codes, you must know CPT® codes as well. The five-character Current Procedural Terminology codes are the U.S. standard for the way medical professionals document and report medical, surgical, laboratory, radiology, anesthesiology and E/M (evaluation and management) services. Some procedures are straightforward, but others can be confusing. Take a lipoma, for example. A lipoma’s depth into the tissues varies, but its coding depends on exactly where it is located. Coders need to not only know what a lipoma is, but also what the difference is between subcutaneous and intramuscular tissue, as well as the size of the excision to remove it.

Deciphering a doctor’s scribble is important.  When a doctor is writing patient notes, the coder needs to understand it. He or she is likely to be in a hurry and writes down a diagnosis, a treatment plan, a prescribed medicine and maybe a follow-up procedure. For someone doing medical coding, that needs to be transcribed into standard code to record the patient’s medical history and to submit it all to insurance for billing. If you misinterpret the notes or just don’t understand, it could cause confusion and delays in paying insurance claims, or even result in a denial of coverage.

Your medical coding expertise is essential to patient care. We live in a data-driven world, and that’s critically important in health care. Listing symptoms, diagnoses and procedures, and sending reports to an insurance company to request reimbursement, is not enough. Every time a person visits a doctor for an illness, for example, there are symptoms. They are recorded, along with the procedures performed and medicines prescribed. Maybe it’s a fever and sore throat. The doctor might order a strep test. If strep throat is the diagnosis, an antibiotic is generally prescribed. That’s rather straightforward. What if the patient sees the doctor because she is pregnant? She needs regular testing, ultrasounds, blood work, abdominal measurements, special vitamins, etc. Then what happens if there is a complication? More documentation is required. It gets very complicated, and your responsibility increases for accurately recording data that you first need to understand. You don’t want to mistake gestational diabetes for Type 2 diabetes, or preeclampsia for edema.

As a medical coder, you do not make diagnoses or treat patients, but you do need a basic understanding of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to ensure that health information is documented accurately. Medical coders are in demand, and jobs are expected to rise much faster than average. MTI College offers the training you need to enter this high-growth field..

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What is the Job of a Medical Biller and What Skills Do You Need?

Partially because of a rapidly aging U.S. population, healthcare jobs are in demand, because as people age, they usually need more medical care. Medical billers are needed to handle insurance and patient claims.  MTI College offers a Medical Billing and Coding Professional Diploma Program that can prepare you to enter this in-demand field. You could be working alongside doctors and nurses in a hospital, doctor’s office, clinic, nursing home or other medical facility using your skills to provide much-needed assistance.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for medical records and health information technicians (billers and coders) is growing much faster than the average rate for other occupations. Because more people have access to health insurance these days, claims on behalf of patients are going to increase. If you have a medical billing job, you will be the one to submit the bills for insurance reimbursement.

Does this sound like a job you would enjoy? Find out what a medical biller is responsible for on a day-to-day basis and learn whether it is a good career choice for you.

What is the job of a medical biller?

The medical biller plays a vital role in the relationship among medical providers, patients and insurance companies. Although the medical biller is not responsible for patient care, he or she should have a good understanding of medical terminology to be able to discuss medical bills with both insurance carriers and patients. These are a few duties of a medical biller:

• Audit and submit claims to insurance companies for patient procedures and treatments.
• Obtain insurance referrals and pre-authorizations for patient procedures.
• Verify insurance eligibility and benefits.
• Understand insurance guidelines, including those for HMO/PPO, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Review patient bills for accuracy and fill in any missing information.
• Check payments for accuracy.
• Research and appeal denied claims.
• Talk with insurance companies about payment discrepancies.
• Set up payment plans for patients.
• Collect delinquent accounts.
• Answer phone inquiries from patients and insurance companies.
• Use medical billing software to perform job duties.
• Update software with rate changes.
• Know Fair Debt Collection Practices.

As a medical biller, you may not perform each of these duties every day, but they are all considered responsibilities of the job.

Is a medical biller the same as a medical coder?

When you train at MTI College, you train for both positions. If you work in a small office, you may also perform the duties of a medical coder, a person who applies industry-standard codes that relate to specific medical diagnoses, treatments and procedures to patient health records. The medical biller then takes the coded information and submits the bill. However, if your job is for a larger organization, you may just do medical billing.

What personal skills are helpful to have if you want to be a medical biller?

A medical biller’s job is very important to the financial cycle of a provider, and you need to always strive for accuracy.

These are some other skills you should possess if you want to be a medical biller:

• Attention to detail. You’ll always need to check bills for accuracy and identify discrepancies.
• Excellent communication ability. Much of your job will involve phone conversations with patients and insurance companies.
• Good customer service. Remember that the bottom line is a person’s healthcare management, and it can be an emotional topic for some people. You need to speak diplomatically, compassionately and accurately to answer questions.
• Computer knowledge. Since you will be using medical billing software, you should know how to use a computer and the Internet.
• Accounting and bookkeeping. An understanding of the basics can be very helpful since you will be sending out billing statements and will need to reconcile them as payments come in.
• Medical terminology. Your MTI training will cover this, but you need to keep up to date to be able to converse with patients, providers and insurance companies.
• Problem solving. Sometimes there will be discrepancies or inconsistencies, and knowing how to go about solving the problem is necessary.
• Being comfortable with teamwork. Since you will interact with other medical staff members, you should enjoy working as part of a team.

MTI College’s Medical Billing and Coding Training Program gives you the background you need to enter the exciting, busy world of healthcare. Contact MTI College Sacramento today to jump-start your medical billing career.

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