NOTE: The American Nurses Association has extended the traditional National Nurses’ Week to a monthlong campaign to support and recognize nurses who work with courage and compassion under extremely challenging circumstances. This is part of a series of stories to honor Palmetto GBA nurses and the incredible work they do.

Nurses never stop learning. Many acquire new knowledge and skills every day through on-the-job experience. But professional development plays a large role in a nurse’s career.

“Professional development is important, especially in the nursing profession, because the healthcare field is ever-changing,” said Ashley Baker, a nurse and Medical Reviewer at Palmetto GBA. “It is important to stay up to date on the latest conditions, procedures, and treatments.”

Nurses at Palmetto GBA not only have to maintain their medical certifications, but also must navigate the world of Medicare billing and coding.

“Medical coding is a technical and rapidly changing field,” said Sue Anderson, a nurse and Senior Provider Education Consultant. “I have been in the medical profession for more than 30 years, and I can tell you that is very important for us to broaden our knowledge base and stay abreast of the latest information and techniques.”

Anderson and Baker are among the nurses at Palmetto GBA participating in a course to attain coding certification. Baker’s most recent course reviewed and certified participants on the correct application of specific diagnosis and procedure codes for billing inpatient services. Prior to gaining the certification, Baker was able to review diagnosis-related group claims but was not able to complete them. Claims must be completed by a certified coder.

“I was asked if I would be interested in completing the course so that I would have the ability to both review and complete diagnosis-related group claims,” Baker said. “I wanted to register for the course because I felt that the training would not only make me a competent coder but a better reviewer as well.”

In an industry that is ever-changing, nurses are on the front lines as they advocate and care for patients.

“Because the healthcare field is rapidly changing, we as healthcare providers must be able to change with it. We should always strive to learn more and to become the best at what we do,” Baker said.