RUMFORD – Terry Umbro, medical coder with River Valley Internal Medicine and president of the Lewiston chapter of the national medical coders group, the American Academy of Professional Coders, thinks coders deserve more recognition.

That is why she asked Gov. John Baldacci to designate a Medical Coders Day in Maine. The first Medical Coders Day in Maine will be celebrated Oct. 1.

Umbro said most coders start out performing other functions in a medical setting; some are medical transcriptionists; some, like she, begin in a billing office. There are courses in coding, but a coder can take an exam to become certified without taking a course.

In order to maintain certification, however, a coder must earn continuing education credits. That’s where the American Academy of Professional Coders comes in. Chapter and statewide meetings feature speakers whose talks are worth continuing education units.

“I want to attract people to medical coding,” said Umbro. “That’s part of why I made having a Medical Coders Day my goal.”

As the proclamation notes, the need for medical coders continues to increase nationally and in the state in physicians’ offices, outpatient and hospital settings.