Oooh...that's exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time. Congrats and good luck! :thumbup:

How funny! I've never worked in the medical field, but when my company closed here after 11 years, it seemed like a good field to get into.
I actually took 7 courses online with AHIMA for their medical coding program before finding out about this program.
I'm going to a community college for the AA and I might consider down the road to get my bachelors.
Fortunately, the college gave me credit for most of my classes since they have an AHIMA certified program.
I'm mostly interested in the coding aspect, at least at this point.
How much longer do you have to finish and what would you like to do?
I live in an area that has a lot of hospitals & insurance companies around me, which helped shaped my choice as well.

It helps to hear your stories! I know more and more adults are going back to college and the program I'm in is mainly adults.
Best of luck to both of you!! Thanks!

I am quasi-new to this branch of the medical field. My first degree was a BS in business, and then I went back for a Nutritional Science degree . Now I am working on the HIT degree. I am from a family of business academics. My mother graduated with her last degree at 63 Magna Cum Laude from Baylor. We were all very proud of her as she was still working as a full time RN. I do not know how she did it!:rolleyes:
You have definitely taken a right step with going to an AHIMA certified school, as most employers are expecting certifications. That way, you can sit for the RHIT certificate through AHIMA. I have my first coding certificate and will probably sit again for the CCS in the summer. However, from everything that I have read, it is best to diversify within the field. So I am continuing on for the BS, that way I can become more qualified in the technology aspect.
Eventually, I would like to work with the EDMS,EHR/EMR,CAC and other technologies implemented within the VA. I find the data mining and data base aspects very interesting, and perhaps would enjoy ending up there. I also have interviewed for cancer registry positions which were quite intriguing, as their coding system is unique and extensive. There is just so many interesting things out there that can be accomplished with this degree.
What are your partricular interests in the long term? Do you have a mind-set as to what you want to do, or are you leaving it open?
edited for: How far along are you in the coding curriculum?

Congrats! You will do fine. You are one smart lady!

Wow, you have an impressive family! I can't imagine going to school that long, lol! Maybe I will get bitten by the college bug once I'm there and want to go on. Kudos to your Mom, that's great!
I finished the first two out of four clusters of the medical coding program through AHIMA, plus I had to take an Anatomy course before starting.
I only wanted to take an AHIMA certified program, since all the positions I've seen require their certifications.
I'm really leaving everything open, since I'm really not even sure of everything that is out there yet.
I'm looking forward to the clinical practices, that way I will have an opportunity to work at area hospitals and get a feel for everything!
Cancer registry intrigues me though. Ever since one of my best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer this past year, that thought has lingered on.
Medical coding really interests me, but I like the idea of having options.
So are you presently working or strictly attending school right now?

Thanks! Did my Mom pay you to tell me I'm smart, lol!
She loves to tell me that! :)

Well I think that you have the right idea with leaving all options open, as you just never know what it is you want to do until you actually see it! :D
I also love medical coding; having the opportunity to actually read into all the documentation within a record including the actual surgical procedure is fascinating to me. This past semester we have delved deeper into the digital data format, and that has really interested me as well.
Currently, I am lucky enough to just be going to school. After spring semester I will perhaps try for a part time position within a hospital, that way I can continue on with my BS. I would like to get most of it out of the way, so that by the time I am in a FT position, I can just be working on my masters.

I think that it is really admirable of you to get back into college. It is not easy going back at any age. Congratulations on making and keeping the decision. It sounds like you are very determined, and knowledgeable about what you want out of your degree. I am sure you will do brilliantly! Plus....... this way if we have any queries as to a particular topic, we have each other to bounce it off of. :D
Once again, Congratulations !!

In one of my AHIMA classes, I found all the documentation & procedures fascinating too! The medical field has always interested me, but not in the clinical way, otherwise I would go to nursing school!
I'm lucky that I'm able to go to school full time and not have to work while doing it. I really admire people who do both. I will be going to school all year around for two years!
I'm thinking that I will get a part time job once I've completed one or two terms to start getting hands-on experience.
Thanks for the encouragement, it's appreciated very much!
I am a bundle of emotions, since I don't know exactly what to expect.
So I am so happy to find someone in the same field!

I looked into the medical field a bit and still have not put it aside. I'm really trying to decide if I want to get an Associates Degree in something good, or go on to get my Bachelors. Like I said, I'm SLOW. And I hate school. I looked into radiology. They have a good program at my school. Medical was never something I was highly interested in, but I feel it's fairly stable. I also don't want to get stuck with ONE career though and not have room to grow or try other things. Radiologic Technology - Home I'm also terrible at science and math. Probably the wrong profession to get in.

I'm really really intrigued by psychology. I've always been fascinated by people and why they do the things they do and like to 'study' them. I don't know, I just think about a LOT of things. I guess I'm somewhat of a mini philosopher. lol. But I really don't want to go on to grad school to be an actual psychologist. Like I said, I hate school, too much for me. Social work interests me but the pay seems to be SO little. I looked into being a vet tech because that's obviously something I'm passionate about (animals) but most tell you that you can barely support one person on those incomes.

I wish I could find something I am really passionate about and really WANT to do. I just haven't yet. I guess my ultimate dream would be to own a dog boarding/training type facility. I LOVE to train dogs, be around them, etc. I've started up my own 'business' for the last 2yrs walking and petsitting and built up a nice little clientele, have good references, etc. I think it's something I could do in the future, I just need a good starting point.

I actually considered the radiology route as well. I do think science/math would obviously be important for one to go in that direction.
It is stable, but if it's not something you are passionate about and can't see yourself in long term, then it's probably not the right choice.
I have a friend who was a social worker for about 15 years and no, the pay isn't great, it's like teaching, it's something you do because you are passionate about it.
My SIL wants to be in social work, but she's also interested in teaching.
You are young and have time to find your passion and you will get there.
It sounds like you have a nice little business going now. You could always continue with that and work towards having a dog training/boarding facility.
That's a goal to work towards!

I mentioned in a couple of prior posts that I was the HR & Finance Director at my company before we were purchased and I was downsized.

I was at Indiana Heart Institute and we were purchased fully by St.Vincent on July 1. I was let go on August 11 due to job elimination (St.V's already had a full HR and Finance departments).

We did all of the IP medical coding for the CV service line for a couple of local hospitals.

AHIMA sets the GOLD standard when it comes to medical coding. There's also more money on the IP side than the OP side and you can always count on a pay bump once you get your CCS, but it is more difficult. If you get to the point that you are looking for an internship, let me know, I know of several coding companies that outsource code for a bunch of hospitals nationwide.

With the onset and continued growth of EMRs a medical coder, even on the IP side, should be able to completely work from home within the next year or two.

We used a married couple a lot when we had bubbles in the work and they contract to all the hospitals in town. They charge $45 each per hour for the coding work that they perform. Pretty nice salary when you consider it.

Best of luck to you, I like you, am also re-enrolled in school and start at Purdue in January. I am going pre-med, with the hope of gaining entrance to the School of Veterinary Medicine in a year and half or two.

Thank you for the info and advice!
I figured that IP would pay more. I know you typically need more experience to do IP.
Part of what peaked my interest in coding are the options to work at hospitals, doctors, insurance and even to work from home.
I will keep that in mind about the internship, I really appreciate that!
I hope to get to work at several different hospitals when I have my clinical practices, to open more doors!
Congrats to you with starting pre-med at Purdue, that's fantastic!
You will be very busy!

I know this was to Brit, but thought I would respond. :)
I just graduated with a BA in psych and am currently in grad school for my MSW (master's in social work).

Congrats on going back to school! I hope you will love it. The "adults" in my classes always have the best life experiences to share during class discussions. Such a different perspective from people who have actually been out in the "real world" from people like me who have only ever been to school! Best of luck to you!!