Success Stories: Dr. Kusuma Onkar

Dr. Kusuma Onkar, Associate Vice President, Operations, IKS Health, leads a team of certified medical coders who work as an integral part of our Clinical Support Solutions team. They create accurate & compliant clinical documentation thereby enabling seamless transfer of medical records and efficient analysis.

Read her success story as she shares career advice with certified medical coders who are interested in making a growth-oriented career choice that enhances their coding acumen and offers great work-life balance.?

What are your educational qualifications??

I am a Homeopath and a practicing physician over the weekends.?

What is your current job role?

As AVP Operations, I am currently responsible for leading and managing Women's Health COE (Center of Excellence) within IKS and a part of it includes managing OB-GYN specialty coding operations.

How is your education helping you with your current role??

In the healthcare industry, having a medical background always helps, especially given that we are a part of the Clinical Support Solutions at IKS Health. It also helps connect the dots in our subject matter and at the same time appreciate a physician's point of view. Coding as a subject carries some amount of subjectivity and a science background is extremely helpful to interpret this subjectivity.

What is the best thing about IKS Health according to you??

Exposure & Ownership! There is a tremendous amount of opportunity here and the one willing to explore, learn and take a lead will always succeed.

What motivates you to go beyond your call of duty and give your 100% consistently??

Our clients! It is fulfilling to see the difference our trained and certified medical coders are making in their work & lives. Additional level of motivation comes from my team. Even though we are people with different traits and quirks, the fact that we are working towards the same goal and striving for continuous excellence, makes it even more exciting and fun.

Any advice you may have for candidates looking towards taking up medical coding as their possible career options?

The healthcare services industry is going through a massive overhaul, so it is essential to have an open mind. To be a part of this industry and succeed, one not only has to be certified, but also be agile enough to adapt to the ever-changing rules of this industry. I compare this to a fast paced sport that always keeps you on your toes.?

If you believe that you would like to be a part of a highly efficient and a fast paced industry, then choose medical coding without a shred of doubt in? your mind.?