I am retired, a hospital volunteer, and am doing home self-study for Medical Coding using the Carol J. Buck Step-by-Step Medical Coding study series of books. I was an electrical engineer before I retired and do not have a medical background. I feel that Medical Coding is an exciting new field to get into as a second career.

I found that 'Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT Coding' is outstanding for my self-study of Medical Coding, especially for better understanding the CPT codes. However, I would recommend a full terminology index be added, possibly as an enclosed CD, which links "all" the anatomic structures found in the illustrations to the page numbers and CPT codes, in order to assist new students, like myself, to medical coding and other medical fields of study. This would apply to students taking Medical Coding remotely via the Internet, in formal classrooms, or for home self-study, such as myself. Netter's does include a very fine Subject Index but I would like a far more detailed index containing "all" the anatomic codes used in the Netter's illustrations. This would make the book a full anatomy text book with or without CPT users.

The illustrations in Netter's are outstanding in their color and detailed anatomic terms. The page layouts are also outstanding with clear CPT coding description sections accompanying each medical anatomic illustration. The medical and surgical descriptions and related CPT codes are grouped under major headings, such as Anesthesia and Surgery codes, and those sections are subdivided by such code areas as Incisions, Excisions, Endoscopes, Introductions, Repairs, Manipulations, and others.

Netter's includes Radiographs and CT Images that are extremely helpful in providing a better understanding of medical related human anatomy using actual human images to supplement the detailed color illustrations. 'Nomenclature Notes' are added, where needed, to more fully explain certain medical terms.

The main purpose of Netter's is to relate the CPT codes to where they apply to the anatomic area of the human body. The book does an excellent job of this. For example, when I am studying a new section of Buck's Step-by-Step medical coding and using the CPT manual, 'Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT Coding,' allows me to take the CPT codes I am studying, go to Netter's CPT Code Index, find the page number for the illustration, go to the page, and find not only the area of the human body the CPT codes apply to, but also the summary of CPT codes for that area of the body, groped under the heading of Anesthesia and Surgery and all the included subheadings of related CPT codes.

I highly recommend 'Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT Coding' to anyone studying anything related to human anatomy, but especially those studying or using CPT codes for Medical Coding and/or Billing.

If you are a medical coder and looking for a great anatomical reference book specific by CPT code, this book is great! I have many anatomy books, but this one offers specific anatomical illustrations by CPT code.