After earning my Master of Business Administration degree, I worked in the financial field until about three years ago, when I reached a turning point in my career. Healthcare business has always been a long-distance dream for me; and after seeing an AAPC coding course advertisement in a magazine, I decided to give it a try.

Change Is Always Better

My data science teacher once mentioned that switching choices often improves our chances of winning. But jumping from industry to industry and starting something new from scratch is not always easy. Luckily, AAPC provides comprehensive resources for new members, which made me feel at home.

Instead of a degree program, I enrolled in AAPC’s online course for my exam preparation. The courses and practice exams were easy to navigate, interactive, and flexible. It prepared me to take the exam with confidence, and without a medical background. I was able to complete the courses and passed the Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) exam, and then the Certified Professional Biller (CPB™) exam, on my first tries, all within six months.

Stay Current

To get a clear idea of what it is like to be a medical coder, I read carefully every edition of Healthcare Business Monthly, which helps me tremendously to get used to medical lingo and receive industry updates. I also participate in local chapter meetings, which provide me with great networking opportunities with industry veterans. I listen to what they have to say about their work and ask questions.

The overall learning process through AAPC has helped me to pass my exams and has prepared me to enter a new industry successfully. For that, I am very grateful.

Perseverance Will Serve You Well

Getting certified is a good start, but without actual coding and billing experience in a medical setting, it is not always easy to land a coding job. I kept trying: I enrolled in AAPC’s Practicode and gained valuable hands-on, real-world coding experience, and I volunteered in a local hospital as an administrative assistant. About a year after I earned my certificates, I was able to land a billing job in a local practice.

Today, I am a revenue management analyst at a hospital in Florida. I enjoy working with my team and learning from everyone; it helps me to connect the dots with old and new knowledge and to gain a better understanding of the entire medical business.

Excited for the Future

New technology and healthcare demands are changing the industry dramatically; there seem to be endless new ideas to increase efficiency and accuracy, which will translate into a more tech-savvy healthcare workforce. I am very excited to be part of this change and to continue learning.

I plan to start preparing for the Certified Professional Medical Auditor (CPMA™) exam to further integrate my knowledge as a healthcare business professional.

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